Molly and Max

Being different is not the problem. Forgetting that kindness matters is.

Molly and Max is a heartwarming picture book about difference, courage, and the kind of friendship that sees beyond appearances.

Molly is a young pink elephant who doesn’t quite fit in. Her ears are too small. Her trunk is short. At school, she’s laughed at, left out, and told she doesn’t look like the others. But everything changes the day she meets Max, a brave, kind little mouse with a big heart and no interest in fitting in.

Together, Molly and Max show their classmates something simple but powerful: that being different isn’t something to hide. It’s something to understand, accept and even celebrate.

Written with warmth and empathy, this is a story that gently teaches children (and the adults reading with them) about kindness, acceptance, and the quiet bravery it takes to be yourself.

Molly and Max began as a story I wrote for my 3 year old daughter Asia, who is now 25!

It’s about feeling different, about standing out in ways you didn’t choose, and about what happens when one small act of kindness changes everything. Max is that kindness. And Molly is the part of so many children that wants to belong without having to become someone else.

This book was written for children, but it carries a message that matters at any age. That friendship isn’t about looking the same, or fitting in. It’s about seeing each other clearly, and choosing kindness anyway.

Scott Pettifer

1. You don’t have to look the same to be friends.
True friendship isn’t about similarity. It’s about kindness, respect, and recognising each other’s value even when you come from very different worlds.

2. Being different is not something to fix; it’s something to understand.
Molly feels sad about the way she looks because others make her feel wrong. But Max helps her see that what makes her different can also make her special.

3. Kindness changes everything.
Max’s small, sincere act of kindness, reaching out to Molly when she’s sad becomes the seed of something powerful. The book shows how one gentle voice can disrupt a culture of unkindness.

4. Confidence grows when you feel seen and accepted.
Molly doesn’t suddenly become brave. Her courage comes from connection. When she’s supported by Max, she finds her voice, not just for herself, but for others too.

5. You never know who might need a friend.
The story encourages children to look beyond appearances and assumptions. Molly and Max teach that friendship can come from the most unexpected places.

6. Fear and prejudice are often based on misunderstanding.
The other elephants are afraid of Max simply because they’ve been told to be. But once they stop and listen, they realise there’s nothing to fear and a lot to gain.

7. One voice can shift the whole group.
Molly speaking up, supported by Max, creates space for the others to change. The book models how standing in truth can gently invite others to see things differently.

8. Inclusion begins with curiosity.
The turning point comes when the other elephants decide to get to know Max. That one small choice, to stay open instead of scared begins to reshape the whole playground.