Inspiration for I'm Different came from remembering her own experience of being the only child in her kindergarten classroom who wore glasses, and from watching the struggles of her children and her students while learning to accept themselves and their imperfections. The book is an attempt to defend children from a world where perfection reigns, image is defined by the media, and attention is merited and dispersed most generously to those who excel. The book's message is to help children see their imperfections, differences, and life's scars, both inner and outer, as evidence that their uniqueness is intended as a gift inspiring them to their greatest potential.