The Sparkly Bun book cover

An award-winning picture book that helps kids feel good about who they are, even when fitting in feels easier.

She wore her sparkly outfit two days in a row. The looks came. The questions came. She had to decide: change for everyone else, or stay exactly who she is.

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Ages 4–8  ·  5x Award Winner
95+ Five-Star Reviews ·  Ships free with Prime

“A delightful and empowering story. My students couldn’t stop talking about it!”
— Elementary School Teacher

  • BREW Book Award Winner

  • 2x Purple Dragonfly Award

  • Difference Maker Award

  • Book Excellence Award

  • Readers' Favorite 5-Star

  • Loved by educators nationwide

The Sparkly bun book awards

Emme loves her sparkly outfit. She wears it to school. Then she wears it again.

The stares come. The comments come. Her friends notice.

That night, her dad helps her figure out what confidence actually means. It doesn't come from changing who you are. It comes from knowing who you are.

Teachers read it aloud for SEL lessons on empathy, individuality, and peer pressure. Kids ask for it two nights running. Parents say it opens conversations they didn't know how to start.

Perfect for:

  • Kids ages 4–8 who have ever felt like the odd one out

  • SEL read-alouds on confidence, empathy, and peer pressure

  • Classroom libraries, school counselors, and gifted educators

  • Back to school, birthdays, and holiday gifts that actually land

Cover of the book The Sparkly Bun laying on a wood table
Family illustration from the book The Sparkly Bun
Emme and brother Arlo going to the bus from the book The Sparkly Bun
Emme with friends at school from the book The Sparkly Bun
Dad tucking Emme into bed from the book The Sparkly Bun
Photo of the book The Sparkly Bun centered in a boys room

Hear The Whole Story

Full read-aloud by Madison’s Channel on YouTube

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What Parents, Teachers, and Librarians Say

95+ Reviews. 76% ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  • “A true gem”

    “Being a parent of two young children, who are already experiencing peer pressure and the need to 'fit in,' I found this book to be a true gem. The message is brilliant and one that needs to be addressed at every stage of life.”

  • “Heartwarming book with a great lesson”

    “5 stars is the only review to give a book that features a world in which people are dressed in hamburger buns, and delicately teaches the importance of individuality and marching to the beat of your own drum.”

  • “Unique and Fun!”

    “Two words. Burger outfits. The Sparkly Bun is on a roll with this fun and unique story! This book rises to the occasion with a message encouraging self-esteem, creativity, and inner knowing.”

  • “A bun in a million story!”

    “Such a sweet and unique story that offers children the desire to have originality and explore creativity. The bun wardrobes were such a wonderful twist to offer conflict resolution to the message of this story!”

  • “The Burger Outfits Were So Perfect for a Big Lesson”

    “How VERY teachable, using burger clothes—something never heard of before. I love that the child solved her perceived problem with creativity, rather than 'Let's buy something new.' An overall fun read.”

  • “Perfect message, beautifully told”

    “Such a clever concept with powerful lessons delivered in a way kids can easily understand. My daughter asked to read it again right after we finished. That’s a win.”

On The News

A man and a young girl smiling while holding a children's book titled 'The Sparkly Bun' in a classroom or library setting.

Free Coloring Pages

A black and white line drawing of a family wearing burger buns, with the title 'The Sparkly Bun' at the top and the website 'TheSparklyBun.com' at the bottom.
Black and white coloring page titled 'The Sparkly Bun' featuring children, a bus, a girl walking a dog, and a smaller girl with a backpack.
Black-and-white line drawing of children playing at a playground, with a slide, bus, and a burger character, titled 'The Sparkly Bun' at the top, and the website 'TheSparklyBun.com' at the bottom.

Book A Visit

Keith visits schools, libraries, and bookstores for live read-alouds with pre-K through 2nd grade. Each visit runs 20 to 30 minutes: a reading, a conversation about confidence and fitting in, and time for student questions.

Single classrooms, whole-grade assemblies, community story times; any format works. Teachers use the visit to launch SEL discussions that stick.

To book a visit, email kth.stk@gmail.com with your school name, grade levels, and preferred dates.

Inside a bookstore counter area with a book titled "The Sparkly Bun" in the foreground, a white cup filled with wrapped candies, a sign with book event hours, a stack of books, and a cluttered desk with a computer, cards, and office supplies. In the
A man and a young girl sitting at a table, smiling at the camera. The girl is holding a pink book titled 'The Sparkly Bun' and the man has his arm around her. There are colorful school supplies and a backpack on the table behind them.
A man with a beard and a girl are sitting in a bookstore, holding a children's book titled "The Sparkly Bun." They are smiling, and behind them are bookshelves filled with various colorful books.
A man with a beard reading a children's book to a group of children in a bookstore or library, with bookshelves filled with books in the background.
A man sitting in a chair reading a children's book to a group of children seated on the floor and a cushion, in a playroom or classroom setting.
A man is sitting in a rocking chair reading a children's book titled 'The Sparkly' to young children seated on a colorful alphabet rug in a room with boxes and shelves in the background.
Children sitting on the floor and listening to a man reading a picture book in a room with a colorful circular rug.
A man with a beard and three young girls sitting at a table, smiling at the camera. The table has coloring pages, bowls of candy, and a banner with cartoon characters wearing burger costumes.
A circular wooden table displaying children's books, including 'The Sparkly Bun,' 'A Thing Called Snow,' 'Fearless,' and 'Grace Lin.' Behind the table is a bookshelf with more books, and a window with sunlight shining through. There are potted plants

Loved By Kids, Parents, and Teachers Across The Country

A smiling young boy with short blond hair, wearing a gray hoodie, holding a pink book titled 'The Sparkly Bun,' standing indoors on a wooden floor, with a gray couch in the background.
Cover of a children's book titled "The Sparkly Bun" featuring a cartoon girl with brown hair, a sparkly bun hairstyle, wearing a brown dress with sparkles. The background is pink with white and yellow accents.
The cover of a children's book titled "The Sparkly Bun" with an illustration of a girl holding a sparkly bun. The background is pink and purple. The book is on a wooden surface.
A baby in a high chair holding a book titled 'The Sparkly Bun' written by Keith Stoeckeler, with a toy in front, in a kitchen or dining area with a view of a backyard through glass doors.
Book cover titled 'The Sparkly Bun' featuring a cartoon girl with brown hair holding a glowing, sparkly bun with a golden glow and sparkles around her. The background is pink and purple.
A young girl in pink pajamas with a bunny and deer pattern sitting on a brown couch, reading a colorful children's storybook with illustrations of characters and food.
A young girl with blonde hair holding a book titled 'The Sparkly Bun' and expressing excitement, standing on a brown tile floor inside a home.
A young girl with curly hair reading a pink children's book titled "The Sparkly Bun" on a gray couch. There are overlaid pink text boxes thanking the author and illustrator, and a URL at the bottom.
A young girl with long brown hair, smiling, holding a pink book titled 'The Sparkly Bun' and a yellow apple. She is wearing a pink top and a black and pink plaid skirt, standing in a room with children's drawings and a wooden floor.
The cover of a children's book titled "The Sparkly Bun" featuring an illustrated girl with brown hair, wearing a sparkly, colorful shirt. There is a black sticker with white text describing the book's theme and a blue link icon labeled "Shop Book."
A young boy with curly hair sitting on a couch reading a book titled "The Sparkly Bun." The boy appears focused on the book, which features a cartoon girl on the cover.
Child reading a colorful children's book with illustrations of kids and a yellow school bus, sitting at a round glass table.

“My daughter wanted to wear her favorite dress
two days in a row after reading this!”

A woman and a young boy sitting together indoors, smiling, holding a pink children's book titled "The Sparkly Bun". The woman has dark hair and is wearing a light pink jacket, and the boy is wearing a yellow and blue sports jersey. The background sho
A children's book titled "The Sparkly Bun" by Keith Stoeckeler, illustrated by Lana Lee, is displayed on a table. The book cover features a cartoon girl with brown hair and a sparkly bun, smiling. There are some white flowers behind the book, and the
Two young girls, one with curly blonde hair and the other with dark straight hair and glasses, sitting on a bed and reading a children's book about a sparkly bun while pointing at the illustrations.
A young girl sitting on a couch reading a pink children's book titled "The Sparkly Bun." She is holding the book with both hands and appears to be focused on it. The girl has light brown, wavy hair and is wearing a floral outfit. There is a cartoon o
A children's book titled "The Sparkly Buh" by Keith Stoeckeler, illustrated by Lana Lee, is displayed with a pink background and a cartoon girl on the cover. The image also shows part of neighboring book covers.Overlayed text indicates a social media
A child holding a pink book titled 'The Sparkly Bun' in front of their face and a blue cup with a yellow straw featuring a cartoon duck design. The child is wearing black pants, a cream-colored sweater with book illustrations, and polka dot socks. Th


“Perfect for back to school.”

A child wearing a white shirt with ice princess or anime characters is reading two children's books titled "Jessi Lou & The Magic of You" and "The Sparkly Bun" while lying on a bed. A yellow dog with brown eyes, wearing a harness, is sitting next to
Two children sitting on a couch reading books, one with a pink book titled "The Sparkly Bun" and the other holding a colorful book. Text overlays say they are convinced to read, and it makes a difference when kids read books they relate to.
A young girl reading a colorful children's book while sitting on a bed with a black and white paisley bedspread, pink pajamas, and red bunny slippers in a bedroom with a black headboard, gray pillows, and a nightstand with a lamp and water bottle.
Child holding up a pink book titled "The Sparkly Bun" with an illustrated girl on the cover. The child's face is smiling widely, showing teeth, and the background appears to be indoors.
Two young girls are sitting in a bed, with only their heads visible, reading a book titled "The Sparkly Bun." The bed has a tufted beige headboard. A small Irish flag is in the corner of the image, and a quote about the shores of Northern Ireland is
Two young girls sitting at a table, one holding a pink book titled 'Sparkle Bun,' in front of a window with closed blinds.
Two white shelves holding children's books on a white wall. The top shelf has picture books including "Oh, Baby, the Places You'll Go!" and "Raindrops to Rainbow." The lower shelf features books like "The Sparkly Bun," "Spring for Strawberry Shortcak
A young girl with curly brown hair and a large cream-colored bow on her head, holding a pink children's book titled 'The Sparkly Bun'. She stands in front of a brick fireplace with heart-shaped decorations hanging above her that say 'XOXO', 'Kiss Me'
Collection of children's books spread out on a wooden floor, featuring titles about kids, animals, and diversity.
Keith Stoeckeler, author of The Sparkly Bun

WRITTEN BY:
Keith Stoeckeler

Keith Stoeckeler writes stories for kids who need to hear that being themselves is enough. He's also the founder of Heartlent Group, a creative studio. The Sparkly Bun is his first book. It has won five awards and found its way into classrooms, libraries, and bedtime routines across the country.

Keith on Instagram


kth.stk@gmail.com

Lana Lee, illustrator of The Sparkly Bun

ILLUSTRATED BY:
Lana Lee

Lana Lee is an illustrator known for her playful, expressive style. Her art brings The Sparkly Bun's characters to life with warmth and color that kids want to live inside.

Lana on Instagram

The Sparkly Bun book photo on hardwood
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