"The Story of Ferdinand" Munro Leaf  - 2011
 
Ferdinand is a peaceful young bull who doesn't fit in with the crowd. While all the other bulls run, jump, and butt their heads together preparing for the grand arenas, Ferdinand prefers to sit quietly under his favorite cork tree and smell the flowers. His mother worries he might be lonely, but she respects his gentle nature and leaves him to live his life in peace. Everything changes in an instant when a rogue bumblebee stings him, sending Ferdinand into a wild, accidental frenzy just as five talent scouts arrive from Madrid to pick the fiercest beast for the bullfights.
 
Mistaken for a terrifyingly aggressive monster, Ferdinand is dragged away to the roaring stadium in Madrid. The crowd thirsts for a dangerous spectacle, the Banderilleros are nervous, and the proud Matador is ready for a violent showdown. But when Ferdinand is released into the middle of the ring, he refuses to fight. Instead, he spots the lovely flowers in the ladies' hair, sits straight down, and just smells them. This fast-moving classic strips away standard expectations to celebrate a quiet rebellion, showing the incredible courage it takes to stay true to yourself when the whole world expects you to fight.
 
 
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