When Haley is tasked by her teacher to find something that makes each of them unique, Haley at first struggles to find something. Everyone else, it seems, has at least one quality or skill that makes them stand out. But what does Haley have? In Smudges, Lauren Emerson emphasizes the importance of diversity and encourages the idea that, no matter what, we all have something that makes us special. From being bilingual to having red hair, Lauren Emerson will inspire children everywhere to not only look for the thing that makes them different but to celebrate it.