There's Something About Sam, written by Hannah Barnaby, reviewed by Judy Hauser

Summary: Max was planning his sleepover birthday party. He invited all of the boys except two. When his mother asked why they were not invited Max described one boy as being gross and the other, Sam, as being different. His mother encouraged Max to invite both boys. It is interesting that Max gathered some intel on Sam from the other boys and those he asked thought Sam was cool and had some skills. Max was determined to find out what made Sam different than the other boys. He observed him at the birthday party and found Sam interesting. Sam ate his hamburger rare, wore pjs with a bat design and bit another boy during a game. But then Max saw Sam's hairy hands and fangs. Instead of being scared, like the other boys, Max found this fascinating. Sam and Max played all night and the other boys joined in. This is a story about accepting others even if they are different. It may be scary at first but it could turn out to be great. Acceptance and friendship are the themes of this story and they are illustrated in a fun way by Anne Wilsdorf. The way in which the story develops is fun and seems real-to-life (even though the different boy in question is possibly a wolfboy). Checking someone out with other friends is pretty normal. The feedback Max receives is interesting and goes against his thoughts so he sets out to gather his own intel. The way Max accepts the differences in Sam the more they become friends. The story, by the way, features boys only but, of course, could work for both genders. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This is a good book for discussion on acceptance, being "different," friendship and kindness. The mother in the book is great in how she speaks to her son.