Childrens+Literature

__My Friend Isabelle:__ By: Eliza Woloson

//My Friend Isabelle // is a wonderful little book that teaches about difference and acceptance with simplicity and grace. Isabelle and Charlie are friends. They are the same age, but like most friends, they are different: Charlie is tall and knows "a lot of words," and Isabelle is short and sometimes her words are, "hard to understand." The sweet simplicity of their relationship is a reminder to everyone that "differences are what make the world so great." Young readers will love the bold illustrations and simple text, and parents will appreciate the message and the sensitivity with which it is delivered. At the end of the story readers meet the real Isabelle, and author Eliza Woloson briefly notes how Down syndrome makes her daughter and other children special.

Isabelle has Down syndrome, but that doesn't matter to her friend Charlie. "I am tall. Isabelle is short. I run fast. Isabelle takes her time." He describes all the things they do, how sometimes they're the same and sometimes different. "Mommy says," Charlie explains, "that differences are what make the world so great," and each page follows this theme of inclusion and acceptance. Watercolors in greens, purples, blues, and oranges move the story along, sometimes with full-page pictures and sometimes with small drawings. Both children have round faces and simple lines for eyes, and some readers may not even realize (without the postscript) what it is that makes Isabelle different from Charlie. "Life is more fun with friends like Isabelle," Charlie says, and readers will agree. I would use this in my classroom because this charming tale encourages students to think about what makes a friendship special. //My Friend Isabelle // also opens the door for students to talk about differences and the world around them. It's a wonderful story to share at school. Lively full color illustrations dovetail beautifully with the text to bring the simple story to life which students can learn from.

__Susan Laughs:__ By: Jeanne Willis

Through simple rhyming phrases, readers learn about the many things that a young redheaded girl can do: "Susan trots, Susan rows, Susan paints, Susan throws." With great color and movement, the pencil-and-crayon illustrations depict this spirited child in her everyday world. She rides a swing with her father, plays a trick on her grandma, and boils with anger when her cat scratches her face. Abundant details such as patterned wallpaper and funny portraits on walls add interest to each scene. By the end of the story, children will identify completely with Susan, who is "through and through-/just like me, just like you," even if she happens to use a wheelchair, as shown in the final illustration. Thus, the story focuses on her abilities rather than on the things by which she is limited. This book works for sharing one-on-one, for smaller story times, and for classroom use.

Without being condescending or preachy, the words, pictures, and design of this very simple picture book show that a physically disabled child is "just like me, just like you." Only on the very last page do we discover that Susan uses a wheelchair. Before that, the simple, rhyming words and active crayon-and-pencil pictures show her in a succession of ordinary scenarios that every preschooler will recognize. Susan laughs. Susan sings. Susan's good. Susan's bad. She's mad. She's shy. She swims. She swings. She sulks. She's scared. The show and tell works. Children will enjoy seeing their common feelings and experiences. They'll be surprised by that wheelchair at the end; and then they'll accept their connection with the child who they've come to know is "just like me."

__Rolling Along:__ By: Jamee Heelan

Taylor describes his condition, aspects of his daily activities at home and at school, and his desire for independence. While he has been trained to use a walker, he prefers a wheelchair as it enables him to go faster and not tire as quickly. The book also includes some discussion of his physical-therapy sessions. At times, Taylor's frustrations come through, as when the illustrator shows him in his wheelchair facing a rather high set of stairs. However, in the end, the message is that he enjoys the same activities as his twin (and other children). In her mixed-media illustrations, Simmonds has superimposed photographs of the individuals' faces onto drawings, creating an interesting collage effect. This title is better suited for younger children than Alden Carter's Stretching Ourselves.

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, one of the top facilities of its kind in the nation, has joined with Peachtree Publishers to create the Learning Book series, which explains the needs of kids with disabilities. Here, Madison, who was born without a left hand, takes readers through the process of being fitted for her prosthesis. Although the first-person voice is young, it's not really young enough to match the pictures of Madison, who appears to be a toddler. Despite that, this is extremely informative, and children will have no problem understanding how the myo-electric hand starts out as a plaster cast, how it is fitted and refitted, and how an occupational therapist teaches Madison to work the battery and use her new hand. The artwork--photographs mixed with hand-drawn images and computer-generated backgrounds--is exceedingly eye-catching, and when it comes to the actual process of making the prosthesis, the book uses very clear, step-by-step, easy-to-follow ink drawings. I would use this in my classroom because it shows Taylor and Tyler that are twin brothers and best friends are different in one significant way: Taylor has cerebral palsy, while Tyler does not. Taylor explains to readers why wheelchairs allow many people to be more independent. This amazing story offers a valuable look at both adjusting to a wheelchair and facing physical limitations with boundless energy and determination, it’s an inspiring story for disabled students. __ Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book: __ By: Celeste Shally An unnamed child tells about his friendship with Matt, a boy with autism. Matt's condition is addressed directly, but then glossed over, as if his behavior were not really a problem. For example, when talking about playing basketball, the narrator says, "Sometimes Matt has a hard time following directions at practice…. Since we're friends, I show Matt what to do." Children who are autistic don't simply have a hard time following directions; they have difficulty attending to what is going on around them. They often have trouble with any organized sports, and while it is thoughtful for a child to volunteer to show Matt what to do, it is unrealistic to expect that he will respond to this "extra" help so easily. Both boys are drawn as cartoon characters; one is white and one is black. They are generally smiling, although Matt's expressions change with his mood. The message in this book is not to be ignored; it is important for normally functioning children to befriend those with disabilities. But, it is unreasonable and a little disingenuous to suggest that a classmate can ensure that a child with autism will play well with others and be accepted by the group. I think this book will be very useful in the classroom. I envision using this book as a regular addition in my class library. It teaches great lessons about acceptance, friendship, and differences. With additions like this book to a class library, students would be exposed to others like them and those that are different. There needs to be more books like this one that shed positive light on children with autism. Children are naturally accepting of others and this book helps display that acceptance to other students. __Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability:__ By: Pat Thomas This awesome picture book explores questions and concerns about physical disabilities in a simple and reassuring way. Younger children can find out about individual disabilities, special equipment that is available to help the disabled, and how people of all ages can deal with disabilities and live happy and full lives. Titles in this series for younger children explore emotional issues that boys and girls encounter as part of the growing-up process. Books are focused to appeal to kids of preschool through early school age. I would read this book to the children in my classroom. The first thing that the book points out to children is that we are all different and that each of us has things we are good at and things we need help with, and to not assume things just because a person has a disability. The secondary lesson is to explain why children who have disabilities get help and what some of that help is. I feel this information helps demystify where children with disabilities go if and when they leave the classroom and why they get additional help in school. To me, reading this book in the classrooms with typical students helps those students realize that having a disability is no big deal. This book is not intended to help those with disabilities. The book is intended to help typical children address concerns they have for students they share a classroom with that may have learning or physical disabilities. I would get this book and use it as a tool to open up a great discussion!