Children’s Books Featuring People with a Disability

“A Boy Called Bat”

Written by Elana Arnold

Summary

In this story, a young boy named Bixby Alexander Tam, otherwise known as Bat, finds that his mom brought home an orphaned baby skunk from work. As a veterinarian, it is her job to care for the baby skunk until it is possible for the animal rescue center to take over. The precious boy, Bat, loves animals and acquiring new facts about them. He finds himself quite quickly attached to this young creature, thinking about the baby during school or when he is with his father every other weekend. When is he with the skunk, he cares for it gently and attentively. The idea that Bat would soon have to give the baby skunk, Thor, up to go to the rescue center saddens him. In attempt to change his mother’s mind to keep the baby, he writes an email to a professional skunk studier in hopes that the doctor would help convince her. Though during school hours, he is mostly distracted thinking about his furry friend waiting for him at home, he is quite often surrounded with positive relationships such as his patient teacher or his eager new friend. At the end of the story, the people in his life recognize his dedication and care for the young creature and his mom allows him to continue to care for Thor until he is old enough to be released back into the wild.

Personal Reflection

Though the story does not directly specify it, the assumption of the educated reader is that Bat is most likely on the autism spectrum based on his characteristics. Young students who do not have the background knowledge on people with autism might not pick up on the details in the story. It is not imperative that they do understand these details in order to understand what is happening. However, if you want them to understand that they are reading a story about a young kid with a disability it might be a good idea to have a conversation with them before or after they read the text. Perhaps a child who is familiar with the topic might even recognize it and start the conversation.

Personally, I have never read a chapter book with a character with a disability, let alone a main character with a disability. Reading books with diverse characters allows readers to delve into lives different than their own in ways that they would not be able to otherwise. It gives them different perspectives and therefore can grant understanding to different people (Laminack & Kelly, 2017). It also allows for an audience to relate to this character that may have not been able to see themselves in a story before, whether it is because he has a disability or because he has divorced parents. It let’s them know that they are recognized and not alone. The vast majority of books are written with white, middle-class characters without a disability. To read a book that has a character who is different in the fact that they have a disability will be refreshing to you and your students alike. Bat was a marginalized character in the book. Throughout the story, he dealt with many tribulations by being marginalized that even the reader felt the frustration he was feeling. For example, when he wanted to do a good deed for his sister by giving the skunk her favorite pajama top so he may recognize her scent, she misunderstood the event and got increasingly frustrated with him for it. Many times throughout the story, there have been interactions that have been misunderstood between him and other characters. Even though he was marginalized, the author wrote it in a way that did not reinforce any stereotypes and did it in a respectful manner.

Not only was Bat a great character to have in a story, but he was also surrounded in other amazing characters that inspire readers. The mother and father alike were supportive of Bat and had a great relationship with him and his sister. The teacher, Mr. Grayson, was very patient and was the teacher I think we can all dream to be in the way that he talked to students and handled his classroom.

Instructional Uses

· Increased conversation and dialog about people with disabilities. It is a great opportunity to have them learn about appropriate terminology and people-first language

· Writing persuasive letters: what opinion/call to action did Bat have, how did he go about changing someone’s opinion on the matter, did it work? Think about the email he wrote to Dr. Jerry Dragoo, why did he choose him to write to? How was his mother convinced at the end?

About the Author

Elana K. Arnold is a fantastic writer who has written at least fourteen books, many of which have won awards including this title. Though she is an amazing, award-winning writer, I have not been able to find anything about her having a disability. For this reason, I can not speak to her cultural authenticity when writing this chapter book. Updates to follow if I am wrong.

Awards

2017 Junior Library Guild Selection

“Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You”

Written by Sonia Sotomayer

Illustrated by Rafael Lopez

Summary

In this children’s short story book, the author Sonia presents herself as someone who has been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. She explains that growing up she has felt different from others in her class because of this and wishes that when others wonder why someone is doing something different, they should just ask. The story then goes on to present many other different characters with a disability or challenge. The characters each have their own separate question to answer and story to tell. As the characters are telling their story, they are all working on different parts of a garden. At the end, the author writes that just like plants in a garden are different, so are people in the world. Like a garden with different plants, people who are different enhance the world by making it more interesting and fun.

Personal Reflection

I absolutely loved reading this story. I found genuine excitement when I was turning each page to see who the next character is and their name. I was excited to see how they were going to answer their question and the story that went along with it. I love that some characters introduced their friend, such as Jordan introducing Tiana. Both characters are on the autism spectrum and by introducing both characters in different ways really signifies that though two people might have the same disability, that doesn’t mean they behave in the same manner. The illustrations also caught my eye in this story. Every character is different by the way they look, what they are doing, their modes of transportation, or other. It even appears that Vijay, the child who spoke about being deaf, is even signing the word “tree” in ASL. This story provides such a bright and positive outlook on people with challenges or disabilities. There were so many different disabilities included that I’m sure many people who are reading this can see themselves in this book in one way or another. It also teaches children to welcome people who are different because it will bring something new and interesting into their life. If they are curious about why someone is doing something different, then just ask!

About the Author

With the author’s note at the beginning and end of the story, it is clear that she herself has dealt with something that marginalized her and made her different. The illustrator on page seven even answers a question explaining how he is different. Because of this, both the writer and illustrator provide a

cultural authenticity to the story of the marginalized people they are representing. In the story, they mention many different marginalized people with disabilities and portray them in many different ways. In each representation, it is respectful and accurate. In the “Acknowledgements” page at the back of the book, the writer goes on to state the information in the story has been written with personal experiences, people she knew, or professional opinions in mind. This further accounts to her authenticity and accurate representation of the story.

Critical Issues to Consider For The Classroom

People with Disabilities – what is “person first” language and why should it be used?

Diversity – In what ways did the author relate people to a garden? Why should differences in people matter?

Awards

#1 New York Times bestseller

2020 Schneider Family Book Award

“A Boy and A Jaguar”

Written by Alan Robinowitz

Illustrated by Catia Chien

Summary

This short story is about a young boy who has a stutter speech-impediment. When trying to explain to his father what he’s doing, his mouth freezes and shakes. He then goes on to explain his life and how his stutter has been the cause of his unfair treatment, such as his experience in schools. His love for animals has helped him understand himself and escape the unacceptance of others towards him. One of the only times he doesn’t stutter is when he whispers to animals. He becomes a zoologist despite the pressures of others because of his stutter.

Critical Issues

· Fair treatment of animals

· People with a speech impediment

· People with a disability

· Education for those with a disability

About the Author

This award winning author wrote this story using inspiration from his own childhood. He grew up with a debilitating stutter that affected the way he interacted with and saw the world. This speaks to his cultural

authenticity. He used his own life to describe how having a stutter impacted him.

Awards

2015 Schneider Family Book Award

Questions For The Classroom

· What are some connections you’ve noticed between the three books?

· What are some major issues in this book?

· Have there been times where you haven’t felt accepted by others?

· What did you think about the page that the boy expresses how he “got through school by learning tricks that stutterers learn” by not speaking, avoiding situations, or not being around people?

· Why do you think he goes on to say he still feels broken on the inside though he can speak without a stutter?

· Why do you think he whispers “thank you” to the jaguar at the end of the story?

References

Arnold, E. K., (2017). A Boy Called Bat. Walden Pond Press.

Laminack, L., & Kelly, K., (2017) Reading to Make a Difference: Using Literature to Help Students Speak Freely, Think Deeply, and Take Action. Heinemann Publishers.

Robinowitz, A., & Chien, C., (2014). A Boy and A Jaguar. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books.

Sotomayer, S., & Lopez, R., (2019). Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You. Philomel Books

*All images from authors have been taken from their websites linked*