This week we are looking at Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor and illustrated by Radael Lopez. We are also looking at A Boy Called Bat written by Elana K. Arnold and illustrated by Charles Santoso. These two books focus on the challenge of disabilities and how to embrace it.

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Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor is an inspiring book about how everyone is different but when we come together we make a beautiful garden. Everyone is born different and have special talents. Just Ask! encourages kids to ask their friends something if they have a question. Justice Sotomayo was diagnosed with diabetes at age seven which is where her inspiration came from for Just Ask!. She felt different from other kids in her class because she had to check her insulin levels and give herself shots. She felt so different from other kids because they wouldn't ask her questions. Justice Sotomayor a a child would have enjoyed explaining diabetes to her classmates but no one ever asked. She emphasizes that asking questions about different people is not a bad thing. Rafael Lopez brightens up this book with his vibrant illustrations and detailed scenes. Lopez was raised in Mexico City by two architects which founded his love of drawing. Justice Sotomayer is the first Latina and third woman to be appointed the United States Supreme Court Justice. Justice Sotomayor is a powerful and inspiring woman for all ages. Just Ask! won #1 New York Times Picture Books Bestseller and 2020 Schneider Family Book Award/American Library Association. 

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Rafael Lopez's mural

 

 

A Boy Called Bat is about a boy named Bixby Alexander Tam (Bat) that is on the autism spectrum. Bat is full of surprises and is full of ambition. His mother is a veterinarian and one day she brought home a skunk to rehabilitate and later plans to re-home it to a wild animal shelter. Bat makes it his mission to convince his mother to keep the skunk as a pet and has one month to do so. Bat's parents are divorced and he has an older sister named Jamie. Bat is sensitive to loud noises and when excited flapped his arms, hence the nickname Bat. He is very particular about the way his possessions are organized. Charles Santoso is the illustrator of this book and did a wonderful job incorporating illustrations into this chapter book. While the illustrations are in black white, they are full of detail yet simple. Elana Arnold is a professor at Hamline University in Writing for Children and Young Adults program. While growing up Alana had her own perfect pet, a mare (female horse). This book is a great way to introduce your students to individuals with autism and what they experience on a day to day basis. It also incorporates divorced parents which many children experience. Check out the video below of Elana Arnold teaching kids in a writing workshop!

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#OwnVoices

Just Ask!  is an Own Voices book by Justice Sotomayor. She has diabetes and struggled with other people and peers judging her when she gave herself insulin shots. People would call her a "drug addict" or "weird". Justice Sotomayor dealt with people looking at her in weird ways her whole life and wanted to create a book where readers learn that different people make the world a beautiful place. Rafael Lopez, the illustrator, created the book's illustrations very carefully. At first, the books scenes are dry and lack of greenery. As more different children are introduced, the illustrations become more colorful and vibrant. Lopez did this to indicate that all the different people in the world make the it an even more beautiful and colorful place. I love this about the book. Lopez also has a son that is high-functioning autism and he inspired him in his illustrations. By author's using their Own Voices, it creates a more intimate book where readers can really connect and learn from the text. 

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Schneider Family Book Award

 

I chose the book Rescue and Jessica that received the Schneider Family Book Award in 2019. This book follows the true story of a woman named Jessica who lost both legs during the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. While is the hospital after the accident, she meets training dogs to help her with recovery. She applied for a service dog and was matched with a dog named Rescue. Rescue helps her with everyday tasks such as fetching items for her, helping Jessica get up after she falls, and opening doors. Rescue also emotionally supports Jessica and brings joy to her life. Rescue is Jessica's saving grace. The authors are Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes and is illustrated by Scott Magoon. This is a credible text because Jessica and Patrick are married and were injured in the Boston Marathon bombing. Rescue joined their family in 2014 as Jessica's service dog. Scott Magoon has been illustrating children's books since 2003. He loves putting words and pictures together for kids. Scott did an amazing job with Rescue and Jessica with his detailed and vibrant illustrations. This is an inclusive text for readers with amputated legs or who have been impacted by the Boston Marathon bombing. This is a humanizing text that can educate readers on what it's like having amputated legs and a service dog. 

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When selecting a picture book that represents disability, there are several factors your should consider. Jessica is presented as a multidimensional character. This is portrayed by her experience losing her legs and getting her service dog. She is also the one that wrote the book which gives readers an insiders perspective. Rescue and Jessica  portrays a point of view of a character with a disability that is represented more humanizing. This is a true story and the point of view is from Jessica. When reading this book, readers might feel uncomfortable or sad because Jessica lost both of her legs during a marathon. Nonetheless, Jessica stays positive through the struggles and gains a friend, Rescue. The relationship between Jessica and Rescue is really special. Rescue helps Jessica with her new disability and offers support physically and emotionally. 

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When thinking about how Just Ask!  and A Boy Called Bat portray characters with disabilities, I had to really dive in. Just Ask! incorporated a disability on each page. The characters would explain their disability in a kid friendly way and then would explain what makes them unique. A Boy Called Bay portrays Bat as an ambitious and creative kid. We get to know a lot about Bat and what makes him, him. Both books did a fantastic job at the point of view of the characters and connecting to the readers. 

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Connecting to the book:

I would guide a conversation with students with the following questions. 

Who here knows someone with an amputated leg? How does this person get around? Do they have a service dog?

Do you know anyone with a service dog? Should you pet or feed a service dog?

Do you know what the Boston Marathon is? Do you know what the Boston Marathon bombing is?

How do you think a person with an amputated leg(s) feels? Think about the process of losing a leg(s). 

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