Spelling Window

by Dawn L. Watkins, John Roberts (Illustrator)

In The Spelling Window, a picture book by Dawn L. Watkins and illustrated by John Roberts, Shelly learns how to be a friend to someone who is disabled. Shelly usually ignores the spelling window, the window that her sister and their hearing-impaired neighbor, Seth, use when they sign to each other. And she resents the way her sister stands up for Seth. Why should she have to make allowances for him? Her trip to the state capitol is nearly ruined when Shelly is embarrassed by Seths loud voice and his exuberance, but it is during the trip that an accident prompts Shelly to see her actions in a new light. She makes a surprising variation on the spelling window and sign language, and she finds that Seth can make allowances for her.

Genres: Picture Books

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I disliked this book. The story didn't flow very well and was hard to read. Toward the end of the book Shelly, the narrator, does something to help during the accident and suddenly she understands Seth and everything is fine. It didn't make sense. The idea of the book as a whole is a good one, but it just didn't work.