Aaron Slater, Illustrator

Questioneers Picture Books

by Andrea Beaty, David Roberts (Illustrator)

An uplifting story about the power of art, finding your voice, and telling your story even when you’re out of step with your peers from the #1 bestselling creators of Sofia Valdez, Future Prez and Ada Twist, Scientist!

Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers. When his teacher asks each child in the class to write a story, Aaron can’t get a single word down. He is sure his dream of being a storyteller is out of reach . . . until inspiration strikes, and Aaron finds a way to spin a tale in a way that is uniquely his.

Follow Iggy Peck, Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, Sofia Valdez, and Aaron Slater on all of their adventures! Add the picture books, chapter books, and activity books starring The Questioneers by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts to your family library today.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Childrens, School, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Disability

40 pages, Hardcover

First published November 2, 2021

About the author

For more information, visit my website (www.AndreaBeaty.com).

Also, visit www.Questioneers.com for posters, activities, educator resources, and other information about the Questioneer books.

Further, check out Story Time From Space to see Ada Twist and Rosie Revere read at the International Space Station by astronauts! It’s out of this world.

https://storytimefromspace.com/ada-tw...

Reviews

[Shaghayegh · Rating 3 out of 5]

این کتاب، جزئی از سری مجموعه‌ای* به شمار میره که هر جلد، موضوع و شخصیت خاص خودش رو داره و یه مسئله‌ای رو باز میکنه.
موقع خوندنش از دیسلکسیا/نارساخوانی/خوانش‌پریشی اطلاعی نداشتم. اما ارون دچار این اختلال یادگیریه و تو مدرسه به مشکل برخورد میکنه. اون عاشق نوشتن و خلق کردنه، ولی سر انشا و موضوعی که باید ازش می‌نوشت، کلمات از ذهنش پر می‌کشن و توانایی نوشتن نداره. در سن و سال این پسرک، چنین اختلالی علائم زیر رو بروز میده:

_خواندن پایین‌تر از حد انتظار برای سن فرد
_مشکل در پردازش و درک چیزی که می‌شنود.
_مشکل در پیدا کردن کلمه صحیح یا جمله‌بندی درست پاسخ سوالات
_مشکل در به یاد آوردن توالی چیزهای مختلف
_مشکل در دیدن (و گاهی شنیدن) شباهت‌ها و تفاوت‌ها در حروف و کلمات
_ناتوانی در تلفظ صحیح یک کلمه ناآشنا
مشکل در هجی کردن کلمات
_صرف غیرعادی زمان زیاد برای انجام وظایفی که شامل نوشتن و خواندن می‌شوند.
_خودداری از فعالیت‌هایی که به خواندن نیاز دارند.

حالا خالق اثر با شعر و نقاشی، به زندگی ارون و نحوه‌ی برخورد معلم، کارکنان مدرسه، خونواده و آشناهاش پرداخته. اما از نظر من این مقوله فراتر از این حرفاست و باید به به مختصص بیماری‌های مغز و اعصاب رجوع کرد. چون درمان قطعی نداره و مادام‌العمره :)

*Questioneers Picture Books Series

پ.ن: لیست علائم رو از مجله‌ی سلامتی پذیرش ۲۴ برداشتم.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This team is truly brilliant and this story truly speaks to kids.

"...beauty and kindness and loving and art lend courage to all with a welcoming heart."

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaron Slater, Illustrator is a children's picture book written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts. It centers on Aaron Slater, an African American boy who has dyslexia.

Beaty's text is simplistic and rhythmically poetic. While some of the rhyming couplets seemed forced, it is nevertheless, beautifully written and for the most part has a steady beat and flowed well. Notably, the text is printed in dyslexic-friendly type. Roberts' illustrations are beautiful and colorful, albeit a tad cartoonish, which is apropos for a book directed to a younger age group.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It presents a boy overcoming insecurities related to reading comprehension. Aaron Slater love to draw, but more than drawing, however, young Aaron wishes to write, but when he tries to read, the letters appear scrambled and retreats into his drawings. At the beginning of the next school year, a writing prompt from a new teacher inspires Aaron, who spends his evening attempting to write a story to write something true. The next day in class, having failed to put words on paper, Aaron finds his voice and launches into a story through illustrations.

All in all, Aaron Slater, Illustrator is a touching and empowering narrative with empathetic art and lyrical text.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book about a boy who has dyslexia - it's written in rhyme, and the meter was generally consistent. I listened to the audiobook which is very well-produced with a jazzy background score.

The story and message here are wonderful, and it certainly made me curious to see the actual illustrations too.

I would say that the story is on the longer side and some children may struggle to maintain focus, and some of the words are a bit challenging ("Delphinium").

4.5/5 Stars
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book in the Questioneers series. It was great to see a young Black boy be centered in the story. This was significant for my two boys who love these books. It was also significant that Andrea Beaty wrote a story about a young person with a learning disability who could express himself in other ways such as art and illustration. What Aaron could do as an artist mattered and he was still seen and heard. I love this book.

[Reading is my Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, Aaron is a creative young boy who can’t wait to read & write so he can tell his own stories. But as the other children learn about letters and words, all he sees are squiggles. The book uses a dyslexic-friendly font to tell Aaron’s story as he realizes he can create stories in his own way. A great addition to the Questioneers series.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rhyming story that tells about a young boy who loves to draw and create stories.



A nice addition to the series, and as are all the books - beautifully illustrated.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

While Andrea Beaty’s other books are wonderfully done this one not only misses the mark….apparently supposed to be about dyslexia ??!! (The only way I knew was the note at the back) the fact that there are clear references in the illustrations to leftist agendas is troublesome. We could have done without the two moms. The synopsis says ‘finding your voice’ in reference to dyslexia however the book seems to actually be speaking of aforementioned agendas and the dyslexia is just a ploy.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! This whole series is absolutely wonderful!

[K. ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an important book for young kids, especially those with learning differences! I really enjoyed this!

[wasteland baby · Rating 5 out of 5]

made me teary-eyed!! not to be all mr rogers but every child is so special and it's rlly important that they know it!!!

[Jungian.Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to #pridebooktours for making this book available to me as part of the book tour.
This follows Aaron Slater a very talent young artist. Just like every other boy, he likes to sit with his parents and family listening to them read to him. He wants to some day read and write his own story but everything he tries and no matter how hard he tries, he just can't seem to do it like his peers. His art is his way of expressing his story. So when his new class teacher asks everyone of her students to write a story and read in class, Aaron stays late into the night trying to write until the words start to float. The next day, he stand in the middle of his class and tells them a story he 'wrote'. Everyone loved his story.

Aaron is dyslexic and his art is his form of expression. Honestly I loved this book so much, it was so beautifully written (almost lyrical, like a rhyme), the story was so heart-warming, and it focused on a reading disability that I battled with as a young child, dyslexia. The art work is just simply divine with a diverse cast of characters. Its a children's book but everyone would benefit from reading it.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about a boy with dyslexia written in a font specifically designed for people with dyslexia. Another great book in the Questioneer series!

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was the best in the series!

[Flossmoor Public Library (IL) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Aaron Slater loves listening to stories on the porch swing as a small child. He can't wait to be able to read stories on his own, but reading is a challenge for Aaron. The words don't make sense and the letters just look like squiggles to him. Even though he loves stories, reading is too hard for Aaron, so he gives up and tries to blend in as best he can. Until one day in second grade, when his teacher asks the class to write their own story and present it to the class, that is. Aaron tries his best to write his own story and read it out loud to the class when it's his turn, but he stutters and stumbles over his words. What happens next, though, is beautiful and allows children to see that everyone can share the stories inside them in some way.

Dyslexia affects 15%-20% of people, according to information presented at the end of the book. A character like Aaron Slater allows children who may also struggle with dyslexia or reading in some way to see there are many ways to share stories and express themselves. Recommended for fans of the other books in this set or for readers looking for a beautifully-illustrated story about overcoming obstacles.

~ Miss Anna

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy who has difficulty learning how to read initially tries to hide at school, then realizes he can use his artistic skills to express himself. The courage he gains from art helps him persevere in school despite his learning difficulties. Includes both an author's note and an illustrator's note about dyslexia and learning disabilities, though there is no mention within the text of the story about the boy transposing letters or having trouble discerning which letter is which.

The teacher praises the boy for drawing an imaginary story off the top of his head, a fantasy about magical flowers and dragons, when the assignment was to write a "true" story (in other words, a nonfiction account of something that actually happened). While I can understand the teacher assisting the student to complete an assignment in a nontraditional fashion, the teacher does not reach out to help the struggling student and the boy does not follow the instructions of the assignment.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest book from the talented Andrea Beaty made me cry. Aaron Slater is a talented artist from a very young age and all he wants to do is tell stories. When he arrives at school he is eager to learn to read, but the words don't make sense. He retreats into himself and decides to blend in. Then, in grade two Aaron has to share a story he's written with the class. While he can't read his story to his class, he closes his eyes and paints a picture with beautiful descriptive words.

Eventually Aaron learns to read, although it's still hard. And he starts sharing his wonderful illustrations with his classmates. A gem of a book!

The author's note share more information about dyslexia and other learning challenges. I hope when teachers and librarians read aloud this important book they read those notes and let students know they are not alone.

The book is set of Dyslexie topface.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an empowering story about a young boy’s struggle with dyslexia, which makes reading and writing such a challenge for him, especially in school. With the help of understating and supportive family members and teachers, he finds a way to express himself in creative ways. Engaging illustrations depict the boy learning how to think in pictures and discovering his unique storytelling ability as an artist. The Author’s Note provides the backstory of Aaron Douglas, an African American artist who was the inspiration for the story, plus some information about common learning disabilities. The text has also been set in Dyslexie, a typeface specially designed for people with dyslexia.

[Karrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the series. As always diversity is celebrated without being pulpited. Aaron has dyslexia and gets the chance to discover his storytelling talent through art.

I particularly liked the panel showing the kids waiting to share their stories illustrating kids different learning disabilities concurrent with Aaron’s.

[marmix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! Sometimes writing in verse is a detriment, but Beaty does it so well. My kids, who are definitely older than the intended audience, will still sit around me for a read aloud for a new "Questioners" book. Books about books have a special place in my heart, and this one was a pleasure to read. The illustrations in this little story of an illustrator were likewise bright, beautiful, and could almost tell the story on their own. I was impressed to learn that the story was inspired by Aaron Douglas and the book used a typeface designed specifically for people with dyslexia.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story and artwork about a boy with dyslexia. It's a little on the long side, so it may be difficult to hold attention for a storytime. This would be great for kids starting to learn to read, so they see that it's not always an instant, easy thing; that there are different ways and speeds with which to learn. Highly recommend.

[Lisa Wee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touch my heart

I am a children illustrator. I started reading when I was 8 years old. It was very hard- that is why I draws. Reading this fills my heart with joy because kids with reading problem dont have to feel ashamed.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be still my heart. I nearly cried at this child’s bravery.

[Miina Lindberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a beautiful book! About art and dyslexia and about finding a way to express yourself.

[Hugh Mcdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful picture book full of hope and the understanding of strengths in someone whose brain may work a little differently. #mcdreads

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My family did not have the patience to listen to the afterword, even though that's always the best part!

[Danielle Dulchinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

[Bene Vogt · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those dastardly books to amuse children and make the reading adults cry. Be advised.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

We own the other books in this series, and M loves them. So when we found this in the library we had to pick it up! No surprise, M has requested it almost every night since we borrowed it.

[Bree Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Strength comes from the heart and not magical flowers”

Okay, this one made me cry. As a teacher with a few dyslexia superheroes I found this beautifully told and I’m so grateful for the inclusion.