Someone Special, Just Like You

by Tricia Brown, Effie Lee Morris, Fran Ortiz (Photographs)

Brown and Ortiz show that the differences that seem to separate children with handicaps from others are not important. What is important is the common delight in life--a desire to love, learn and play, and to be accepted for themselves as other children are.

Genres: Disability

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Penny Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm actually kind of amazed that this book is still in print. The photos were taken in 1983, many of them at my preschool. That little girl with the bubble glasses on the very first page? That's me. I'm so glad to learn that people are still reading this to children. It fosters the idea that the world is full of people who experience things differently, but we all have much more in common than we realize. Despite its dated aspects, I think the message of this book still really holds up (and not just because my face is plastered all over it.)

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

TERRIFIC! Sweet, simple narrative that uses real images of real children with different abilities. I would highly recommend reading this to PK/K, but it could just as easily be read to older students too.

[Brian Breese]

What?: This books sets out to dispel the fears people have regarding individuals with disabilities. It demonstrates that all people have the same desires for love, acceptance, and friendship.

So What?: Children will learn that we share more things in common with children with disabilities than not. Our differences should not deter us from getting to know one another, but become a point of getting to know someone better.

Now What?: I would use this book to introduce how to get to know someone who looks or acts differently than you. Then, set up role playing activities so students can practice how to properly interact with someone different, in this case someone with a disability.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent non-fiction picture book to read with young children in kindergarten. I would read this story to a classroom that has students both with and without disabilities. The information shared with readers allows young children to realize kids with physical disabilities do not have limits and can dance, smile, and play like all children. The one thing that bothered me was the text in this book did not have anything about what a disability is.

[Kendall Kraiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a tear jerker for me. I think that the story is great! The real life pictures were very important to the story in my opinion. By seeing that REAL children have disabilities (not cartoons) it makes it more real to the children. I think that this book could be read to ANY grade level. We forget that these children (and adults) are just like US. It is a good book to expose children to different disabilities that affect people everyday. Great book! Very touching!

[Kathleen Heroux · Rating 3 out of 5]

This edition was copyrighted in 1984. mMy rating of three stars is reflective of the photographs which are in black and white and slightly dated. the premis of the book is that all children are the same despite observable differences. A good theme, but I wonder if this books presentation does more to highlight differences than to include them as a variation of "normal."

[Ahmad Worthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because it demonstrates to the children that everyone is special in their own unique way. The book is very informative and inspirational. The pictures in the book are also draw to scale.

[Mouse Denehy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a little dated. That being said, the photography is great. Compared to all the other illustrated books I've reviewed, I feel this book stands out for the informative and clear words and showing real children doing real things.

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sets out to turn negative opinions about people with special needs around. Just because someone has hearing aids or leg braces doesn't mean he doesn't love to blow bubbles or give hugs. We are all different but the same, too!

[Buxmont Uu]

WAMWAO Session 25

[Davin Thompson-williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book. It accurately describes us as humans. None of us are truly the same but we are not so different at all. Even those who have obvious differences can do many of the same things we do.

[Philip Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great for focusing on children as children first. It draws attention to things that are the same and shows little emphasis on disability as a deficit.

[Mary-Alice Shavers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes us through many disabilities. The main message in the book is that we all can do the same things, even if the way those things are done looks different from person to person. We are all humans and out differences make us better for it.

I really enjoyed this book.

We can use this in our classroom to teach our students how people with disabilities experience the same things in life. This book is good to introduce students to different disabilities.

[Gina Marie Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book about children with all kinds of differences. And how being kind is ultimately the goal for each and everyone of us. I read this book to my 3 year 9 month Autistic son last night and we loved it.