The Patch

by Justina Chen Headley, Mitch Vane (Illustrator)

"Ballerinas don't wear glasses," Becca cried. "And they especially do NOT wear patches!"

At school, all of Becca's friends want to know what's up with her patch. Instead of telling the truth, Becca leads her classmates on imaginative adventures to explain her fabulous fashion choice. But when the questions persist, it's time for Becca to come clean about her problem.

Justina Chen Headley gives readers a resourceful heroine who tackles her amblyopia with wit and spunk. Mitch Vane's exuberant illustrations are laugh-out-loud funny.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good story of a girl having to deal with an eye patch, first with imagination, and then with honesty, but it working out pretty well either way.

[Tatiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though she was tired, one of my tutoring students worked hard this morning on plurals. She applied rules (-es when the word ends in ch, s, sh, x, and sometimes z; drop the y and add -ies) and was mimicking the academic vocabulary I used. So I was happy to let her pick out a book for me to read to her, and of course she gravitated toward a story about a ballerina.

I'm getting too picky about children's books. This was a good story about embracing differences, but it wasn't great. It didn't 'bring it home,' so to speak. Darling illustrations, though. And it had amazing appeal to a second grade girl. That counts for a lot.

[Elizabeth Prows · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very playful book about Becca who found out she needed glasses and an eye patch. At first she didn’t want to wear them with the fear of being made fun of but with some help from her family and friends they made it fun but saying she’s a pirate/private eye/one eyed monster!

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little long for my intended audience. I thought the book was going in a different direction and was glad Becca told the real reason for her patch instead of just letting all the other children have them as well.

[Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I have been a dancer my whole life and love any book that has to deal with dancing. I thought it was interesting how Becca explained to her classmates about why she was wearing the patch by telling imagination stories. This is a great book to read to a future classroom.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kelsey Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it for children who are freshly wearing glasses and feel embarrassed

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl wears a patch under new glasses to help strengthen her lazy eye.

[Megan Renner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Headley, J. (2006). The patch. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

The story is about a little ballerina named Becca that was at the doctors for a check up. They found out that she needs glasses, and needs to wear an eye patch to make one of her eyes as strong as the other one is. She did not like having to wear a patch, let alone glasses. The next morning she did not want to get out of bed until her brother offered to let her borrow his pirate costume (since she was wearing a patch). As soon as he offered that to her, she changed her mind and could not wait to get to school. She decided she would be a ballerina pirate. Once at school her and her friends reenacted pirate type scenes. Then she decided she was a detective and could find anything. Then she decided that she was a monster. Then at the end of the day, everyone in her class wanted to wear an eye patch too. A few weeks later her best friend broke her arm. And then made up stories of why she had a cast. I thought this story was written well. A child that has to wear something because of some kind of disability, I feel would appreciate this story, and could feel like they could relate. I give it 5/5 stars.

[Rachel Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

title: The Patch (picture)
author: Justina Chen Headley
Illustrator: Mitch Vane
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Date of publication: 2006
Summary: This story was cute. It is about a little 5 year old girl who has to go to the eye doctor for a check up because she is going into kindergarten. They find out she has an eye problem and she has to wear a patch on one of her eyes and has to get glasses. She is so scared of what everyone will think of her and is afraid to go to school. Her brother tries to cheer her up by letting her wear his pirate costume and tells her to just play with it. She goes to school but tries to be confident with her eye patch and glasses. She pretends she is a pirate at school and the other kids accept her with her eye patch and glasses. This book would be good in explaining that it is ok to get glasses and a lot of kids go through that step in life.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother, sister, niece, nephew, and daughter all had to wear an eye patch for amblyopia (lazy eye). I think they would've appreciated this book.

Becca is not happy about having to wear an eye patch. Her older brother starts her off on the right foot, though, when he offers her his prized pirate costume for school "just this once". And from that moment, Becca is determined to turn her patch into an adventure, even if she does hate it. Her attitude is so positive that her friends fall in step alongside her as the patch allows her to become a pirate, a private eye, and even a one-eyed monster.

When the moment comes to explain to her class why she is wearing an eye patch, Becca's answer now seems cool, and one of her friends even wishes she was lucky enough to have a lazy eye, too.

Terrific confidence-builder for kids with amblyopia. Hurray for Justina Chen Headley!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book about needing glasses or an eye patch. Of course it is very specific to those children who are experiencing this... but it also offers some insight to those kids who don't have to experience this but have classmates or friends that will. It gives an opportunity for children and parents to talk about differences and how to deal with people, situations, or appearances that might not be what they see every day.

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first upset about having to wear glasses and an eye patch to correct her lazy eye (Amblyopia), five-year-old Becca soon discovers that her new accessories allow her to take on such roles as a ballerina-pirate and a private eye.





Self-acceptance -- Juvenile fiction

Eyeglasses -- Juvenile fiction.

Schools -- Juvenile fiction

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Patch features Becca, who has amblyopia, or lazy eye, and must wear an eye patch and glasses. Dismayed and embarrassed, Becca tells adventurous tales to her friends about why she's wearing them instead of the real reason. After reading this book, you'll find eye patches and glasses aren't so bad after all!

[Jeanine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it reminded me of when I first had to have glasses, but unlike her I was fortunate enough to not have to wear a patch. I love how she is able to think of so many imaginative situations as to why you would wear a patch. It is very cute!

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was picked by a 3 yr old and 4 yr old as one of the books that they wanted me to read. I don't usually log these books. However, this one dealt with a girl with had lazy eye and some of the stories she made up about having to wear an eye patch. It was interesting.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A humorous book about a little girl with an eye patch. It's bound to make both kids and adults smile. A good discussion starter about physical differences and bullying.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Braden loves the fact that she takes the fact that she has to wear glasses and a patch and turns it into a different type of character.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great story about how having the right attitude can get you through what can be, for children, traumatic situations.
Great illustrations helped the story along.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute for young kids. The animations that go with it with the library are fun for kiddies also.

[Katterley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cute story that would help anyone getting a therapy that is physically obvious, or is recovering from something and has to face classmates.

[Verna Seal · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE

[Miri Gifford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great way to show kids how to make the best of something they're not happy about.

[Dawn]

The author's name is Justina?! I'm sold!