This week, I read two books focused on disability diversity and depictions. I think it's important for not only children with disabilities to see themselves represented in texts, but for all children to see disability diversity in texts. Growing up with a brother who is hearing impaired, I saw how others treated him and made him feel excluded. Having that experience, I have a natural empathy towards others who have disabilities and put forth an effort daily to make others with disabilities feel included. However, I don't know what it is like to be a person who is hearing impaired, or who uses a wheelchair, or who uses a seeing eye dog, etc., so I think it's important that we have representative texts like Just Ask! to serve as windows for people like me and mirrors for people being represented.
I love the fact that books like A Boy Called Bat exists. More books are being written to represent people on the autism spectrum, but I still believe ASD is not represented enough through text and media. As a part of my graduate program, I am getting a certificate in autism spectrum disorders. I just finished my last classes for it this summer. I love working with students who are on the autism spectrum and I am always looking for ways to support them in my classroom. I currently have one student in my first-grade classroom who is on the spectrum. Even though A Boy Called Bat is not on a reading level appropriate for this student, it would make a good read aloud.
Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You
During the first week of school, I actually read this book aloud to my first-grade class. I wanted to start the year out reading this book because I want my students to understand that not everyone is the same, it's okay to ask questions, and being different is what makes our class beautiful! We had some good conversations about what makes a garden beautiful, how all flowers are different but beautiful in their own way, and how we are like those flowers.
This book depicts children with diverse abilities. Some of the children have diabetes, asthma, use a wheelchair, are blind, have dyslexia, are deaf, are on the autism spectrum, speak with a stutter, have Tourette's syndrome, have ADHD, have allergies, and are born with Down Syndrome. The book is written as from the perspective of each child with a disability. Each of the children describe themselves and ways they are all unique. I love this book because it allows children to learn empathy and also possibly make connections or see themselves represented. I know that my brother would have loved to see books that included characters who were also hearing impaired and wore hearing aids. One of my favorite things about this book is that at the end of every page or section, the child telling their story asks a question to the reader, which is even more powerful for making connections.
Meet the Author
Sonia Sotomayor is not only an author, but also the first Latina to assume the role of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She has written other books like My Beloved World, Turning Pages, and The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor. One of the characters in the book, Sonia, is based on Sotomayor herself. Like the character, the author also grew up with diabetes and knows what it is like to be different. In an interview with NPR Radio, Sotomayor talks about her own experience with being different and living with assumptions made by other people, like a time when she gave herself an insulin shot but was accused of being a drug addict by another lady. In the interview, Sonia Sotomayor explains that she wanted to write this book to talk about children like herself.
Meet the Illustrator
Rafael Lopez is an award-winning illustrator and artist who, according to his website, "is driven to produce and promote books that reflect and honor the lives of all young people." He has won Pura Belpre medals for other books like Drum Dream Girl and Book Fiesta. He is also the founder of San Diego's Urban Art Trail movement. In the same interview I mentioned above with Sonia Sotomayor, Rafael Lopez mentioned that he really connected with Just Ask! because his son has autism. Bright colors are used throughout the book, which Lopez believes, as he states in the interview, to "represent emotion and diversity." Here is a link to Rafael's website: https://rafaellopez.com/about/
Other Resources
Here is a helpful article featured on Teaching Tolerance called "Beautiful Differences" by Joe Hansen about teaching ability diversity: https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/summer-2014/beautiful-differences
A Boy Called Bat
As I mentioned above, I love that more books are being written that feature main characters with autism. While working to obtain a certificate in autism spectrum disorders, I have learned about some of the challenges individuals with autism face. One of those challenges is not being understood by others. At times, ASD can be complex, and not everyone takes the time to learn about it. Assumptions are often made about individuals with ASD and harmful stereotypes can surface. Autism is a spectrum and everyone on the spectrum is not the same. I've heard this quote many times throughout my studies in autism: When you meet a person with autism, you've met one person with autism.
This book is about...a boy called Bat. Although not stated directly, he is on the autism spectrum. This story tells about Bat's life as a third grader with divorced parents and an older sister, and his everyday experiences with challenges that come with being on the autism spectrum. His mother, a veterinarian, brings home a baby skunk who has lost its mother. Bat is able to connect with this baby skunk, who eventually is named Thor, and is finally able to convince his mom to let him keep the skunk as a pet until it is able to be released. It is a beautiful story focusing on friendship, empathy, acceptance, and love.
Something I found interesting about this book is that it does not mention the word autism. I believe the author chose not to include this word to help shift the reader's focus from Bat's diagnosis to who he is as a person. Before taking autism courses, I did not know or understand very much about autism spectrum disorder. After taking courses I understand more about the characteristics. If I were to pick up this book without knowing the main character was on the autism spectrum, I would be able to guess that he is based on how he is described. But a child who is not familiar with autism may read this book without ever knowing that Bat is on the spectrum. On one hand, I really like the fact that readers are able to know Bat for who he is despite of his diagnosis. On another hand, I feel like the term autism is something that should not be hidden or overlooked. In my class, I have one student on the spectrum. The other students in my class do not know that he has autism, but they see some of the characteristics. I think reading books like A Boy Called Bat would be helpful for neurotypical students to better understand their classmates on the spectrum and develop empathy without focusing on the "title" of being autistic. This book would be a great way to start introducing person-first language.
While being interviewed on a Kid Lit podcast, Elana K. Arnold told the story of a letter she received from a family whose son has autism and read her book. The family had just found out about their son's diagnosis, but had not yet told him that he is on the autism spectrum. Their son read A Boy Called Bat for class and said to his parents, "This is me." He saw himself represented in the book without knowing that Bat had autism or himself, almost self-diagnosing without having received the news of his diagnosis. I thought that was such a powerful story about learning to accept yourself before hearing a diagnosis.
Meet the Author
Elana K. Arnold is an award-winning author of young adult novels and children's books, including Damsel, What Girls Are Made Of, and of course, A Boy Called Bat (and the sequels!). Elana also teaches a Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Hamline University.
Here is a link to her website: http://elanakarnold.com/about-elana/
Meet the Illustrator
Charles Santoso has illustrated several books such as The Snurtch and I Don't Like Koala, Peanut Butter & Brains, Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don't Do Bedtime, Wishtree, and of course, A Boy Called Bat. According to his website, he has been involved in animated feature film and television commercial projects and has other esteemed clients such as Scholastic, Penguin Random House, Warner Bros, and Disney Hyperion.
You can find out more about him on his website: http://www.charlessantoso.com/wp/about/
Other Resources
Also in her interview, Elana K. Arnold mentions that she read the book Look Me In the Eye by John Elder Robinson. It is an autobiography written by John about his life with Asperger's, which is considered a mild form of autism. However, I have learned through autism courses that today, the term Asperger's is not being recognized by professionals as a proper term. Experts suggest that only the phrase "on the autism spectrum" be used when referring to someone with ASD. Through his memoir, John Elder Robinson describes his life on the autism spectrum and challenges he faced. He starts at his childhood, describing throughout the book how he learned to accept himself and focus on his skills and talents to establish a successful life and career. It is a powerful and inspiring story about discovering who you are despite of what others say or think, and everyone should read it to have a better insight and develop empathy towards individuals living on the autism spectrum.
Amazon Link for the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Look-Me-Eye-Life-Aspergers/dp/0307396185
Fish In a Tree
I chose this book to read along with Just Ask! and A Boy Called Bat because it is a Schneider Family Book Award winner. I read this for one of my undergraduate literacy courses and we did several fun projects with this book.
Fish In a Tree is the story of a young girl named Ally who has dyslexia. She does not understand that she has dyslexia until later in the book after going through some challenges with reading and writing. As a sixth-grader, she faces difficulties and hardships, especially from her peers. The class bully, Shay, always gives Ally a hard time about her challenges with reading and writing. While her teacher is out on maternity leave, Ally gets a new teacher, Mr. Daniels, who supports her and helps her finally understand that she has dyslexia and learn new strategies and techniques for reading and writing. Mr. Daniels is such a helpful and supportive figure in Ally's life who helps her see herself as capable of doing something she never thought she could do. Whereas she used to see herself as dumb, by the end of the book, she understands that sometimes, the most valuable coins are the ones that have flaws.
Guiding Questions:
1. How is the life of the character with a disability presented as multidimensional?
At the beginning of this book, readers, along with the main character herself, do not know that Ally has dyslexia. Throughout the book, readers learn about who Ally is as a person, not who her label says she is or what she is able to do. Characteristics of dyslexia are mentioned throughout the beginning of the book, but the readers are able to found out with Ally that she has a reading disability called dyslexia. I wouldn't even say that this book about a girl with dyslexia, it is about overcoming challenges, discovering who you are, learning to accept yourself, and seeing yourself as valuable. I love the analogy the author includes in this story with the coins. Often, we think the valuable coins are the ones that are perfect; when in reality, the most valuable are the ones that were made different.
2. Whose voice is represented and emphasized in the telling of this story?
The book is told from Ally's perspective as a person living with dyslexia (even though she doesn't find out until later in the book).
3. How are readers positioned to think and feel about the character with a disability?
Ally is a typical sixth-grade girl struggling to discover herself and maintain friendships. She wants to be liked and fit in. Almost anyone in middle school can relate to this scenario. Even though not everyone has dyslexia, this book highlights the fact that sometimes, we all feel a little different; but it's important to value our differences.
4. What steps has the author taken to create and present authentic relationships?
There are several different types of relationships depicted in this story: relationships with teachers, peers, siblings, and parents. Ally is challenged by her teacher, but knows that he cares for her and wants to support her. Ally's mom is also supportive of her while her father is deployed since he is in the military. The book also depicts Ally's relationship with her older brother, Travis, and how he helps her see herself as valuable and understands her like no one else. There are also depictions of peer relationships in the book, both good and bad and how to be there for your friends and stand up for them.
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