Illustrated by Stacey Schuett. 32 p., Whitman, 2005. When a chronic condition limits what you can do, it's easy to become discouraged. Nathan has cerebral palsy and is unable to move around without a wheelchair or a walker. He wishes more than anything to walk on his own. Nathan's neighbor, Miss Sandy, take care of injured raptors until they're well enough to fly again, and he enjoys watching her, although he wishes he could help, too. Miss Sandy takes care of an owl that Nathan names Fire. Fire has a broken wing, and seems to want very much to fly and to hunt for her own food. It's hard for Nathan to wait for Fire's wing to heal, but finally, she's well enough to try flying in a large cage. At first, she soars, but then she falls to the ground. With empathy and deep sadness, Nathan realizes that she will always need to be in captivity. In the following days, Fire seems depressed. Nathan wants to help. He goes online and finds an article about another owl, nearly blind, who serves as owlets' foster mother. He shares the article with Miss Sandy, who decides to try this with Fire. At first, Fire appears completely uninterested in the nestlings. But one day, she begins to feed them. Nathan comments, "Although Fire's wish to be free can't come true, she has found something important to do. And that give me an idea!" He finds ways to help Miss Sandy after all - filling the birds' baths with a hose and a lot of persistence, taking in the mail, answering her phone and taking messages. Miss Sandy appreciates his help, and he feels very proud. Illustrated with expressive oil paintings, this story offers empathy, support, and encouragement, showing children how to find and make use of their strengths regardless of their limitations. Ages 4-8
Showing posts with label cerebral palsy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cerebral palsy. Show all posts
Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair by Jamee Riggio Heelan
Illustrated by Nicola Simmonds.30 p., Peachtree, 2000. Taylor and his twin brother, Tyler, have similar interests and are best friends. There is also an important difference between them: Taylor has cerebral palsy, and Tyler does not. Taylor explains that this condition causes his brain to tell his muscles to jump, instead of moving more smoothly. He has used a walker and braces on his legs for a long time, and has regular physical therapy to help him get stronger. But he still feels frustrated sometimes because he had to depend on other people; for example, his mom had to carry him to physical therapy visits. So when he starts to use a wheelchair, he's excited about the speed and independence that will be possible for him. He's even able to play basketball with Tyler! A classmate thinks that moving on foot is better than using a wheelchair, but when Taylor explains its advantages, his friend is happy for him. Learning to use a wheelchair takes work, both to operate the chair itself and to pay attention to buildings' accessibility. But for Taylor, it brings a sense of invincibility. This story is illustrated with engaging, attractive collages of drawings and photographs. Both children have disabilities and children who don't will better understand the experience of using a wheelchair, and will be happy for Taylor as his world expands. Ages 4-8