Celebrate Disability Pride Month Storytime!
Families, Children
July 8th, 2:00 p.m.
Location: Galaxy Hall
Please join us in the Trove for our Celebrate Disability Pride Month storytime for stories, a craft and a treat on Saturday, June 8th at 2 pm!
Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community. Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July, because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed on July 26, 1990. The Act bars discrimination against people with disabilities – in employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and access to state and local government services. Disability Pride Month celebrates people with disabilities, honors their inherent dignity and inalienable rights, and applauds and highlights their achievements. Disability Pride Month is also a powerful reminder about the importance of disability rights and why we fight for them. While progress has been made, more has to be done before we live in a truly inclusive world! A great article to read about the history of Disability Pride Month and the Disability Pride Flag is Jaime Ballard’s article, Everything to Know About the Disability Pride Flag and Disability Pride Month. To celebrate Disability Pride Month, I have put together a list of 20 great titles for kids – from preschoolers to sixth graders – enjoy!
20 Great Titles to Celebrate Disability Pride Month in July!
Early Childhood Books:
What Happened to You? By James Catchpole & Karen George
(Preschool – 2nd Grade)
Library Catalog
“George's cover illustration tells readers nothing and everything in Catchpole's exuberant book about abilities and how to talk about them. Two smiling children each stand on simple wooden swings, boards attached with ropes; she is Black with two puffs of dark hair, and he is white with flyaway blond hair. She has two legs, he has one. Within the pages, readers learn he is Joe, and he is a pirate, dealing with a shark. Kid One, the girl with the puffs, wants to know what has happened to Joe's leg. Other children join in with questions about where his leg went, ruining Joe's pirate quest as well as his day. He deflects all questions, becoming moody and even angry, until Simone, who was ‘Kid One,’ asks, ‘Is that a crocodile down there?’ and Joe lets her in. Soon all the kids have names and roles in Joe's game and the question of his leg is forgotten. Most of the story unfolds in conversation; the brevity of narrative moves the action along and George's cheerful illustrations capture in monotone pictures of the potential absurd answers to the children's impulsive questions. Catchpole, shown in a family photograph with one leg and a prosthetic, includes an author's note to explain how any person with a physical difference may not want to be interrupted (or become a so-called teachable moment) for questions about that difference, and ways to address such matters openly. VERDICT A rare perspective that removes pity, dissolves differences or impediments, and welcomes everyone into the game unquestioningly” –School Library Journal
(Preschool – 1st Grade)
Library Catalog
“The myriad ways in which infants and children eat. At first glance, this book covers familiar board-book territory: little ones eating. However, it offers more than simple dishware and starter foods. In this installment in the We Are Little Feminists series, readers see feeding tubes, breast pumps and breastfeeding, and adaptive cutlery along with diverse representations of families and cuisines. Spare text makes use of alliteration and simple rhymes. What really sets this title apart, however, are the beautiful images, taken by various photographers. Some look like a snapshot of a moment in time, a tired new parent with a baby, for example. Others capture intentional memories like a celebratory dish and beaming faces. People depicted are diverse in terms of race and ability; included also are a hijabi and a child using a wheelchair. The book ends with ‘A Note for Grown Ups’ about discussing differences (with a URL to a website with more information) along with ‘Family Discussion Questions’ broken down by age level. Sharing a meal, nourishing bodies, and preparing food are essential pieces of human and cultural experiences; this sweet book makes clear that everyone is a part of that. Meaningful and inclusive.” –Kirkus Reviews
(Preschool – 2nd Grade)
Library Catalog
“A blind child introduces readers to their city en route to a violin recital. Accompanied by their dad, they step out, white cane in hand. In simple, declarative sentences dotted with vivid adjectives and verbs, they narrate the many ways their city ‘speaks.’ ‘It rushes and stops / and waits and goes’ as they navigate a pedestrian crossing. It ‘grows’ as they stroke a sunflower and construction workers build nearby. It's ‘busy’ as they feed a flock of pigeons and ‘relaxed’ as they lounge with their dad on a park bench. ‘Sometimes it's smelly,’ they note as they pass a dumpster, and ‘sometimes it's sweet ‘ as they sample ice cream flavors. It ‘speaks with whispers and giggles and sometimes meows’ as they ride a subway crowded with racially and ethnically diverse passengers. As they cross one more busy street, it ‘also speaks with hasty honks, impatient beeps, distant chimes, reliable rumbles, speedy sirens and urgent clangs.’ ‘My city speaks,’ they repeat, joining fellow musicians on an outdoor stage, ‘and sometimes it just listens’ as they serenade an appreciative crowd. In a warm finale, the narrator and their dad embrace, beaming. With cheerful, doll-like human figures, Barron's bright illustrations highlight the quiet tenderness between father and child–a rarely represented duo in books featuring disabled characters. The narrator and their dad have brown skin. A celebration of city life's sounds, sensations, and faces.” –Kirkus Reviews
(Preschool – 3rd grade)
Library Catalog
“This gentle family narrative, a follow-up to My Brother Charlie, is told from the point of view of Charlie, a young boy who has autism. Along with his mother, father, and twin sister Callie, he engages in a variety of enjoyable activities. With a deep affinity for water, Charlie particularly relishes swimming, walking in the rain, visiting the aquarium, washing hands, and taking baths. The lyrical text, replete with poetic phrases celebrating the tactility of water, affords a powerful impression of the sensory rhythms of RJ Peete's own experience with autism. In his digital art, Evans depicts stylized Black characters with enormous eyes. The swirl and flow of water in the surrounding environment looks as warm and inviting to readers as it must to Charlie. VERDICT A positive and informative look at autistic experience through a child-friendly lens.” –School Library Journal
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Library Catalog
“For the past year, Malik has been troubled by ‘Number Thoughts,’ which compel him to count certain actions (climbing the stairs, blinking his eyes, etc.) in sets of four and urge him to complete each action on the number four. If he doesn't do so, he feels anxious or fearful, and sometimes he must repeat the entire sequence. Malik worries about handling his anxieties when he attends a classmate's upcoming birthday party at a mini-golf course. His father advises him to talk with his ‘special doctor’ about his concerns. Following her advice, he practices mini golf at home. Later, he successfully uses breathing techniques and mindfulness to calm his Number Thoughts and enjoy the party. Illustrated with colorful digital artwork, the narrative portrays Malik and his struggles in a straightforward, candid manner. The back matter discusses obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and introduces a simple mindfulness exercise. For the many children who are living with OCD, this reassuring picture book could serve as a vehicle for raising questions, finding help, and feeling less alone.” –Booklist
(Preschool to 3rd Grade)
Library Catalog
“From the moment readers open this book, they are treated to an album of beautiful, joyous children, all with one salient feature: ‘Everybody has a body.’ But not every body is the same. There's a youngster using a rollator who says, ‘I like to take a walk.’ There are two bespectacled kids, one of whom shares the information that ‘glasses make me see better.’ Other differences, such as one child who has ‘to get checkups for my heart,’ are not apparent from the photos but are nonetheless noted in the accompanying text. This photo-essay shows children participating in a range of activities, including rock wall climbing, swimming, and reading. The message — ‘Even though we're the same in many ways, we're different in our own ways too. Let's be kind to everybody and every kind of body!’ — has been expressed before, but rarely through such memorable images. Brief sketches of three of the children with disabilities as well as one adult advocate and a glossary of physical and learning differences complete the book.” –Horn Book Magazine
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Library Catalog
“A nonverbal girl who uses a wheelchair anticipates a father-daughter dance in Schulte's debut. As Elsie and her mother shop for the perfect dress, Elsie ponders: Pink or red? Red matches Daddy's soccer jersey–a red dress it is! Her supportive sisters are thrilled for her, too. But it's snowing harder and harder. What if the dance is canceled? Refreshingly, Elsie's disability is seamlessly presented as simply another aspect of family life; for instance, as Elsie's sisters slurp up noodles with chopsticks, Daddy matter-of-factly gives Elsie a ‘push’ of liquid food through a feeding tube. Pops of rhyme or alliteration add pep to the straightforward text: ‘Inside, daughters dashed. Ponytails bounced. Dresses flounced.’ Inspired by the author's daughter, who has Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, Elsie is delightfully expressive. Elsie's italicized thoughts convey her worry and excitement; she ‘can't wait to see [her] dress spin.’ Her face, bearing characteristic features of the disorder, radiates emotion. She frowns forlornly at fat snowflakes and beams with infectious joy as her sisters help her ‘[find] her groove.’ Whether she's pointing to pictures in her communication book or anxiously indicating her missing hair bow, her family is warmly attentive. As she swings and sways in her father's arms, her forehead against his, their love is palpable; Chen's illustrations fairly glow with affection. Elsie and her family are cued as East Asian. A heartwarming portrayal of a family embracing disability.” –Kirkus Reviews
Library Catalog
¡Solo Pregunta! by Sonia Sotomayor & Rafael López
Library Catalog
“Drawing on her experiences as a child with juvenile diabetes, the Supreme Court justice addresses kids' curiosity about disability and illness. ‘Each of us grows in our own way,’ says Sonia, a Latina child based on the author, as she and her friends plant a garden. Just as each plant has a ‘different color, different shape, and different purpose,’ kids are ‘all different too.’ Encouraging curious readers to ‘JUST ASK,’ Sonia and 11 friends introduce their respective disabilities and chronic illnesses–ranging from blindness to nut allergies–by asking such questions as ‘How do you use your senses?’ and ‘Are you really good at something?’ The kids' matter-of-fact explanations blend strengths and difficulties. Bianca, who has dyslexia, ‘love[s] learning by doing things’; Manuel, who has ADHD, ‘can get frustrated when [they] really feel the need to move around even though [they're] supposed to sit still.’ Though the number of conditions may tax younger readers' attention spans, kids with those conditions who ‘don't feel ready to explain’ will appreciate the text's inclusiveness; as Sonia acknowledges, ‘Not everyone is comfortable answering questions about themselves.’ Enlivening the familiar theme, López's bold figures, vibrant colors, and close perspective welcome readers into a garden bursting with assorted blossoms, insects, and birds. Refreshingly, most characters present as kids of color of various heritages, ranging from black and Latinx to South and Southeast Asian. One presents white. An affirmative, delightfully diverse overview of disabilities.” –Kirkus Reviews
(Preschool – 2nd Grade)
Library Catalog
“Not all superheros wear capes, and the mom in this story proves just that. Young narrator Wyatt shares how Mom may not always feel super, but ‘she uses her superpowers to battle her [multiple sclerosis].’ No matter how good or bad she feels, they always have adventures, big and small. Some days when Mom is tired, they play in a special fort just for two. Some days, Mom is a bit unsteady, but with her magical stick, they can cast spells on Wyatt's toys. No matter what they face, they will always have each other and fill each day with love. This beautiful picture book shares an affirming message that honestly and unapologetically reflects life with a parent who has a chronic illness. Author Stamm was diagnosed with M.S. in 2007 and, according to her concluding note, wrote this story to serve ‘as a tool to reinvent the perception of chronic illness and empower the children battling alongside their superhero parents.’ She does just that, using Wyatt's narrative to share ideas for entertaining games while managing symptoms and side effects of a long-term illness. Kellogg's illustrations notably construct an unshakeable parent-child relationship using warm, vibrant colors and joyful expressions. Love and acceptance radiate on every page. Wyatt, his mom, and the unidentified man who sometimes accompanies them–sensitively leaving readers to their own interpretations of the relationship–all present White. A loving, tender celebration of the mother-child bond.” –Kirkus Reviews
Chapter Books:
Iveliz Explains it All by Andrea Beatriz Arango
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog
“To navigate her school and home lives through depression and PTSD, a 12-year-old Latina girl retreats into her poetry and journal. Seventh grader Iveliz plans to make this a great year despite recent trauma. Her abuela Mimi's arrival from Puerto Rico means a chance to feel like a family again, filling in the space left by her father's absence. But Mimi's Alzheimer's has progressed since the last time Iveliz saw her, and Iveliz's fraught relationship with her distant, always working Mami doesn't help to keep the peace either. Meanwhile, her friendship with Amir, a boy from Afghanistan, seems to be on the rocks, and Iveliz keeps getting in trouble at school thanks to bullies, an ill-conceived revenge plot, and awkward attempts to forge a new friendship. Going to therapy and managing her medication also eat away at Iveliz even as she tries to find solace in visions of her dad. Full of heartbreak and compassion, Arango's debut crackles with refreshing frankness and wit. The author excels at building Iveliz's voice through each poem, leading to a tale that's quick to read yet hard to put down. The creative use of varied poetic forms supports moments of levity and catharsis. Superbly woven; a bold, deep portrayal of a young voice who needs to be heard.” –Kirkus Reviews
Aven Green Sleuthing Machine (1st Book in Series) by Dusti Bowling & Gina Perry(Grades 2-4)
Library Catalog
“In this prequel to Bowling's middle grade Life of a Cactus novels, eight-year-old Aven Green, who was born without arms, doesn't ‘solve mysteries like any old detective.’ When a mysterious culprit starts stealing lunches and cafeteria food at her Kansas elementary school, Aven eagerly decides to solve the case. But the mysteries continue piling up: her great-grandmother's dog, King Smith of Kansas City, or Smitty for short, goes missing, and a new girl named Sujata joins Aven's third grade class and inexplicably appears unhappy. As the food crimes persist and Smitty remains absent, Aven begins to feel overwhelmed. But with the help of her family and a new friend, Aven discovers that the cases just might be connected. Bowling centers earnest Aven's quirky wit, determination, and earnestness (‘But you know one thing I've never read as being necessary to be a good P.I.? Having arms. That's what’), introducing an exuberant adoptee whose disability does not exist to serve the plot. Perry's b&w line illustrations feature supple-limbed, cartoon-style characters, including portrayals of Aven doing activities with her feet. Aven's candid voice ensures that this chapter book series starter will draw a young audience.” –Publishers Weekly
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog
“A girl with a learning disability navigates the demands of her new school and family dynamics. Henrietta ‘Henri’ Weldon, a Black tween, is cautiously excited about starting seventh grade. It'd be helpful if her older sister, Kat, answered any of her probing questions about what to expect, but she's acted strangely ever since Henri completed her math placement test. In the middle of a mentally taxing first day, the last thing Henri needed was to drop her change in the lunchroom, but it results in her meeting Vinnie Morgan and his multiracial group of foster home siblings. As they form friendships, Henri craves the bond that the Morgans possess; it contrasts with her own competitive, driven family. Kat warns her to stay away from the Morgans, however, seeing them as troublemakers. But Henri doesn't have much time to worry about this, as she tries to stay on top of parental schoolwork expectations, playing soccer, and writing poetry. The story's brisk pace and accessible vocabulary help readers quickly get to know Henri and the interesting supporting cast. Without sacrificing the story's light tone, the author highlights the daily obstacles that Henri confronts due to her dyscalculia (which is never explicitly named in the text) and her longing for a tighter family unit. Skillfully realized, this is an affirming and inspiring tale for readers who are only ever told what they can't accomplish. Uplifting and amusing, this book will leave readers with valuable lessons.” –Kirkus Reviews
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog
“A talented Dominican American swimmer fights to keep doing what she loves. Twelve-year-old Aniana del Mar lives up to her name: Living on the island of Galveston, Texas, the water feels like home. But that's a secret she keeps with her easygoing Papi, who sneaks her to the YMCA for swim practice and meets. Mami discourages Ani from swimming; after witnessing her own brother's drowning during a hurricane, Mami is terrified of losing Ani and her 4-year-old brother, Matti, too. When Ani can no longer hide the joint swelling that plagues her when she overexerts herself, however, her secret's out. Mami, who belongs to a strict Christian church, is furious, insisting that Ani's juvenile idiopathic arthritis is God's punishment for lying. Though Ani's physical therapist endorses swimming, Mami bans Ani from the water she craves. As her family's bonds fray, Ani grapples with the challenges of invisible illness, including loss of bodily autonomy and others' lack of understanding. Incorporating concrete poems, haiku, and tanka, Ani's aching, determined verse narration weaves English and Spanish words into striking imagery as she navigates tumultuous emotions and her loving but stifling relationship with Mami. Mendez, also disabled and Dominican American, explores post-traumatic stress and its effects with both compassion and honesty, respecting Mami's trauma without diminishing the pain her overprotectiveness causes Ani. Religious belief is similarly represented with nuance. Supportive, diverse secondary characters add warmth. A painful yet hopeful exploration of family, trauma, faith, and healing.” -Kirkus Reviews
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog
“Thirteen-year-old Natalie Beacon, who is white and has used a wheelchair since she was little, isn't happy to be leaving behind her best friend and moving across the country for her mom's new job. Nat's parents are eager for her to adjust; her father has already found her a wheelchair-racing team, a sport she enjoyed in California. She spots a poster during practice announcing auditions for a young performer's version of the musical Wicked. Musicals are Nat's passion and performing is her professional dream. When she can't convince her parents to let her audition, Nat decides to secretly audition anyway and is thrilled to get a part, ultimately convincing her parents to let her participate. She instantly falls in with a group of theater geeks who become her best friends. But she experiences alienating challenges in the production: She is asked to only sing and not dance, which leaves her feeling ‘half cast,’ and then the bus for their weekend retreat doesn't have a wheelchair lift. When a theater fire cancels the production, it's up to Nat to convince her new friends that the show must go on. Written by Tony Award–winner Stroker, who uses a wheelchair, and Davidowitz, this fast-paced novel features an extensive and diverse cast of characters. The descriptive third-person narrative helps readers visualize the characters and the production, though the sheer number of characters may require some backtracking, and the depth of character development can be inconsistent. Seeing the obstacles Nat faces daily and watching her learn to advocate for herself may inspire readers to do the same. Serious scenes, like Nat's crush Malik discussing his experience as the only Black student in school, and learning why Nat uses a wheelchair, are poignant, as is Nat's evolving relationship with her parents. VERDICT Though the novel leans heavily on musical history and theatre terminology, young readers do not need a knowledge of musicals and theater to enjoy this #OwnVoices novel. Young disabled performers will be excited to see representation, and all readers will be rooting for Nat.” –School Library Journal
Nonfiction:
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant & Boris Kulikov
(Grades 1-3)
Library Catalog
“This picture book biography of Louis Braille (1809-59) strikes a perfect balance between the seriousness of Braille's life and the exuberance he projected out into the world. The text highlights Braille's determination to pursue an education. Readers will learn how he attended the Royal School in Paris and was frustrated by the lack of books for the blind, an obstacle that set him off on a long quest to invent an accessible reading system. Braille ultimately found success by simplifying a military coding technique that had earlier been introduced but was far too complex. The focus on Braille as one of the world's great inventors is apt, and by taking a close look at his childhood, his family, and his experiences as a young person, Bryant makes Braille's story even more powerful. She writes from his perspective, which brings a level of intimacy sure to resonate with readers. Kulikov's mixed-media artwork mirrors and magnifies the text, keeping the spotlight solidly on young Braille and his world as he moves through it. VERDICT An engaging and moving account of an inventor, a solid addition for elementary collections.” –School Library Journal
Library Catalog
“Consider me Jim Thorpe without legs, with the passion of Malcolm X and the backbeat of Louis Armstrong,” reads a bold early spot quote in this largely visual, mostly autobiographical profile of Zion Clark (b. 1997), a Black wrestler and seated racer–and ‘musical prodigy’–born without legs who hopes to become ‘the first American man to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics.’ After Clark and Hirsch reveal Clark's challenges, including abuse and neglect in Ohio's foster care system from infancy until he was adopted at 17 and ‘the dual stigma of Blackness and disability,’ quotes from loved ones, coaches, and Clark himself are highlighted in graphic capitalized letters, skillfully layered over energetic full-color photographs of Clark both in action and at rest. Though Clark's journey lacks enough detail here to transcend its magazine feature style, young readers will appreciate his incontestable tenacity and drive.” -Publishers Weekly
(Grades 1-4)
Library Catalog
“An account of Judith Heumann's fight for equal rights for herself and others with disabilities. As a child in the early 1950s, Judy loved books. But the principal of the first school her mother signed her up for declared her and her wheelchair a ‘fire hazard,’ and the Jewish Day School's principal refused her even after she learned Hebrew. When she was finally permitted to attend public school in fourth grade, the segregated disabled students ‘weren't expected to learn much of anything at all.’ Faced with prejudiced attitudes and inaccessible spaces, Judy ‘heard the word NO much too often’ growing up. But after winning a legal battle against the New York City Board of Education to become a teacher, Judy joined disabled friends in advocating for disability rights. She and fellow activists petitioned the government to pass Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act–to ensure sidewalk ramps and bus lifts were installed and to make sure that buildings were wheelchair accessible–and finally, in 1977, after nationwide demonstrations, including a grueling 24-day sit-in at a San Francisco federal building, they succeeded. Cocca-Leffler's straightforward text relates Judy's challenges and triumphs, while Mildenberger's muted illustrations adequately if somewhat blurrily convey Judy's sadness, determination, and joy. An author's note provides more information on Heumann as well as background on Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a note from Heumann asks, ‘How will you start fighting for YES?’ Judy presents White; background figures are racially diverse. Uplifting and stirring. –Kirkus Reviews
Library Catalog
“Newman recounts the childhood of renowned Israeli American violinist and polio survivor Itzhak Perlman. In his family's tiny Tel Aviv apartment, the ‘graceful classical symphonies’ and ‘lively klezmer folk tunes’ pouring from the radio enchanted Itzhak; at 3, he begged for a violin. But at 4, polio left him paralyzed. Though ‘other four-year-olds might have given up,’ a ‘steady melody played inside Itzhak,’ spurring him to relearn everyday tasks. But his legs remained paralyzed, requiring him to walk with forearm crutches and play his violin seated. Undaunted, he made the ‘extraordinary choice’ of being neither sad nor angry; barriers, such as stairs, were ‘ordinary things Itzhak just had to get used to.’ After joining Israeli orchestras at 6 and playing solos at 10, he performed on The Ed Sullivan Show in New York at 13 despite knowing little English. The upbeat text, interspersed with quotes from the adult Perlman, amplifies his resilience and passion. But Halpin's vibrant illustrations take center stage. Bars of Bach and Mendelssohn adorn the pages, bursts of red, yellow, blue, and green reflecting the musical ‘rainbow’ in Itzhak's mind; tender facial expressions convey Itzhak's passion and his family's love. An author's note mentions Perlman's advocacy for people with disabilities (jarringly and anachronistically referred to as ‘the handicapped’ and ‘wheelchair-bound’); a timeline charts Perlman's extensive career. Most characters, including Itzhak, present white. An eye-catching tale of music and perseverance.” –Kirkus Reviews
(Grades 5-8)
Library Catalog
“This episodic, autobiographical graphic novel from Page (Raised on Ritalin, for adults) chronicles his experiences with ADHD from grade school to high school graduation. When eight-year-old Tyler has trouble concentrating at school, sometimes behaving in a way that even he doesn't understand, a doctor recommends family counseling, leading him to therapy, diagnosis, and medication, and shifting the way he understands himself and his loved ones. Alternating with a story arc that revolves around school, friendships, and family conflict, fact-driven infographic interstitials contextualize the story and clinical diagnosis, offering statistics and explaining changing understandings of ADHD over time. Crisp, clean art expressively conveys Tyler's internal dialogue, feelings, and sensory experiences, effectively communicating emotionally charged personal moments, including his father's angry outbursts and his own reactions to his ‘race car brain.’ Though a mention of Tyler's quitting medication due to body image is inadequately contextualized, the well-paced interweaving of story beats and explanation, told with a refreshing honesty of feeling, make this a factually informative, accessible introduction to ADHD.” –Publishers Weekly
(Grades 1-4)
Library Catalog
“A girl with cerebral palsy fights for the 1990 passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Whether she's horseback riding or starting kindergarten, Jennifer Keelan's ‘ready to GO!’ But all around her, places and people demand that she ‘STOP!’ From her wheelchair, a 4-inch curb is a ‘cliff,’ and she's not allowed to join her classmates in the cafeteria. Everything changes when Jennifer–knowing that ‘children with disabilities get ignored too’–joins a diverse group of disability rights activists. When Jennifer is 8, activists propose the ADA to ‘make room for all people, including those with disabilities.’ Dismissed by Congress, disabled activists crawl up the steps of the Capitol to be heard. When grown-ups say she's too young to participate, Jennifer drags herself ‘ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP’ on behalf of disabled kids everywhere. Ali's soft-focus illustrations deftly convey Jennifer's determined scowl and excited grin. Pimentel realistically acknowledges that the ADA hasn't fixed everything–’Slowest of all, minds have to change’–but in her foreword, the adult Jennifer–now Keelan-Chaffins–notes that she keeps ‘using [her] voice to speak up’ and encourages readers to do likewise. Backmatter further discusses disabilities, the disability rights movement, and the ADA. Front- and backmatter seem geared toward older readers, who may find the main text a tad too simple; those wanting more information should follow this up with Amy Hayes' Disability Rights Movement (2017). Jennifer and her family present white; classmates' and activists' races vary. A necessary testament to the power of children's voices.” –Kirkus Reviews
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