As a child growing up in the 1950s, Katherine Schneider found few books about people who, like her, were blind.
Now as a clinical psychologist, Schneider sponsors the Schneider Family Book Award, given to books that “embody an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.”
A committee of librarians gives the award annually to three books.
In its seven years of existence, the Schneider Family Book Award has helped to highlight some wonderful books that might otherwise be overlooked. This year’s selections are no exception:
Ginny loves reading, but it still can be a frustrating process. If Ginny squints, she can see the letters pretty well. When her kindergarten teacher tells her “Don’t squint,” however, Ginny sees twice the amount of letters, making reading a perpetual challenge.
Ginny thinks this is how everyone sees the world. But, in “The Pirate of Kindergarten” ($16.99, ages 4 to 7), author George Ella Lyon details how a routine school eye test reveals that Ginny has double vision.
Fortunately, the problem is easily fixed with the right glasses, some eye exercises and, for a while, an eye patch that makes Ginny “the pirate” of her kindergarten class.
Lyon’s picture-book text is straightforward, but not didactic. And it’s perfectly paired with illustrations by Lynne Avril that depict Ginny’s initial visual confusion, and her excitement at finally seeing — and enjoying — the world as it really is.
Jeffrey and his best friend, Tad, have survived cancer, but it’s left them with emotional and physical scars. Cancer-fighting medicine has scrambled parts of Jeffrey’s brain, making it nearly impossible for him to master math, while Tad must get around in a wheelchair.
In “After Ever After” ($16.99, ages 10 to 14), author Jordan Sonnenblick continues the story that he began in his debut novel, “Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie.” Things turn more serious in “After Ever After” when a new mandate requires middle-school students to pass tests in math and English to enter high school.
Suddenly, Jeffrey’s not sure he’s going to make it to high school because he can’t pass math tests. But Tad’s determined to see his friend succeed and resolves to make a “beau geste” (grand gesture) to ensure that he does.
When a high school rock band named Dumb accepts 18-year-old Piper’s offer to be the manager, she wonders if she’s done something stupid. After all, the players have some major musical and group-dynamic problems to work through before they can even think about making it big.
Even more importantly, as a deaf person, Piper can only do so much to help the band improve.
Meanwhile, Piper has other issues to deal with. She’s furious with her parents for raiding her college fund to pay for cochlear transplants so her born-deaf baby sister can hear. And she’s trying to figure out whether a fellow student named Ed Chen is just a friend, or something more.
In “Five Flavors of Dumb” ($16.99, ages 12 and up), author Antony John paints a portrait of a likable teen who refuses to let her deafness define her life. Piper is a character whose spunk helps her navigate friendship and romantic issues while maintaining her strong sense of self, a journey that will readily resonate with teen readers.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
