Schenider Family Book Award

My pal Victor,Mí amigo Víctor by Diane Gonzales Beltran and illustrated by Robert L. Sweetland

Beltran, D. (2004). My pal Victor, Mí amigo Víctor. Green Bay, Wisconsin: Raven Tree Press.

As the title suggests, this dual-language picture book exemplifies the importance of friendship as a foundation for a sense of belonging and acceptance. I can see using this book in a beginning Spanish class. Native English speakers can compare/contrast similarities between English and Spanish and familiarize themselves with the proper accents and spellings their second language. In case readers run into “stumbling blocks,” the can resource the glossary index. This book is a great for a precursor for an expository essay. The prompt should read “explain the importance of a best friend.” But what’s more exciting is that the illustrations Robert Sweetland offers resemble the brainstorming needed to begin the writing process. The images spread across the page and go from “in focus” (large images) to “out of focus” (small images). Another noticeable illustrative feature is the inclusion of seven different illustrations as a collage, when the speaker elaborates in the text that “My pal, Victor, and I do so many fun things.” Furthermore, the hand-drawn imaginative images offer obtainable mimicking. If the reader’s a drawer, these illustrations would provide the proper focus to copy and develop their skills. Lastly, what should impress the readers most is the fact that the narrator’s role-model is his best friend. Victor is the superstar…not a Hollywood movie star or a professional athlete.

Looking Out for Sarah by Glenna Lang

Lang, G. (2003) Looking Out for Sarah. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing.

Perry's brilliant. He knows how to cross the street, get to the post office, and turn a sheet of music. Perry's black and his best friend is Sarah. Sarah teaches music, walked 300 miles to Boston and running errands flawlessly because of Perry. Sarah is blind. Without Perry's eyes and guidance, typical life would be harder for Sarah. But with a black Labrador as a best friend, Sarah moves through life "seeing" all obstacles in her way. This picture book is proof positive that just because your sight's absent, that doesn't mean a fulfilling life has to disappear as well. Sarah and Perry proves that partnership and perseverance pays off. Lang's illustrations are not ornate in detail, more like colorful shadows. The images almost mimic what most would imagine a blind person might see; for they don't have the definition as everyone, but can see the difference between daylight and darkness. Stevie Wonder declared long ago that music notes made colors in his mind. Perhaps there may be a connection between music notes and colors; many of those that are blind become remarkable musicians--a sort of consolation for not seeing in a predictable manner. This book would work well in an elementary music class. It's a great way to bridge music, blindness and braille. It would also work well for a class project: being blind for a day. Two partners decide who will be blind (via a blindfold), and for the next 8 school hours, the blind student and their "seeing eye-person" will journey throughout the day. At the conclusion of the lesson, the partners will journal their experience.

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Lord, C. (2006). Rules. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Catherine’s a 12 yr. old Joan of Arc for her autistic brother. Through her dedication and dependable nature, she devises a set of rules to help her brother better transition into society. Yes, he embarrasses her by his outbursts and uncontrollable antic in front of her cool and beautiful new neighbor to whom Catherine desperately wants to become best friends with, but it's when she finds herself budding with affection for a disabled young man that Catherine truly has to face what it means to show acceptance. It is through her loving her brother, David, that she learns true compassion and insight about herself, as well as her new friend Jason. Over one summer, Catherine grows from a young girl, budding in the mistakes of youth, to a young woman, understanding the acceptance of life. This books models the traits of egalitarianism and self-awareness beautifully. Through her determination for equality and with her undeterred dedication to her brother, Catherine blooms into a wonderful “poster-child” for an autism advocate and best friend. This would work well as a cross-curricular lesson with those students suffering from disabilities unfamiliar to the mainstream students. Though it's for older students, it challenges kids to re-evaluate their thinking. It'd be great to read this to a fourth grade class and then plan an enrichment activity that would include autistic peers. Familiarizing themselves would awaken the empathy in young children and possibly stop the stares, when watching autistic or any special needs student go to lunch early. Avoidance isn't the answer. Acceptance and compassion is the beginning.