Informational Book Reviews pt. 2

Burcaw, Shane. Not So Different: What you REALLY Want to Ask About Having a Disability. With photographs by Matt Carr. Roaring Brook Press, 2017. 40 pages. Hardcover $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-771-7

Many children are curious about people with visible disabilities, which often leads to them asking disabled people awkward, inappropriate or uncomfortable questions about their disabilities. Shane Burcaw is a disability activist/writer with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and this title is his way of answering some of these questions. Based on (and about) his personal experiences, Burcaw answers some of the questions that kids often want to ask him (“What’s wrong with you?”, “How do you do things?” etc.) in plain, matter of fact language interspersed with humor that is easily accessible for early elementary age children. Photos of Burcaw and his friends and family that are occasionally digitally combined with various humorous or absurd images accompany the text.

Burcaw wants kids to know that while many people with disabilities might not look like them, they are not so different from them. His answers to the questions carry messages about respect, kindness, consent, and disability positivity. No references or further readings are given. However, a two-page author’s note at the end, with a more extended explanation of SMA may be of interest to adults sharing this title with kids who want to know more.

An accessible and positive introduction to disability for young children. Ages 5+

Robeson, Teresa. Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom. Illus. by Rebecca Huang. Sterling Children's Books, 2019. 48 pages. Hardcover $16.95, ISBN 978-1-4549-3220-8

This is the story of how a girl from Liuhe, China fought prejudices and overcame many obstacles to become a trailblazing scientist.

Robeson, a writer of children’s nonfiction with a background in the sciences shares the story of this highly successful and intelligent figure in physics from her humble beginnings in rural China to her highly successful career in physics in America, during which she often had to fight against prejudicial ideas about women and Asians to prove her worth. Charming mixed media illustrations with simple, stylized forms, bright colors, and crisp lines surrounded by swathes of clean negative space accompany the text. In some spreads, the text is interspersed within the images, creating engaging layouts. At some points throughout the author attempts to explain the complex physics concepts that Chien Shiung was famous for — explanations that will likely go way over the heads of many young readers without adult assistance. Readers curious about dates will find few within the actual text of the book and will have to consult the back notes. Messages of perseverance, courage, and female empowerment are carried throughout the text, leading to an inspiring conclusion.

Overall, despite the difficulty in simplifying complex physics concepts, Robeson provides a solid and inspiring prose introduction to Wu Chien Shiung’s life and achievements, shining a light on a less well-known figure that will leave readers curious to learn more.

Includes bibliographical references, further readings, a glossary, and an extended note. Gr. K-3