Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--A diverse group of round-faced kids take readers through the alphabet as they learn about the challenges some children face daily. Each letter of the alphabet is for the name of a real child. A is for Arthur, who is shown standing in a garden picking strawberries. The text states that Arthur was born very early "before he had finished growing in his mommy's body." Arthur is blind and a short description of how he navigates the world is included. As readers progress through the alphabet, children with myriad conditions (OCD, osteogenesis imperfecta, Sanfilippo syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.) are introduced with a short description of the condition and the challenges they face, but more importantly, the ways that they are just like all other children. The conditions are not listed in back matter, index, or table of contents so readers will not be able to learn about a particular condition. The goal of exposure to diverse challenges that some children face daily is admirable, but while the digital illustrations feature a wide array of children, they have a sameness that is either the point of the book or negates the uniqueness of each child. The text is informative and reflects a variety of kids, but due to its length and lack of supplemental organizational features, it would be hard for children to sit through a reading in one sitting. Anyone who wants to read about a condition will have no way to skip right to that page. VERDICT An admirable goal of sharing underrepresented children disappoints with an awkward presentation.--John Scott
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