Schneider Family Book Award

Awarded by:  An ALA committee whose members have had experience in selection and knowledge of the disability experience.  Books may be fiction or nonfiction.

Lyon, George Ella (2010).  The Pirate of Kindergarten.  New York, New York:  Atheneum

            Books for Young Readers. 

Genre:  Fiction picture book

Ginny loves school and everything about it.  She doesn’t know that not everyone sees two of everything.  If she tried really hard and “tightened her mind” she could remember to read words only once like the other children and not twice.  One day, a nurse provides vision screening for the students.  It is then discovered that Ginny has double vision.  She goes to the eye doctor for glasses and an eye patch.  Now she can see like everyone else!  School became a wonderful place of new possibilities.  The illustrations by Lynne Avril depict what Ginny sees both before and after treatment.  It helps a young reader to sympathize with Ginny’s plight.  This book would be wonderful to share with children to help explain that some children may have vision or hearing issues but may not realize they are different.  It is all they have known.  All children need to hear that there are things some children must deal with and that trusted adults are here to help them through it.  It would be reassuring for children facing any kind of crisis. 

Christensen, Bonnie (2009).  Django World’s Greatest Jazz Guitarist.  New York, New York:

 Roaring Brook Press.

Genre:  Biographical picture book

Bonnie Christensen tells the story of Django with haunting text and lavish oil painting illustrations.  Django was born in Belgium in a gypsy encampment in 1910.  His life was full of hard work but always surrounded by music.  He became adept at making music himself and soon traveled to Paris to make his own way. One day, he is offered a big chance to travel with a big name jazz band.  Before he can go however, tragedy strikes.  His leg and arm were badly burned and his hopes were dashed.  However, after months of hospital stays, he teaches himself to play again with a badly damaged hand.  He went on to become a world renowned guitarist.  This beautifully illustrated book is a touching tribute to a man who faced so much hardship and overcame it all.  This would be a great book when students are learning about biographies since his life is so compelling.

Other Awards:  Booklist Top 10 Biographies for Youth, 2012 Audie Award for Live Oaks Audio CD

Uhlberg, Myron (2005).  Dad, Jackie, and Me.  Atlanta, Georgia: Peachtree Publishers.

Genre:  Semi-autobiographical picture book

In 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed on Jackie Robinson, the first black major league player.  This story is told through the eyes of a young boy who loves baseball and attends  many games with his deaf father to cheer Jackie on.  As the boy watches and learns of all the hardship and taunts that Jackie must endure, he also realizes how much his father has had to endure as a deaf man.  The author’s note at the end adds even more to the already excellent story.  The bordered, watercolor illustrations by Colin Bootman truly depict that era in every detail.  There is even a full spread of a scrapbook page showing newspaper clippings and photos of Jackie on the inside and back covers.  This is a must have for a beginning biographies collection and for reading about and discussing overcoming adversity.