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I Am You Are by Ashley Harris Whaley
The Blurb On The Back:
I Am You Are is a powerful book that will help children and adults have meaningful discussions about disability.
Most importantly, this book encourages children to feel empowered, to embrace individuality, to look out for one another and to celebrate disability as diversity.
Ashley Harris Whaley is a writer, speaker and disability rights activist. This sensitive, clearly written book for readers aged 5+ (beautifully illustrated by Ananya Rao-Middleton) discusses disability, what it is to be disabled and most importantly, why disability is important and how we can benefit from including disabled people in everyday life and there’s a handy note at the back for adults who are reading along with young readers.
Harris Whaley writes in a clear and compassionate way. There are a lot of quite complicated ideas in the book but she makes them accessible for younger readers, e.g. she runs through types of disability (including hidden disabilities), explains what ableism is, discusses diversity and its importance, accessibility and accommodations. I was particularly impressed with the sections about how to behave with people who have disabilities and what people with disabilities can offer. Although the book is designed to be read with a grown up (and there’s a very useful note at the back for grown up readers), there are some very complicated words in there for a book aimed at readers aged 5+ (e.g. neurodivergent) and I think this is probably better left to readers aged 8+.
Special mention should be made of Rao-Middleton’s illustrations, which really bring out the different types of disability that exist, including people with Down’s syndrome, people who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids, people with vision issues and dwarfism. It’s thoughtful and there is good ethnic diversity on display as well - genuinely one of the best jobs I have seen in books of this type.
All in all I thought this was a very useful book and a great way of explaining disability and what it means to young readers - definitely worth your time.
The Verdict:
Ashley Harris Whaley is a writer, speaker and disability rights activist. This sensitive, clearly written book for readers aged 5+ (beautifully illustrated by Ananya Rao-Middleton) discusses disability, what it is to be disabled and most importantly, why disability is important and how we can benefit from including disabled people in everyday life and there’s a handy note at the back for adults who are reading along with young readers.
I AM YOU ARE was released in the United Kingdom on 18th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.
I Am You Are is a powerful book that will help children and adults have meaningful discussions about disability.
Most importantly, this book encourages children to feel empowered, to embrace individuality, to look out for one another and to celebrate disability as diversity.
Ashley Harris Whaley is a writer, speaker and disability rights activist. This sensitive, clearly written book for readers aged 5+ (beautifully illustrated by Ananya Rao-Middleton) discusses disability, what it is to be disabled and most importantly, why disability is important and how we can benefit from including disabled people in everyday life and there’s a handy note at the back for adults who are reading along with young readers.
Harris Whaley writes in a clear and compassionate way. There are a lot of quite complicated ideas in the book but she makes them accessible for younger readers, e.g. she runs through types of disability (including hidden disabilities), explains what ableism is, discusses diversity and its importance, accessibility and accommodations. I was particularly impressed with the sections about how to behave with people who have disabilities and what people with disabilities can offer. Although the book is designed to be read with a grown up (and there’s a very useful note at the back for grown up readers), there are some very complicated words in there for a book aimed at readers aged 5+ (e.g. neurodivergent) and I think this is probably better left to readers aged 8+.
Special mention should be made of Rao-Middleton’s illustrations, which really bring out the different types of disability that exist, including people with Down’s syndrome, people who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids, people with vision issues and dwarfism. It’s thoughtful and there is good ethnic diversity on display as well - genuinely one of the best jobs I have seen in books of this type.
All in all I thought this was a very useful book and a great way of explaining disability and what it means to young readers - definitely worth your time.
The Verdict:
Ashley Harris Whaley is a writer, speaker and disability rights activist. This sensitive, clearly written book for readers aged 5+ (beautifully illustrated by Ananya Rao-Middleton) discusses disability, what it is to be disabled and most importantly, why disability is important and how we can benefit from including disabled people in everyday life and there’s a handy note at the back for adults who are reading along with young readers.
I AM YOU ARE was released in the United Kingdom on 18th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.