Catherine's Story - Hardcover

Moore, Genevieve

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1845076559 ISBN 13: 9781845076559

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2010

Synopsis

What makes Catherine so special? She can't talk, she can't walk like her cousin Frances can. But Catherine listens very hard (hardly anyone does that), and she can walk in her special shoes, but when Frances tries, she just falls over! And her claps are so quiet that hardly anyone can hear them. These are the things that make Catherine special and, because her family knows how special she is, this makes them feel special too. This is the story of a child born with severe additional needs that focusses on the special nature of her abilities. Written from first-hand experience of the author's niece, this is a thoroughly researched and heart-warming book that will enlighten all who read it. Foreword by Jacqueline Wilson.

About this title

About the Author

Karin Littlewood's acclaimed picture books include The Color of Home, Home for Christmas, Home Now, Catherine's Story, and When Dad Was Away. Also the author of Immi and Sea Horse, she lives in London.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–3—Catherine, who wears leg braces, has a special walk and a special way of clapping her hands (so quietly, no one ever hears them). Her cousin Frances thinks she can walk like Catherine but when she tries, she falls over. When she says that Catherine can't talk, Catherine's dad says, "lots and lots of people talk....too much....Catherine listens—really, really hard." Catherine is loved and valued. Her father seems to be a single parent with some involvement from a grandmother.The lovely watercolor illustrations capture joy and optimism. With subtlety and grace, they perfectly depict a child with disabilities. It is challenging to present such issues without seeming maudlin, and Moore has done this fairly well. However, in an effort to present some differences as positive abilities, there is sometimes an unrealistic overstatement of the importance of these traits. That said, this picture book is useful because of its value in generating needed discussion. An even better depiction of disabilities is Jane Cowen-Fletcher's Mama Zooms (Scholastic, 1996).—Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME
(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1845076559
• ISBN 13: 9781845076559
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Littlewood Karin