What's Wrong with Timmy? Picture Book # 24

Author: Maria Shriver
Title: What's Wrong with Timmy?
Illustrator: Sandra Speidel
Readability Score: 3.3
Theme: don't judge a book by its cover
Genre: Non-Fiction
Sub genre: Diversity
Primary and secondary characters: Kate and Timmy are primary characters, secondary characters are Kate's mother and
Awards: N/A
Publishing Company: Special Scholastic Edition
Date of Publication: 1999
ISBN: 0-316-15548-9
Summary: This book is about a little girl named Kate. She is very curious about everything and she always asks her parents things that she finds interesting. One day she was at the park and she noticed a boy named Timmy who dressed like her brother and had brown hair like her, but he was different somehow. She asked her mom, "What's wrong with Timmy?" The audience finds out throughout the book that when Timmy was born his doctor said he would have disabilities and he wouldn't be able to do a lot of the things that the other kids do. Kate's mother told her that he was a lot like Kate. He loves his family, friends, goes to school, and has dreams about what he wants to be when he grows up. Kate also discusses her emotions on how she feels that he is different and how she is scared when he is around. Her mother tells her that in the beginning we're all uncomfortable with people who may look, talk, or act differently. Kate realizes that everyone is equal and everyone deserves a chance because they were all on the earth for a reason. When she approaches Timmy one day, she realizes that they have more in common than she thought and they become friends.

This book covers a lot about disabilities and how students can be comfortable with one another. Younger students may have a harder time trying to accept or be comfortable around other students with disabilities because they just don't know how to act or what to say. This book demonstrates that people with disabilities are just like people without disabilities and it's important to accept everyone. I would have the students free-write about emotions on topics such as their views on the importance of acceptance or judgement. This activity can help them see from the other person's point of view on how they would feel if someone were to hurt their feelings just because they were different. Students with disabilities can understand Timmy's point of view and see that he has goals and dreams in life too.