My Friend Isabelle [Hardcover]

Eliza Woloson (Author), Bryan Gough (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

(2004 iParenting Media Award Winner) Isabelle and Charlie are friends. They both like to draw, dance, read, and play at the park. They both like to eat Cheerios. They both cry if their feelings are hurt. And, like most friends, they are also different from each other. Isabelle has Down syndrome. Charlie doesn't. Written by Isabelle's mother, this charming tale encourages readers to think about what makes a friendship special. MY FRIEND ISABELLE also opens the door for young children to talk about differences and the world around them. It's a wonderful story to read at bedtime or to share at school. Lively full color illustrations dovetail beautifully with the text to bring the simple story to life.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

My Friend Isabelle is a wonderful little book that teaches about difference and acceptance with simplicity and grace. Isabelle and Charlie are friends. They are the same age, but like most friends, they are different: Charlie is tall and knows "a lot of words," and Isabelle is short and sometimes her words are, "hard to understand." The sweet simplicity of their relationship is a reminder to everyone that "differences are what make the world so great." Young readers will love the bold illustrations and simple text, and parents will appreciate the message and the sensitivity with which it is delivered. At the end of the story readers meet the real Isabelle, and author Eliza Woloson briefly notes how Down syndrome makes her daughter and other children special. --Daphne Durham

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-Isabelle has Down syndrome, but that doesn't matter to her friend Charlie. "I am tall. Isabelle is short. I run f a s t. Isabelle takes her time." He describes all the things they do, how sometimes they're the same and sometimes different. "Mommy says," Charlie explains, "that differences are what make the world so great," and each page follows this theme of inclusion and acceptance. Watercolors in greens, purples, blues, and oranges move the story along, sometimes with full-page pictures and sometimes with small drawings. Both children have round faces and simple lines for eyes, and some readers may not even realize (without the postscript) what it is that makes Isabelle different from Charlie. "Life is more fun with friends like Isabelle," Charlie says, and readers will agree.
Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 28 pages
• Publisher: Woodbine House; 1st edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189062750X
• ISBN-13: 978-1890627508
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Illness

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Differences are what make the world so great, August 27, 2005

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: My Friend Isabelle (Hardcover)

Charlie and Isabelle are the same age but they have some differences. For example, Charlie is tall and Isabelle is short, and whereas Charlie runs fast, Isabelle likes to take her time. The last difference that Charlie explains is when he tells us: "I know a lot of words. Isabelle's words are sometimes hard for me to understand." In the text of "My Friend Isabelle," author Eliza Woloson never comes out and says that Isabelle has Down syndrome and I was thinking that any indication of her condition in Bryan Gough's illustrations might well be too subtle for young children to pick up. But then it occurred to me that if a parent was reading this book to young children, or let them read it on their own, and then there was probably already a child with Down syndrome in the family or in the neighborhood.

This works either way in terms of teaching the lesson that is at the heart of "My Friend Isabelle." Either the child will recognize that Isabelle has Down syndrome and figure out what is really going on in the story, or the child's curiosity will compel them to ask their parent to explain why Charlie has trouble understanding Isabelle. Once Charlie gets to the key difference between himself and his friend, Charlie recalls the words of his Mommy, that "differences are what makes the world so great." Having advanced the idea that differences are a good thing, the rest of the book focuses on the many things that Charlie and Isabelle have in common when they play together each Friday. They both like to twirl, to drink apple juice, and to go down the big slide at the park. At the end, the words of Charlie's mother provide the stories benediction.

The explicit goal of "My Friend Isabelle" is to have young children do their small part to make the world a more tolerant place. The idea that friendships are special and that our differences can make the world more interesting certainly extends beyond children with Down syndrome. Beyond the idea that Isabella can do many of the things that Charlie can do, although sometimes it take her a little longer to them, the book does not get into the specifics of Down syndrome. But the inside back cover provides web sites for finding out more information on Down syndrome from either the National Down Syndrome Society or the National Down Syndrome Congress. Parents will easily be able to find other resources on the Internet as well.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The World Has Needed This Book for Some Time., January 13, 2004

By 

Lisa Domagala (Downers Grove, IL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Friend Isabelle (Hardcover)

I can't praise this book enough. The illustrations and straightforward story line appeal to children while the message is one all aldults need to see. As the mother of a Down Syndrome child, I was overjoyed at how clearly the message came through that Down Syndrome kids are kids first. They enjoy all the usual childhood activities and enjoy friendships with thier non-Downs peers as well. I plan on purchasing this book for our local public library and our elementary school library as well.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL BOOK, October 28, 2003

By 

carol woloson (lake forest, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Friend Isabelle (Hardcover)

THIS BOOK OPENS WONDERFUL CONVERSATION WITH CHILDREN. IT HELPS SEE DIFFERENCES FROM A CHILD'S POINT OF VIEW. PERFECT FOR THE KINDERGARTEN AGE CHILD.