My Travelin' Eye [Hardcover]

Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Jenny Sue’s eyes are not the same as other people’s eyes. Her right eye looks in one direction, while her left eye sometimes wanders. Jenny Sue has a travelin’, lazy eye. Although it makes her different, it also helps her see the world in a special way.

Here is a charming story about one very inspiring little girl who overcomes her disability and offers inspiration to others.

 

My Travelin' Eye is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–4—Children sometimes get teased when they begin to wear eyeglasses, but Jenny Sue has an additional problem: strabismus, described in an author's note as a condition when one eye (or both eyes) "misaligns and turns in, out, up, or down." While the youngster views her travelin' eye as a means for seeing the world in a special way, a caring teacher suggests that she visit an ophthalmologist. The doctor's quick diagnosis results in what Jenny Sue sees as a very ugly eye patch. Her mother, however, comes to the rescue with patches of brightly colored materials and quirky designs. Soon, Jenny Sue is the envy of her school. When she graduates from the patch but must still wear glasses, she and her mother fashion imaginative frames that delight the girl's friends. In telling her story, Kostecki-Shaw utilizes the whole page, placing different sizes of text among images that vary from large to small, from vivid to diffused (visualizing Jenny Sue's eye problem). Use of acrylics, crayon, pencil, collage, and tissue paper creates colorful, imaginative illustrations. The jacket features Jenny Sue's wide grin below gaily decorated specs that sport a perky butterfly, setting the tone for this upbeat story. Children with a "difference" of some kind will be reassured by Jenny Sue's take on her special situation.—Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA
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Review

"An upbeat look at how a creative little girl copes with vision problems and the challenge of being different." — School Library Journal

 

"Winning." — Booklist

 

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805081690
• ISBN-13: 978-0805081695
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a helpful, creative book!, April 2, 2008

By 

J. Nasse "book lover/educator" (New Mexico, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Travelin' Eye (Hardcover)

This cheerful picture book by new author Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw is dear to my heart as my son also has a wandering or travelin' eye. I wish I'd had this book when he had to wear a patch and glasses to school for the first time. Jenny Sue, in a loving manner, portrays, through her text and illustrations, what it is like for a child with a travelin' eye.

In this semi-autobiography of herself as a little girl Jenny Sue describes how she saw the world with each eye and the gift each eye gave to her, one an artist and the other a navigator. However, when she had to wear a patch and glasses, how did she cope with suddenly seeing in a different way and with the pointing of the other children? Young readers will be entranced to find out.

The mixed media illustrations are delightful and inspire children to turn the pages just to see what they can find in each picture: counting opportunities, finding objects, and trying Jenny Sue's art activities. Teachers and parents will also find this an inspiring book for their children with wandering eyes, or for a unit on understanding disabilities. This picture book is highly recommended for young children, ages 3-8.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Travelin' Eye is a winner!, April 3, 2008

By 

A. Oliphant (MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Travelin' Eye (Hardcover)

My Travelin' Eye is delightful. It's such a creative approach to the topic of strabismus. It isn't easy to find stories to explain eye problems to children. This is perfect. The illustrations are such fun -- especially the 'fashion-patches' and ophthalmologist's office.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable and touching..., July 23, 2008

By 

A. Christiansen (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Travelin' Eye (Hardcover)

Hands down a must have for ANY child. My five year old daughter may not be dealing with a "travelin' eye", but this book has proven to be a creative, colorful, compassionate way to teach her about the differences that we all have. She has also come to appreciate how Jenny, and other kiddos she might know, might be feeling about their differences. Jenny did a phenomenal job of capturing childrens' attention with her illustrations and bright colors, but what makes this book truly stand out from the rest is her the way she approaches what could have been an awkward subject with pure honesty and humor. Thanks for sharing your gifts!