Amy Webb (3)Critiques

This book tells the story of Charley who always felt different than other kids, and Emma who was in a wheelchair. Charley’s mom always told him that “different isn’t weird, sad, bad, or strange. Different is different. And different is OK!” Charley met Emma at a park when he noticed that she was in a wheelchair and had no hands. This raised a lot of questions about what happened to her. After Charley calls Emma weird, his mom has to remind him that it’s not kind to call others weird and that different is just different. Emma shares other things that aren’t kind to do, but that it is okay to ask questions. Emma explains that she was born this way and that she is different in an amazing way. She explains other ways people can be different, then asks if Charley ever feels different. They connected on a few things that they love to do. They agreed to play again soon and Charley finally realized that what his mom has always said is right!

I think this story is a great book to use to teach lessons about asking appropriate questions and using appropriate words. Again this would be useful is both intermediate and primary classrooms and a great book to have as inclusive materials.

I thought the story and the illustrations were adorable.

My favorite thing about this book is how realistic it is and the moms behavior. I love that the book starts with the mom reminding in a way what different is and that it's okay. This book is also realistic because in reality a child could blurt out like Charley and have to apologize and start over. AS a person who grew up around a person with a disability, I can attest that Emma's perspective is real about how she doesn't like when people stare and whisper but will answer your questions if you ask them politely. After talking to Emma he realizes how similar they are and that even though she's more different and different in a different way that it is still okay. I think this book would be perfect for younger age groups because it's important to show that different is Okay as soon as possible.

I love this book! I would definitely read this book to the children because this book teaches a lesson. This story is about Charley, who notices a girl while walking to the park. The young girl is Emma, she is sitting in a wheelchair, and she has no hands. Charley asks his mom why she looked so "weird." He realized that what he said made Emma so sad. Charley's mom had to remind him that, "different isn't sad, bad, or strange." Different is just different. Different is ok! Charley apologized to Emma, and she forgives him. Emma doesn't like it when people use cruel words, but she doesn't mind if he wants to ask questions. Charley believes, even though Emma is different, they both are the same. They both did everything together and became friends. Charley soon realized that being different is amazing. I believe the theme is acceptance because Charley finally accepts Emma's differences.

Different is different. It's not weird or sad or bad or strange. It's just different. Charley's mom teaches this to Charley. Even though he understands it, he forgets what he has been taught when he meets Emma at the playground. Emma looks different. She has no hands. Charley tries to ponder what happened to Emma's hands. He asks his mother what is she so different, embarrassing Emma as she overhears what Charley said. Emma lets Charley know that it is not polite to point, whisper, or stare...but that she is open to any questions he may have. They talk, then they swing, they play, and then they draw. Charley quickly finds out that just as different as they are, they are more the same than ever.

Charley and his mom go to the park one day when he sees a girl sitting in a wheelchair and notices that she has no arms. He loudly asks his mom why she looked so "weird" before realizing what he had done; the girl looked very sad. Charley's mom reminded of their saying for when Charlie felt different: "different isn't sad, bad, or strange. Different is just different, and different is ok!" Charley apologizes for using the harsh word, and Emma forgives him, telling him she doesn't like it when people call her names but is okay if he has any questions. Charley discovers that Emma is different, but more importantly, he discovers all the ways that they are the same! They quickly become friends, and at the end of the book, Charley has decided that different is great.

This book touches on physical disabilities in a way that makes readers realize that anyone with a disability is more like you than they are different. This is such an important fact to remember because, especially for young children, sometimes someone who looks different than what they are accustomed to can seem strange or even scary. Exposing children to lots of people that are different in all kinds of ways fixes this problem because they realize that there is nothing to feel uncomfortable about! I really love that it shows children how to handle the situation: talk to the person and learn all the ways you are alike instead of using hurtful words or staring because you don't understand. Emma's willingness to answer all of Charley's questions was very helpful for him, but not everyone will be that willing, so when sharing this book with children, we need to be mindful to remind them to ask if it's okay to ask questions before they start to talk about a disability. Emma is presented as a well-developed, independent character, which is exactly how any book character with a disability should be portrayed. This book should, without a doubt, be in lower elementary classroom libraries as a helpful tool to expose children to the idea that we all have differences, but we're still more alike than we are different!

I felt uncomfortable writing some of the tags for this book, but I I always choose the tags that I include with the words people might enter into a search engine in mind. I hope that the tags that I choose might connect a book and a person searching for literature to help illuminate the life of a child. 'Charley and Emma' is apparently a series that features a friendship between two children, Charley, who is a boy with typical abilities, who 'feels weird' because sometimes he just wants to be quiet and draw instead of running and playing, and Emma, who was born without hands and uses a wheelchair to get around. The most important scene and educating moment in the book, in my opinion, is when Charley first sees Emma on the playground. He is shocked and says loudly, 'Why does she look so weird, Mommy?'. He even describes the psychosomatic sensation of his stomach hurting because he feels so uncomfortable. The reader can tell by the hurt expression on Emma's and her sister Chloe's faces that they heard what he said. This is a very realistic and common reaction that occurs when children see someone who looks so different from them. Children are observant and curious.
What ensues is a less common occurrence, but this series of books seeks to rectify that. Charley's mother has him introduce himself to Emma, and Emma invites Charley to ask questions. The narrative then becomes all about ABILITY, which is what books about anyone who is different in ANY way should focus on. It is unlikely that children would communicate as effectively as Charley and Emma do in this tale, but that's not the point. The characters model how adults and children can and should respectfully communicate about people with abilities that look different. We need so, so many more new books about this to be written, and it seems that many of the parents of children with different abilities are putting on their author hats to ensure that their children see themselves represented in literature, and that other children see them, too.

What a beautiful book filled with enjoyable illustrations by merrilee Liddiard and a message of helping a child understand the uniqueness of all people and the etiquette of speaking to people of disability from Amy Webb. This book is a must read to a child.

I will be recommending this book to our children’s librarian at the library I work at.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book Beaming Books via Edelweiss in lieu of my honest review.

I loved this book. I would absolutely read this in my class. This book tells the story of Charley who is taught that being different is okay, but when Charley meets Emma he is shocked when he notices that she doesn't have hands and is in a wheelchair. When he remembers what his mom said, he goes up to Emma and introduces himself. They find out that they both have very similar interests and become friends. I think it is very important to teach students that being different is a great thing, and that everyone is different. This book does a great job of really showing that and using Charley to show students that people who seem different from the outside can share the same interests.

Amy Webb’s When Charley met Emma introduces “difference” with a boy who likes to do different things. It’s a cool and sensible introduction to a world where some people will always be “different.” And readers will learn with Charley that “different isn’t weird, sad, bad or strange… Different is okay.” It’s a message emphasized, perhaps, in the way the lettering changes from simple typing to handwritten text in the images. Not strange. Still clear to read!

When Charley met Emma introduces a girl whose body really is different, and Charlie’s natural reaction—to stare—is not condemned, but rather drawn into something more. He’s asked to introduce himself to the person who seems “weird” and he learns how words can hurt, how questions can be okay, and how different can be fun. After all, Charley and Emma can and do play the same games.

At the end of the book, wise advice shows parents know how to help their children react to people with special needs. And throughout the book, pastel illustrations with clear expressions and active images encourage imagination. When Charley met Emma is highly recommended.

Disclosure: I was given a copy and I offer my honest review.