Brothers and Sisters

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Eye-catching and easy to read, the vignettes in this book are told in the first person by or about siblings who have a variety of disabilities. The text is enhanced by brilliant full-color photographs of smiling children from different ethnic backgrounds. Jabir, who is hearing impaired, says about himself and his sister, "We both wear hearing aids-.She goes to a special school where deaf and hearing-impaired children learn together. I go to a school in the neighborhood." While the narratives tell how a disability can impact a sibling, what is emphasized most is the normality of family life, especially the ordinary issues that arise between siblings. Edwin explains how his brother, Willie, who has Down syndrome, can be fun to play with: "We set up the marble run together." But, Willie can also be a pest, as when he takes Edwin's cards away. People with disabilities have frequently protested that their story is too often told by friends or relatives who are not disabled. Dwight makes an attempt here to change this trend by including the stories told by Jabir and by Zaire, a five-year-old with orthopedic impairments. But, the majority of these stories are still told by siblings, perpetuating the idea that those of us who are currently without disabilities are designated to speak for those who are currently disabled.-Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.