Book Review

MY FRIEND ISABELLE 1

Blair Thallmayer

PDS SPED 351

Book Review

October 29, 2007

SUMMARY OF THE STORY
My Friend Isabelle, written by Eliza Woloson, and illustrated by Bryan Gough. Eliza Woloson
established the Global Education Fund, a nonprofit organization that builds libraries in orphanages around
the world. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband, Todd, and two children, Isabelle and her
younger sister, Audrey. Isabelle is a child with Down syndrome. Bryan Gough is a designer and artist
living and working in Boulder, Colorado. When he is not doing his art, he is raising his son, John.
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."
This hardcover book is developed at a reading level for second graders to read independently with
28 pages. Watercolors in greens, purples, blues, and oranges move the story along, sometimes with full-
page pictures and sometimes with small drawings. The message is expressed sensitively and clearly of
acceptance and inclusion. 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.
POSITIVE POINTS
After reading and reviewing My Friend Isabelle, this book identifies many positive points
involving acceptance, inclusion, friendship, learning from others, and sharing.
In this story, Charlie and Isabelle share many things, a characteristic that young children need to
learn. Charlie and Isabelle share paint sets, a butterfly net, building blocks, grocery store accessories,
Cheerios, and playground equipment. The illustrations and text throughout the whole book display the
children sharing.
All learners can be taught new tasks from anyone if they are willing to learn. Learning from
others is another activity displayed in this book. Isabelle, a young girl with Down syndrome, teaches
Charlie, who does not have Down syndrome, how to dance to Stevie Wonder by twirling.
My Friend Isabelle encourages friendship and why we think friendships are special. In addition,
how those differences within our friendships can make the world more interesting. The word friend is
involved within the title of the book, thereby displaying a theme of friendship based on the title.
Inclusion is demonstrated within My Friend Isabelle. Isabelle is included in every activity and
environmental setting that Charlie is involved in. Isabelle draws, dances, reads, and plays at the park just
like Charlie. She is never left behind or told she is not allowed to because of her differences.
At a young age, Charlie has accepted that even with a friend with Down syndrome, Isabelle is
still a person, and a really good friend. Charlie is aware that Isabelle is not the same as him, but they can
still be friends and do the same activities together without any problems.

CONCERNING POINTS
Some concerns occurred while reading and reviewing this book. Throughout the entire book, it
discusses similarities and differences between two friends, one boy and one girl. I thought, as well as my
students, that we were comparing and contrasting a boy and a girl that were best friends. Finally at the
end of the book, the last page had a twist - the little girl had Down syndrome. It made an excellent twist,
however I felt that using this book as a shared reading and lesson plan, this book should have addressed
the issue of Down syndrome within the first few pages.
Another concern about this book was that the two children look very similar. Young children,
boys and girls, normally physically look alike. However, people with Down syndrome physically look
different. Therefore, I felt that Isabelle should have been illustrated to look different from Charlie.
Next concern with My Friend Isabelle is that Isabelle always seems to be very inferior to Charlie
or that Charlie seems to be very superior over Isabelle. On every page, Charlie is always the “better” one.
Example, “I am tall. Isabelle is short.” And the picture displays her on a stool. “I run fast. Isabelle takes
her time.” Charlie is running off the page, where as Isabelle is bending over to look at the butterfly. “I
know a lot of words. Isabelle’s words are sometimes hard for me to understand.” The first line is black
and typed in a straight line, where as the second part is many colors and diagonal down the page.
My students noticed, as well as I, that this book seemed to promote dating. The students felt that
their relationship was as boyfriend and girlfriend just because it was different from them. However,
observing the illustrations, I felt that this book displayed a promotion for dating. One page they are
playing grocery store, a dramatic pretend play game. In two pictures, they are sitting down at a table,
eating and drinking together. “We hold hands. Isabelle has soft hands.” Those two pages of holding hands
demonstrate a sign of dating. Finally the last page, Isabelle is behind Charlie holding onto him as they go
down the slide, showing another sign of affection.
The last concern I have with this book is that the entire time Charlie is the first person point of
view, narrating the story. A couple of times, however, Charlie tells us, “Mommy says,” and explains what
she is telling him. Despite this, the mother is never illustrated. This could confuse many young readers if
they were reading this independently.
INTERESTING POINTS
Personally I have found a variety of interesting points within this book. As I have mentioned
above in a concern, throughout the entire book, it discusses similarities and differences between two
friends of opposite sexes. Therefore, I thought as well as my students, that we were comparing and
contrasting a boy and a girl that were best friends. Finally at the end of the book, the last page there was a
twist - the little girl had Down syndrome. It made an excellent twist! The students were not aware that the
little girl had Down syndrome.
Another interesting point was that this book was created at an early developmentally appropriate
reading level, so students as young as first and second grade could read this independently. Students at

any age can, without help, learn about inclusion. In addition to this, young children are more accepting of
other people. Including all children together at an early age will create more acceptance and tolerance of
differences.
The illustrations created by Bryan Gough were interesting. The pictures tell the story more so
than the words do. If someone could not read the text, they could easily look at the pictures and still
understand the story.
The activities demonstrated between Charlie and Isabelle were activities that all children can
relate to, such as painting, dancing, building blocks, sliding down slides, and dramatic play. This is
interesting because the book is giving many examples of childhood experiences that everyone goes
through, including people that are different.
Finally, Isabelle is actually a real person that was created into this story. Isabelle is a young girl
with Down syndrome. Her mother Eliza felt that it was necessary to put together a story book about her
daughter to inform the world of children with special needs and how they make the world a better place
by great friendships.
USES FOR THE BOOK IN THE CLASSROOM
There are many classroom activities that foster acceptance of differences from reading this book.
Reading this book to a group of children naturally provokes discussions about differences. The following
activities support student’s questions and comments. It also suggests ways to explore the concepts of the
story.
The third and fourth pages read, “Even though we are the same age, we are different.” This
illustration shows two pairs of sneakers, one smaller than the other. Shoe Store Activity is creating a mini
shoe store in the classroom. By collecting and setting out shoes of all sizes, from baby shoes to Daddy-
sized shoes; including specialized shoes, braces, casts, and orthodics that children can explore. Assist the
students in measuring and comparing their foot sizes. Encourage students to act our various shoe store
scenarios, for example looking for a particular size or style of shoe.
The fifth and sixth pages read, “I am tall. Isabelle is short.” It will take just a moment, but the
students will notice that in this illustration, Isabelle is standing on a stool. Body Tracing Activity has the
students explore height and body shapes. Have the students lie down on the big paper and trace them with
a marker. For added interest, students can be traced striking poses or holding hands with others. The
tracings can be cut out and placed on a wall in different groupings of friend on different days. This
activity suggests to the students that they can be friends with all members of the class.
The seventh and eighth page read, “I run fast. Isabelle takes her time.” This page of the story
addresses not only ways of moving, but ways of being for children can often seem like the same thing.
The Chase Me! Activity is an interactive game that children of all abilities can enjoy. If we focus on what
movement feels like, rather than racing and competing with each other we all win. Actually being caught

is not really the point, but the thrill of movement, pursuit and interaction can create shared moments of
joy between peers who may not otherwise play together.
The ninth and tenth page read, “I know a lot of words. Isabelle’s words are sometimes hard for
me to understand.” The story begins to shift here from addressing physical differences to more abstract
differences among people. Young children are beginning to understand the concepts of words and the
power of communicating through them. Word Detectives Activity is having children exposed to
languages other than their own native/ home language. Encourage children to be a “word detective” to
keep an ear out for new words heard in their own or other languages, and to seek out clues to their
meanings.
The eleventh and twelfth page read, “Mommy says that differences are what make the world so
great.” This is the essential message of the book. I Spy Activity encourages the students to find people in
this illustration doing different activities, using different modes of transportation, or with various physical
distinctions.
The fifteenth and sixteenth page read, “We dance to Stevie Wonder. Isabelle teaches me how to
twirl.” These two pages could use music to encourage communication and interaction. Music Jam
Activity includes families to send in music that they listen to at home with their children. Dance around
the room as each child leads the movement of their own “special” music. Teacher could record a mixed
tape or CD of all the different styles of music that the families share.
The seventeenth and eighteenth page read, “We pretend to go shopping for grapes at the store.
We cry when one of us forgets to share.” Children readily identify with this page on many levels. Grocery
shopping is a familiar family activity and they love to re-enact it, in dramatic play. Students can also
relate to the feeling of frustration that can accompany pretend play, when conflicts over toys or roles
occur. The Grocery Store Activity draws students together regardless of gender, experience or ability.
Bring in cans and empty boxes, along with family involvement of favorite grocery items. As an added
benefit, these realistic props help some children relate to the more abstract ideas involved in pretend play.
Another page involves Cheerios and a Picnic. Teddy Bear’s Picnic Activity students will bring
their favorite toy to school for a special teddy bear picnic. Have students write and decorate invitations to
their “special friend.” Ask families to RSVP by sending a note including the special object’s name, the
history of how it came to be the child’s favorite, and possibly an adventure that the “carry around” went
on with the child. With these personalized stories, you can help all students “show and tell” about their
special toys.
There are many activities and lesson plans available online. All of the activities I have explained
above were found on the Woodbine House Website (www.woodbinehouse.com) created as a teacher’s
guide to My Friend Isabelle.

REFLECTION OF THE LESSON USING THE BOOK
Mrs. Hardy’s second grade classroom is diverse in many ways. Few students have Individualized
Education Programs and many students have Section 504s. The backgrounds of students are African-
American, Caucasian, and Latin-American. The age range of students is 6-8.
The students really had mixed feelings about this book. In the beginning they thought it was
funny that a boy and girl were best friends. Each student explained to me that their best friend was of the
same gender. The boys in this classroom stated that it was gross to have a girl as your best friend, and
they concluded that Isabelle must be Charlie’s girlfriend. I explained to the students that boys and girls
can be best friends. It does not matter what gender you are, if you have the same interests you can still be
best friends. As I read on, the students enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences between the two
characters, because no matter what happened they were still best friends.
For my lesson plan on My Friend Isabelle we developed an understanding the concepts of “same”
and “different”. I used the activity I Spy from the Teacher’s Guide. In this activity, I encouraged the
students to find people in this illustration doing different activities, using different modes of
transportation, or with various physical distinctions.
“I spy with my little eye a person riding a unicycle.” Given each student a turn “spying”
something, then I asked the students why these differences make the world so great. Finally, as a
classroom, I recorded the students’ answers on a poster that they can add to throughout the day, the week,
etc.
These students loved the I Spy Activity. They were so excited and enjoyed that everyone got a
turn and we created one big list altogether. They wanted to continue that all day, so I told them we could
during Recess.
Teachers in inclusive classrooms have a wonderful opportunity to make the world a more tolerant
place by encouraging children to appreciate our many differences. Creating a classroom environment in
which differences are discussed openly, all children are valued and learning takes place through
friendships. Having students grow up in a diverse atmosphere, they are much less likely to develop biases
toward others who seem different from them

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Thrasher, Amy. (2004). A Teacher’s Guide to My Friend Isabelle. Retrieved October 21, 2007, from

Woodbine House: Classroom Activities That Foster Acceptance for Differences. Web site:

http://www.Woodbinehouse.com

Woloson, Eliza.(2003). My Friend Isabelle. Maryland: Woodbine House Inc.

A TEACHER'S GUIDE
to My Friend Isabelle

Classroom Activities
That Foster
Acceptance of
Differences
By Amy Thrasher, M.A., CCC-SLP

Published by Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
publishers of the Special-Needs Collection
www.woodbinehouse.com The companion guide to
My Friend Isabelle by Eliza Woloson

INTRODUCTION

Supporting Acceptance
of Differences

Charlie’s mother says in My Friend Isabelle, “…differences are
what make the world so great.” Teachers in inclusive classrooms
have a wonderful opportunity to make the world a more tolerant
place by encouraging children to appreciate our many differences.
This Teacher’s Guide to My Friend Isabelle, with preschool,
kindergarten, and first grade students in mind, provides ideas and
activities designed to support you in creating a classroom environ-
ment in which differences are discussed openly, all children are
valued, and learning takes place through friendships.

When children grow up in an atmosphere of diversity, they are
much less likely to develop biases toward others who seem differ-
ent from them. This does not mean that children in inclusive
classrooms do not notice differences. These children develop a
sophisticated understanding of self, of others, and of difference. If
their natural curiosity and attempts to understand their world are
met with respect, encouragement, honesty, and with words that
make sense to them, children will learn to view differences with
acceptance. 1

The teacher is the most effective tool in creating a classroom com- s Closely observe interactions among children so you will under-
munity in which diversity is discussed and welcomed. By demon- stand the context or reason for a comment or question.
strating genuine appreciation for the special interests and
s Address comments and questions in the moment. Postponing a
strengths of every child, the teacher creates an atmosphere in
discussion can cause uncertainty or discomfort.
which individuality is viewed positively. Teachers can encourage
acceptance of difference everyday in the classroom by…
Not all “questions” sound like questions. Children often comment
s Creating opportunities for all children to engage in activities, on what they see as a way to confirm their impressions and theo-
communicate with each other, and notice each other’s ries. Treat comments like questions. For example:
strengths;
In a classroom of 3-year-olds, Ahmed crawls to get around. After
s Drawing on information provided by a child’s family. In talk-
watching him for a few moments, Ella states, “Ahmed is a baby.”
ing with families, go behind labels like “Down syndrome” to
You may not be sure what prompted Ella’s comment. Ask her a
get deeper impressions of their child’s personality. Use the
sincere, non-judgmental question to find out why she thinks this.
words the family chooses to describe their child.
Sometimes, just rephrasing a comment will cause a child to elab-
s Focusing attention on what children do—on their unique abil- orate. “You think Ahmed is a baby.” Then, by pausing and look-
ities—not on how they look or what they wear. For example, ing expectantly yet patiently at Ella for her thoughts, you encour-
“You love to paint, Vanessa,” rather than “What pretty braids age her to say more about her reasoning. From there, you can con-
you have today.”; tinue the open discussion.
s Being specific with comments to children when they cooper-
You may need to supply information or perspective. Ella’s com-
ate, play with a variety of friends, help each other, or jointly
ment reveals that she is working to understand the concept of age.
solve problems. For example, “You and Jonah are building a
She naturally associates behavior (Ahmed’s crawling) with age
very tall tower together,” rather than “Good job, boys.”
(babies crawl). If Ahmed crawls to get around the classroom
because of mobility issues, while his classmates walk and run,
Addressing Comments Ella might test her theory that “3-year-olds walk, babies crawl;
and Answering Questions therefore Ahmed is a baby.” One way to respond would be to say,
“You and Ahmed are both 3 years old. Ahmed likes to play with
As children begin to understand the concepts of “same” and “dif- other 3-year-olds, but it is hard for him to move sometimes. He
ferent,” they use their developing language skills to test their theo- crawls to meet his friends.”
ries of how things work in the world. Their attempts to understand
differences are natural learning opportunities. How you respond to
questions and comments about differences will help reinforce
acceptance of diversity in your classroom. Here are some hints:
s Prepare for possible comments and questions. Look at your
2 classroom through the eyes of a child. What might a young 3
child notice as “different”?

some children may not have enough language to participate ver-
Reading bally. When reading this page to my class, I commented, “Thomas

My Friend Isabelle has new light-up shoes!” and stomped my foot. Thomas, who
doesn’t yet have words to talk about his shoes, imitated me and

to Your Class stomped his foot. I made sure to stress that even though Thomas’
feet are smaller than Tara’s, Thomas and Tara are the same age,
like Isabelle and Charlie in the story.
Reading My Friend Isabelle to a group of children naturally pro-
vokes discussions about differences. Read each page, show the
Idea #1: Shoe Store
illustration, then pause. Your children will notice the exquisite
drawings that supplement the text’s meaning. The following activ- Create a mini shoe store in your classroom. Collect and set out
ities support children’s questions and comments and suggest ways shoes of all sizes, from baby shoes to Daddy-sized shoes. Include
to explore the concepts in the story. Responses to the story from specialized shoes, braces, casts, or orthodics that children can
children in my own classroom and strategies that I have used are explore. Assist the children in measuring and comparing their foot
sprinkled throughout. sizes. You can use a foot measuring device from a shoe store, trace
the children’s feet on construction paper, or use a measuring tape
Experiences That or ruler. Outfit your classroom’s dolls with a variety of shoes and
Correspond with the Story ambulatory accessories as well! Have materials such as ace band-
ages, toilet paper rolls, velcro, and foam packing material avail-
able to make ambulatory accessories.

Supporting child interactions:
Encourage your students to act out various shoe store scenarios,
for example looking for a particular size or style of shoe. Teachers
can assist by prompting children with appropriate words or ges-
tures. Pair children and allow those who are adept at pretend play
“Even though we are the same age, we are different.” to model for children who have less experience.

When you read this page, many children will naturally hold out Resources:
their feet for inspection. Try imitating this action, providing a You can buy or borrow shoe boxes, shoe horns, foot measuring
model for the children who do not immediately join in. Draw chil- devices, etc. from local shoe stores. Collect old shoes, boots, ski
dren into the conversation, who are unlikely to participate verbal- boots, braces, orthodics, shoe boxes, and more from your stu-
ly in a large group, by pointing out shoe similarities and differ- dents’ families. Check with occupational and physical therapists
ences. “Oh, look! Deneeka has flowers on her shoes like you, for items they are no longer using. Tap local orthopedists, clinics,
Tara. Deneeka’s are purple and yours are white.” By connecting medical supply stores, or hospitals for resources. Check the
two children in the same remark, children begin to see each other Lakeshore Learning Materials™ catalog for materials for dolls
4 in relation to one another. Try incorporating movement, since 5
with differing abilities.

Idea #2: Foot Painting
Cover your classroom floor with sheets of paper from a large roll.
Allow the children to stand on the paper, holding an adult’s hand
so they don’t slip, and paint the bottom of one of their feet. To per-
sonalize their prints, give them a choice of paint color. Then they
can stomp their footprints! When the paint dries, encourage the
children to write their names next to their footprints and discuss
any differences in size, shape, and paint color. “I am tall. Isabelle is short.”

Supporting child interactions: It will take just a moment, but the children will notice that in this
If they will tolerate it, allow pairs of children to paint each other’s illustration, Isabelle is standing on a stool. (All children can relate
feet. After they have had their foot painting fun, the children can to feeling small in a grown-up sized world.) Likely, discussions
wash their feet in buckets of warm, sudsy water and dry them with about their own heights will begin. It is important that the teacher
towels. While cleaning up, the children, who might not otherwise sets a tone of acceptance. Indicate that people come in all shapes
pair up, will be encouraged to share their excitement over the and sizes, and that all shapes and sizes are valued. Take care not
project. to reinforce societal stereotypes, such as that short or small is
somehow inferior.
Special Considerations:
If a child in your class has something different about their feet, Idea #1: Body Tracing
this is a natural opportunity to discuss it. All children can partici- To explore height and body shapes, have the children lay down on
pate in these activities, even those with mobility issues, so be cre- big paper and trace them with a marker. For added interest, chil-
ative and seek out opportunities for these differences to be dis- dren can be traced striking poses or holding hands with another
cussed openly. “Lucy has a differently formed foot. She is learn- child. Children love to individualize these images of themselves
ing to strap on the braces that help her walk. Maybe you can help with markers, collage materials, or their own personal items such
her with the velcro straps, Terrence.” While some families wel- as barrettes, shoe laces, and even band-aids!
come the opportunity for peers to explore their child’s assistive
accessories, others might find this discomforting. Always ask the Supporting child interactions:
family and the child for their preferences. The tracings can be cut out and placed on a wall in different
groupings of friends on different days. This suggests to the chil-
dren that they can be friends with all members of the class.
“Carrie and Alma are buddies on the wall today!” Reinforce the
connection by having the pair share classroom responsibilities,
such as passing out lunches or watering the plants.

6 7

Idea #2: “Look How I’ve Grown!”
A common object in early childhood classrooms, the height chart,
takes on more meaning as children explore concepts of size and
measurement within the context of this story. You may have a
child in your class who uses a wheelchair or cannot stand up
to be measured. You and the child’s friends can hold a piece of
string against the child’s body from head to toe, cut it, then tape
the string to the height chart. If you use this string method for one
“I run fast. Isabelle takes her time.”
child, use the same method for all children.
This page of the story addresses not only ways of moving, but
Supporting child interactions: ways of being, which, for children can often seem like the same
Have the children measure one another. Make sure the children thing. Many children will excitedly say, “I run fast, too!” One boy
know to tell the child being measured that they will be touching in my class, who has very few words, stood up and ran a few steps
them with the string, as unexpected light touches can be unpleas- into our circle, expressing very clearly and proudly that he under-
ant for many children. stood and identified with Charlie. Another child, who has a quiet,
observant demeanor, went home and told her mother that we were
Other ideas to try: reading My Friend Isabelle. After a moment, she exclaimed,
“Isabelle takes her time!” as if to say that she had found a positive
Height, size, and shape differences are easily related to other
image of herself in the character of Isabelle.
physical differences. To explore other physical differences, try
these ideas:
Idea #1: “Chase Me!”
s Provide a variety of mirrors in the dramatic play section of
your classroom and elsewhere. “Chase” is one of the earliest interactive games that children of all
abilities enjoy, in one form or another. If we focus on what move-
s Create life-size self-portraits using a variety of skin-toned ment feels like, rather than racing and competing with each other,
papers, paints, markers, and collage materials that truly reflect we all win. Actually being caught is not really the point, but the
the children’s skin color, eye color, hair color and texture. thrill of movement, pursuit, and interaction can create shared
s Create a “family pictures” wall. Give each child the opportunity moments of joy between peers who may not otherwise play
to show and tell their friends about their family in the photos on together. Through the joy of chase, I have seen friendships begin
the wall. In some families, relatives look similar, in others, each among children who seem to be at very different levels in the
person looks unique. A child may point out, “Chen doesn’t look classroom. By communicating through movement, children begin
like her mommy. She has black hair but her mom has yellow to see children of differing abilities as potential play partners.
hair.” Use this opportunity to talk about family differences, and
be sure to use the families’ words for these differences.
It often takes a teacher’s suggestive remark about the actions of a
s Cut out pictures of people of a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, child to encourage others to join that child in play. “Look at how
8 9
and ages from magazines for the children to use in collages. fast Conrad runs! Julia, I bet Conrad would like it if you chased

him!” “That’s a slippery slide, Francesca! Watch out, here comes Idea #1: Word Detectives
Michael, chasing you down!”
Fortunately, in our diversifying society, children are being
Idea #2: “Move Like Me!” exposed to languages other their own home language. Children
know that “Rosa speaks Spanish and is learning English”; “Anton
By holding up visuals and calling out ways to move, you can speaks English and German.” Encourage children to be “word
encourage children to move together in similar ways. Hold up a detectives,” to keep an ear out for new words heard in their own
stop sign, a green light, a checkered flag that says “fast!” or a yel- or other languages, and to seek out clues to their meanings. Keep
low sign that says “slow!” Have the children take turns assisting a list of these words and their definitions posted in your class-
you in calling out the ways of moving. Add silly ways to move, room. This ongoing activity will do wonders for your students’
like crab-walking or running while “bicycling” arms. If a child in vocabulary and understanding of cultural and linguistic differ-
your class has limited range of movement, make the ways that ences and similarities.
this child moves some of the choices. This will not only give the
child a chance to move along with his friends, but will also pro- Supporting child interactions:
vide an opportunity for his friends to take his perspective for a If you have children in your classroom whose “words are
moment. sometimes hard to understand,” encourage your students to be
“word detectives” and uncover clues as to what their classmates
mean. Is their friend pointing at something? Does it sound some-
thing like a word they know? In this way, the responsibility for
communication is on both communicative partners: the speaker
and the listener. You’ll find that children become better listeners
and more cooperative as they try to understand one another. You’ll
be amazed at the empathy that will develop among children.
“Leila sounds like she’s going to cry a little. I think she’s hungry.
Do you want some crackers, Leila?”
“I know a lot of words. Isabelle’s words are sometimes
hard for me to understand.” Idea #2: Signed Stories
The story begins to shift here from addressing physical differ- American Sign Language (ASL) is its own true language, with its
ences to more abstract differences among people. Young children own syntax and morphology. If a family member of a child in
are just beginning to understand the concepts of words, and the your classroom is fluent in sign language, or if you know anyone
power of communicating through them. This simple text and the in the Deaf community, it is an eye-opening and engaging experi-
illustration help children begin to understand that we are all learn- ence for the children to see a story told in ASL. Children become
ing to communicate in our own way. Even though sometimes our absorbed in the movements and expressions that bring the story
friends may be hard to understand, they are trying to tell us some- alive.
thing. It may just take a little time and “detective work” to figure
10 it out! 11

Try showing the pictures from My Friend Isabelle while it is you are unable to have a person from the Deaf community join
being signed (voice off). The children might recognize some signs your class on this day, let the children decide what makes for the
because of their iconicity—they “look like” what they refer to. most appropriate sign names for each other. Start by pointing out
Then read the book aloud while it is being signed (voice on). Ask unique qualities that each of the children have. Encourage every-
the children to describe the different ways in which they experi- one to contribute to the list. This is a great opportunity to open up
enced the story with and without spoken words. a discussion about differences in a natural and positive way. Raul
has curly hair, he wears glasses to help him see, he always tells the
Hand signs and gestures are frequently used by children whose funniest jokes, and he loves cars. Maybe the person from the Deaf
“words are sometimes hard to understand” or who have trouble Community or the children will decide to use the “R” hand shape
understanding spoken words. Have the children pick out a few when signing “car” for Raul’s name. The easiest way for children
words from the story and learn the corresponding signs. Hand to learn everyone’s name signs and begin to interact using them
signs and gestures are frequently used as stepping stones to spo- will be through your “hello song” that recognizes each child.
ken words!
Resources:
Supporting child interactions: There are a number of attractive sign language books for children
Become familiar with the signs that a child in your class uses, and out there, including The Handmade Alphabet by Laura Rankin.
begin to use them with all the children during daily routines. Look for more at your local library.
Some common signs used with children to augment their speech
development are “more,” “all done,” “yes,” “no,” “stop,” and
words for activities, such as “eat,” “drink,” “potty,” etc. Ask the
child’s family if there is a particular sign language dictionary they
use, or if they have pictures that demonstrate the signs. (Some
signs are different across regions of the country, and some fami-
lies may use their own versions of signs/gestures.) You can post
these sign pictures along with the written labels in your class-
room. Children love learning signs, and if you remind them,
“Victor is using his signs and now you know what he is saying,” “Mommy says that differences are what make
you’ll find them interacting with Victor more often as they look the world so great.”
forward to figuring out what his signs mean.
This is the essential message of the book. Inspire a discussion of
differences by posing this thought-provoking question to the chil-
Idea #3: Sign Names dren: “What would it be like if we were all the same?”
Create sign names for each child in your class. Sign names are
signs that usually incorporate the first letter of a person’s name, Idea #1: “I Spy”
plus some unique characteristic of that person. For instance,
Encourage the children to find people in this illustration doing
Audrey has a twinkle in her eyes, so we sign her name “A” by the
12 different activities, using different modes of transportation, or 13
eye. Typically, sign names are given by people who are Deaf. If

with various physical distinctions. “I spy with my little eye a per- pick-up times, at conferences, or home-visits. Discuss how the
son riding a unicycle.” Give each child a turn “spying” something. children interact with each other during class and which children
Then ask the children why these differences make the world so might enjoy a playdate together. Be specific with your sugges-
great. Record their answers on a poster that they can add to tions: “I’ve seen Noelle and Carter playing at the sensory table
throughout the day, the week, or however long you spend with the together a lot lately. They might enjoy a playdate that centers
book. around a sandbox.”

Playdates where both families are present, such as at the park, help
families understand that their children do have things in common,
and go a long way to assuage any concerns about differences or
behaviors. As an early childhood teacher, you know how much
learning takes place within the context of friendships. Spread this
important gem of knowledge to the families with whom you work.
Create your own playdate tipsheet to post on your family bulletin
board, send home, or include in your newsletter.
“Every Friday Isabelle and I play together.”
During their early childhood years, children use their developing
social-emotional skills to build friendships. Through friendship,
children learn from each other and construct meaning together.
Reading this page provides an excellent opportunity to talk about
friendships. We have all kinds of friendships and special people in
our lives. Do the children in your class have a special day with
Grandma? Do they have their cousins or neighbors over to play?
Do they have playdates with friends? By engaging the children in
a conversation about family and friends with whom they play “We dance to Stevie Wonder. Isabelle teaches me how to twirl.”
already, you can then begin to talk about playdates among the Young children love to dance and twirl, and to be recognized for
children in your class. The children will see themselves as poten- a special movement! When we come to this page during story-
tial friends outside of school. “Sandy, if Lena came to your house, book circle, we all take a twirl. It can be very difficult for young
what would you like to play with her?” children to sit quietly while being read to, so this opportunity for
movement, which connects meaningfully to the story, is helpful to
Supporting child interactions: me as a teacher! Movement is often very organizing for children;
Teachers play a vital role in encouraging and supporting parents it helps them quiet their bodies so they can focus their attention
in arranging playdates for their children. Encourage families of on the task at hand.
children with disabilities to be proactive in seeking out playdates
for their children. Bring up the topic of playdates at drop-off or
14 15

Using Music To Encourage Supporting child interactions:
Communication and Interaction Record a mixed tape or CD of all the different styles of music that
the families share. Lend it out to families or make copies for each
Music in the classroom can be used to enhance understanding, family so the children can listen to the music at home and associ-
stimulate communication, calm or alert children, ease transitions, ate each song with a friend from class.
and support child interactions. When used just as background noise,
music only creates more stimuli for a child to filter through their Idea #2: Special Songs
auditory system. This can cause some children to “tune out”; oth-
ers may become over-stimulated. But when a child is engaged with Most children like to be recognized in song and to be imitated by
music, it can help her organize her body and thoughts. Children their friends. Songs and activities, like those listed below, give
who have few or no words are often very attuned to music. children the opportunity to shine as individuals and show respect
to their classmates.
The repetitive nature of children’s songs and simple lyrics con-
nected to hand movements provide children with opportunities to Supporting child interactions:
associate meaning with words. Melody and rhythm also help chil- “Simon Says”—In this game, I always say “Simon says...” and
dren attend to lyrics, and later help them recall and reproduce skip the trickery part, which children in this age group don’t usu-
those words when they begin joining in with songs. One tech- ally grasp anyway. Let the children take turns being “Simon.”
nique that encourages word production is to leave off the last When it is Theo’s turn, he leads the group for three movements,
word in a familiar refrain, such as leaving off “boat” when singing each time saying, “Theo says…” For children who don’t initially
the second refrain of “Row, Row, Row Your (Boat.)” grasp the concept of leading “Simon Says,” I might notice the
child’s position or movement and say, “Oh look, Karen says, ‘Put
Supporting child interactions: your hands on your knees!’”
Children can relate to one another through songs that incorporate
hand holding, such as “Ring Around the Rosie” or “London “Everybody Do This”—This is a simple song or chant to do in a
Bridges,” or other physical connection. Other songs can be adapt- circle. Ask a child what movement he or she would like the group
ed to increase the amount of child interaction. For instance, chil- to do, or, if the child cannot answer that type of question, “catch”
dren can face each other sitting down and holding hands while the child doing a movement. Then sing and imitate the child’s
rowing and singing, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” movement, “Everybody do this, do this, do this. Everybody do
this, just like Jackson.”
Idea #1: Music Jam!
“Something Special Song”—This song or chant highlights what
Invite families to send in music that they listen to at home with
a child views as special to her. Ask a child what he or she would
their children. Dance around the room as each child leads the
like to sing about, such as her nail polish, baseball hat, or the kitty
movement to their own “special” music. Often you will find there
on her shirt. Look for the slightest movement from physically
are musicians among your students’ families who may be willing
challenged children or those with limited language as an indica-
to come in and play for the children.
tion of what they would like to sing about. “Bella has blue shoes,
16 17
blue shoes, blue shoes. Bella has blue shoes on today.”

All children learn through repetition, and some children need
more than others. Set up various play scenarios focused on gro-
cery shopping so children can practice their social skills. By pro-
viding a familiar play script, such as “shopping to make a recipe,”
you can allow for novelty, since elements like the recipe can
change, while the basic play script remains the same for children
who need more practice. If at first Michelle needs a lot of assis-
“We pretend to go shopping for grapes at the store. tance in the “grocery store” to pay her friend Marquel, the cashier,
We cry when one of us forgets to share.” for the orange, you can support her and then fade back your assis-
Children readily identify with this page on many levels. Grocery tance day by day as you see her becoming more adept and
shopping is a familiar family activity and they love to re-enact it, confident.
with themselves in the “grown-up” role of the shopper, rather than
as the passive participant in the shopping cart! In “pretend,” they Idea #2: Feeling Faces
get to choose what they would like to bring home from the store. Children need to identify their own feelings before they can begin
But the children also relate to the feelings of frustration that can to understand the feelings of others. Picture cards of faces depict-
accompany pretend play, when conflicts over toys or roles occur. ing various emotions can help some children identify how they
are feeling when they don’t have or can’t find the words to
Idea #1: Grocery Store express it. While reading My Friend Isabelle, pairs of children can
Because it is such a familiar routine in our society, the dramatic take turns pointing to or holding up the “feeling face” card that
play theme of “Grocery Store” draws children together regardless corresponds to the emotions of Charlie and Isabelle in the book.
of gender, experience, or ability. You can increase feelings of When you reach the page about crying, you can reflect what the
belonging among all of the children in your class by including children demonstrate with the picture cards, “Aisha thinks that
foods that are eaten in their homes. Ask children and families Isabelle is mad. Conor thinks that Charlie is sad.” Talking about
what their family favorites are, write “grocery lists” with the chil- the differences and similarities among these kinds of emotions,
dren, and ask families to send in cans or empty boxes to bring and how different people might feel a different emotion in the
authentic cultural and literacy experiences into your dramatic play same situation, helps children begin to understand and accept
area. As an added benefit, these realistic props help some children differences among their friends.
relate to the more abstract ideas involved in pretend play. Real
paper bags with familiar logos from the children’s local grocery Supporting child interactions:
store can help children make connections between this in-class You can use these feeling faces along with words throughout the
symbolic representation and their own family shopping experi- day to acknowledge how children are feeling about various situa-
ences. tions. Later, the children may begin to use the feeling faces or
words to identify each other’s feelings. The children’s awareness
of their friends’ feelings will increase, a critical step in the devel-
18 19
opment of empathy. It is appropriate to choose a moment when

things are calm to ask children how they feel when a friend won’t the classroom, and when each child has the opportunity to do a
share or to ask them about other emotions. Writing down what step in a recipe, they feel they belong and contribute to the group.
they say and later reading it back to them is very powerful. In
order to include everyone in these discussions, be sure to ask the Cheerio necklaces—If you use yarn to string Cheerios, apply
families of children who are unable to communicate at this level tape around one end to make it easier for all children to poke
how their children experience and express emotion. through the holes. Pipecleaners and lanyard string also work well.

Cheerio books—There are counting books available illustrated
with Cheerios. Children can match real Cheerios to the picture,
count, and eat!

Idea #2: Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Children will love to bring their favorite toy or stuffed animal to
school for a special toys’ tea party or a teddy bears’ picnic! Have
them write and decorate invitations to their “special friend.” Ask
“We drink apple juice and eat Cheerios at the little red table and
families to RSVP by sending in a note or short story including the
chairs. We bring our sippy cups together and say ‘CHEERS!’
special object’s name, the history of how it came to be the child’s
Kitty and Meg say ‘CHEERS!’ too.”
favorite, and possibly an adventure that the “carry-around” went
Children love the picture of Charlie and Isabelle making their on with the child. With these personalized stories, you can help all
stuffed animal friends, Kitty and Meg, say “Cheers!” They relate children “show and tell” about their special toys.
to this page because they too eat Cheerios, drink apple juice, and
believe that their own special toy or stuffed animal is real. Supporting child interactions:
During the tea party or picnic, encourage children to have their
Idea #1: Fun with Cheerios! special toys converse. Say “Cheers,” and pretend to eat like
Isabelle and Charlie do. Some children feel safer relating to oth-
Cheerios are one of the first and favorite finger foods given to
ers through objects first, before relating personally.
young children. They provide tiny hands with lots of practice
refining their pincer grasp, necessary for later grasp of utensils,
zippers, and pencils. Try out these fun recipes and activities.
Special Considerations:
If you have a child in your class that has a special diet, you can
Cheerio trail mix—Making this is a great way to explore differ- talk frankly about this with the whole class and all the families.
ences in preference. Out of all the many tasty treats we offered to The more the children and their families know about their friend’s
make trail mix, one four-year-old only wanted the Cheerios and dietary needs, the safer that friend will be. “Peanuts make Jessie
chocolate chips! Other children liked a wider variety in their mix. feel very, very sick. He likes cream cheese and jelly sandwiches
Charting children’s favorite ingredients provides a visual means instead of peanutbutter and jelly!”
20 to understand different preferences. Children love to make food in 21

If a child has a dietary need that is more complicated to explain,
such as a gluten-free diet, you can say, “Some breads and foods
make Mona feel sick. The grown-ups will check the ingredients
and make sure that our snacks are good for her stomach.”
Discussing food restrictions and diets during snack time is yet
another opportunity to explore our differences in a natural way.

If you have a child in your class who is unable to eat orally, it
is likely that the child will have a g-tube (gastrostomy tube) or “We go down the big slide at the park…
another feeding apparatus. These can seem intimidating to young We both like to do it ourselves.”
children at first because of the simple fear of the unknown com-
Open up the discussion by asking about the children’s favorite out-
bined with fears about bodily mastery during this developmental
door activities. Mention that all children like to do things “by
stage. Be open and honest in explaining what their uses are.
themselves,” but sometimes need help. This is an important discus-
“Carmen uses a feeding tube because it is hard for her to swallow.
sion to have, because although we want to encourage children to
The food goes right to her tummy from the tube through this but-
help each other, sometimes children take on the role of caregiver
ton.” Children may become confused, and think that the opening
to children they perceive as less able. This kind of interaction can
created for the g-tube is similar to their bellybutton. Prepare your-
interfere with children viewing others as true friends. It is impor-
self for many questions by asking the child’s family what words
tant to emphasize that helping is good, but letting our friends learn
they use to explain g-tube feeding. Include anyone who joins your
how to do things by themselves is another way to help.
class to assist in g-tube feeding, such as a nurse or assistant, in
these discussions with children so that you are consistently
explaining it in a simple, positive way.

Much socialization occurs during snack and meal times, and it is
important that children with feeding issues have the opportunity
to be with their peers at the table (unless it is otherwise counter-
indicated). By giving the child with feeding issues special jobs to
do, you can make that child an integral part of socializing at meal
times. “Lisa, will you pass out the cups to your friends, please?”

22 23

“Mommy is right. Life is more fun with friends like Isabelle.”
After reading My Friend Isabelle several times and exploring dif-
ferences and friendships through activities such as those sug-
gested here, involve the whole class in a project that affirms “Life
is more fun with all of my many friends!” Make a collage of the
children’s drawn pictures, their photos, or their handprints using
the skin tones of each child. Create a book about the members of
the class, recording what the children say they like about each
child. Ask the children what special activity they would like to do
with all of their friends. Display these projects proudly in your
classroom for families and children to enjoy. Revisit these whole-
class projects throughout the year, adding to them and reaffirming
the children’s acceptance of differences.

About the author: Amy Thrasher is the Speech Language Therapy
Supervisor and an Early Childhood Teacher at the Child Learning Center
at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She earned her master's degree
in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Copyright © 2004 Woodbine House
All rights reserved.
Published by Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road
Bethesda, MD 20817
800-843-7323
www.woodbinehouse.com
24

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