Jan Coates (1)

I would give this book three to three and a half stars out of five. I think that the major redeeming quality of the book is that it maintains an authentic child’s perspective and voice throughout. The main character of the story, Abby, often speaks in ways that reflect child-like curiosity and some initial discomfort towards people who are different. For example, when Abby meets, Joanna, and learns that Joanna is blind, she readily and unabashedly asks questions like “how come you’re wearing sunglasses?”. I also like that this book portrays authentic childlike reactions as Abby frequently forgets and then quickly remembers that Joanna cannot see. For example, Abby points to her mother and says “that’s my mom over there”, before quickly remembering and stating out loud that “Oh…I guess you can’t see her though.” I also liked that this book showed a person with visual impairments living a productive and happy life. For example, I think it was important that Abby learned that even though Joanna cannot see, she still has an interest in fashion and music, and can be the star of the show. That people with disabilities can have varied interests and passions that they pursue with success is ultimately the “big idea” of this book, and is a positive message for all young readers. My only wish is that in another story, I get to read a story from Joanna’s perspective.… (mere)

I enjoyed this book for many reasons. The descriptive language used in this book really adds to the reader's experience, as Coates creates beautiful imagery to her audience.One example of this is when Abby describes a pair of shoes to Joanna, a blind woman, "They're like peacock feathers- all green and purple and gold and black." This example shows how well Coates captures the details of the shoes, heightening the mental images of the shoes for the reader and for Joanna. Something else that contributed to my positive review of the book is how the illustrations in the book enhance the messages conveyed. One example of this is the colorful, whimsical swirls coming from Joanna's cello as she plays in a concert, showing the beauty of her music. Along with this illustration, Coates says, "A bewitching mix of music and color bellowed up, filling ever corner of the enormous concert hall." This book is also relatable due to the believable characters and realistic plot. Abby is portrayed as a normal young girl, and Joanna an exceptional blind musician. This book does a great job at conveying an important "bigger picture" message; that disabilities cannot stop you from reaching your full potential. Joanna embodies this as she does not allow her visual impairment to stop her from doing things that everyone else can; like shop and play cello.… (mere)

I liked this book for many reasons. The illustrations in the book fit the title and main idea very well. The pages are all filled with beautiful colors and many illustrations. The language was also very age appropriate and made the story easier to understand. The plot was also well written and lead up to a very good ending. It surprised readers when the blind woman ended up being the concert the little girls family was going to see. I also really enjoyed the topic that this book introduced to young readers. Sometimes it is hard for young children to relate to people who are blind. This book shows some of the difficulties people face when they are blind. In the story, the woman can not see the clothes she is shopping for and does not know their colors either. This story shows the reader the everyday struggles this woman must overcome and how the kindness from a stranger makes a big difference.… (mere)