Ducks teaching disability?

Lemon the Duck by Laura Backman

Lemon the duck in real life!

                Lemon the Duck is a children’s picture book  based on a real-life story of Lemon. This book takes a new angle toward disability education from some of the other books I have evaluated. The book opens in a children’s classroom, where the duck hatchery is beginning to hatch baby ducks. However, the students soon notice one duckling was different than the others. Lemon, the special duck was named for her fluffy yellow feathers. The children ask their teacher why Lemon does not stand the way the other ducks. As the other ducks began to grow, Lemon still could not stand or walk. Lemon has a problem with her balance, and as a result she will always need special attention. When the other ducklings go to live on a farm, Lemon stays with the students. The children pay close attention to Lemon, by feeding her, and helping her to swim. Still wanting to help Lemon walk, the students try to come up with ways they can help her. Eventually, one student named Richard finds a way to help Lemon stand. The students use a life vest to hold Lemon up so she can stand. Soon, Lemon is able to do everything just like all the other ducks, just with a little extra help.

                Disability is portrayed very differently in this book. Instead of seeing a main character who is human, we see a duck who is a class pet with the disability. This new way helps students see disability in a new way. The student’s desire to help Lemon and to care for her is inspiring. The students learn Lemon can be just like any other duck. The lesson of this story is important because disability is being introduced in a very neutral and loving way. Instead of pinning a disability to a person, it is connected to an animal. I believe this can help children to understand disabilities because the care shown for Lemon is applicable to humans. This book is a great read-aloud text. The illustrations are adorable and engaging. The positive ending will leave young readers and listeners smiling. Check out this article about real life Lemon!

Cerebral Palsy Awareness

Emily Included by Kathleen McDonnell

Emily Included is an inspiring true story written about Emily Eaton and her family’s legal battle to include her in the normal public school system. Emily has cerebral palsy, and her parents want her to attend the public school to have the ability to have the same education and make friends with other children her age. However, the school board ends up ruling that Emily is not learning at the rate of everyone else. As a result, the Eaton family goes all the way to the Ontario Supreme Court, fighting for the educational rights of all children with disabilities. The outcome? Well, you’ll just have to read the book!

This book is a short but motivating read, the kind you could read aloud to any child in just a few sittings. Perhaps the most enchanting part of this book is the way Emily’s disability is portrayed. The book goes into great detail to describe events in Emily’s life that help to shape her, and the lesson of the story goes far beyond the court trials. The reader learns what Emily experiences through her cerebral palsy, what she sees, hears, and why she does the things she does. Much of the book takes place in a classroom setting, and shows the wonderful ways other students help Emily by reading aloud to her, or pushing her wheelchair during recess. There are scenes, for example at Emily’s birthday party, where other children must work together to help her by using sign language, or even asking questions about why she does things like scream. Learning about Emily through a classroom setting helps the reader understand the disability, and see that she truly is just like any other child.

The plot follows Emily from kindergarten all the way through fifth grade, making the story applicable to a wide range of audiences. This being a true story, I believe the inspirational aspect for other children with cerebral palsy is limitless. With the inability to put words to thought, those with cerebral palsy sometimes struggle with communication with those who do not understand them. Reading this book gives clarity to uneducated readers, and a voice to those who may not have one. I would recommend this book to anyone, whether it is for educational, inspirational, or just leisure purposes.