Be Good to Eddie Lee

by Virginia Fleming

Overview

Christy's mother always tells her to be good to Eddie Lee, a neighborhood child with Down's Syndrome. But Christy wants to run and play — and not worry about Eddie Lee tagging along. One hot summer day, though, Eddie Lee takes Christy to a secret place in the woods and teaches her that beautiful things can be found in unexpected places.

"What makes Fleming's first book so effective are the carefully selected details and authentic portrayal of the children's attitudes — as well as Cooper's luminous art, summoning up all the enchantment of a lovely summer day and presenting Eddie Lee as believably endearing". — Kirkus Reviews, pointer review 

"(A book) that can lead children away from harmful stereotypes and labels". — Book Links

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780698115828
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/04/1997
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	864,866
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	AD380L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Virginia Fleming is the author of the picture book Be Good to Eddie Lee.

Editorial Reviews

In a starred review, PW called this story about a boy with Down's syndrome "a rarity for its potential to entertain, educate and encourage deeper consideration for others." Ages 4-8. (July)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

K-Gr 2-On the first day of summer vacation, Christy follows her friend JimBud to a nearby pond, looking for something to do. When Eddie Lee, a child with Down's syndrome, follows them, Christy tells him to stay home, and JimBud tries to chase him away. Only when Eddie Lee leads the girl to a hidden place to show her frog eggs and water lillies does she fully grasp that everyone is special and has unique, individual gifts. Cooper's attractive, full-page borderless scenes of the rural South- waist-high, straw-colored weeds; a clear, rippling stone-bottomed brook; hazy green woods and water-are painted in oil wash, but have the smudgy appearance of oil pastel. Clearly the focus of the illustrations is the insightfully realistic portraits of Eddie Lee, and it is Cooper's artful accompaniment to the text that truly brings out the author's positive message. Berniece Rabe's Where's Chimpy? (Albert Whitman, 1988) is aimed at three to five-year-olds, as is Cairo Jasmine's Our Brother Has Down's Syndrome (Annick, 1985). Be Good to Eddie Lee is welcome for slightly older children, but mostly for the realism it exudes rather than the somewhat contrived story.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

School Library Journal