Just Because

by Rebecca Elliott

Overview

My big sister Clemmie is my best friend. She can't walk, talk, move around much, cook macaroni, pilot a plane, juggle or do algebra. I don't know why she doesn't do these things. Just because.' This heartwarming picture book about being perfectly loved, no matter what, tells of a brother's love for his sister. He is so enthusiastic about just how loving and special she is, and delights in telling us about all the fun things they do together. Only as his tale unfolds does the reader begin to realize that his sister has special needs... and by then we just accept as he does all the wonderful things about her. This amusing and often touching story encompasses the issue of disability in a charming celebration of sibling friendship to which all children can relate.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780745962351
Publisher:	Lion Hudson
Publication date:	08/20/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	663,940
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Rebecca Elliott is an author-illustrator who has won several awards andbeen nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Her children, Toby, Clemmieand Benjy, often star in her books. Her website is www.rebeccaelliott.com

Editorial Reviews

an excellent reminder that children in wheelchairs are not defined by their disabilities.”—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 2—A perceptive observer of the cover of this picture book will notice that the rocket bearing Clemmie and her little brother on an imaginative space journey is actually a wheelchair. Refreshingly, the story is about the bond between the siblings and all that they can do. The boy doesn't worry that Clemmie "can't walk, talk, move around much…." He admits honestly that he doesn't know why some people can do things and others can't. His answer to these big questions is a simple if not always satisfying refrain: "Just because." Those two words provide a format for the boy to explain that Clemmie's enormously curly hair, love for their pet ladybug, and ability to cuddle him to sleep are some of her best qualities. He also explains that his special talents include being good at drawing and pointing to things in books. Eating crayons and being scared during a thunderstorm top his list of his own shortcomings. The warm cartoon illustrations on canvas depict children with cheerful round faces and rosy cheeks. Although the story lacks examples of typical sibling friction that may have made it more believable for young readers, it serves as an excellent reminder that children in wheelchairs are not defined by their disabilities.—Jenna Boles, Washington-Centerville Public Library, OH

School Library Journal

An endearing and enduring picture book about sibling love. On the very first page, Toby tells readers about his older sister. "My big sister Clemmie is my best friend. She can't walk, talk, move around much...cook macaroni, pilot a plane, juggle or do algebra. I don't know why she doesn't do these things. Just because."With the many books about disabilities that are already on the shelves, it is refreshing to find a book where the narrator is the younger sibling. However, Clemmie's wheelchair plays only a minor role in this story. The wide-set eyes of Toby and Clemmie (and each creature on the page) reveal a deep concern and appreciation for each other. The list of quirky things about both children, whether it's eating crayons or having enormous hair, are accompanied by the refrain that emphasizes that the reasons why don't really matter:Just because. The double-page spreads burst forth in vibrant colors and energetic streaks and swirls. Clemmie, whose name, like the refrain, is always in the same distinctive faux-handwritten type, remains (mostly) serene and still. Full of unconditional love, this is a must-have title in today's world of false perfection.(Picture book. 5-10)

Kirkus Reviews