Susan Laughs

by Jeanne Willis, Tony Ross (Illustrator)

Overview

Susan laughs, she sings. she rides, she swings.
She gets angry, she gets sad, she is good, she is bad...

Told in rhyme, this story follows Susan through a series of familiar activities. She swims with her father, works hard in school, plays with her friends — and even rides a horse. Lively, thoughtfully drawn illustrations reveal a portrait of a busy, happy little girl with whom younger readers will identify. Not until the end of the story is it revealed that Susan uses a wheelchair.

Told with insight, and without sentimentality, here is an inspiring look at one spunky little girl whose physical disability is never seen as a handicap.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805065015
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	09/01/2000
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	375,818
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 9.35(h) x 0.45(d)
Lexile:	AD110L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jeanne Willis lives in London, England with her husband and two children.

Tony Ross has illustrated more than 50 books for children, and has won many illustration awards. Mr. Ross lives with his wife and daughter in Cheshire, England.

Editorial Reviews

Wheels don't appear until the very last page of this simple picture book about an active, mischievous, mop-topped girl. Susan laughs at a TV show. Susan sings with her friends. She's good; she's bad, sulky, and proud. The expressive crayon and pencil pictures extend the story and help children to recognize their own feelings and experiences in Susan's daily life. At the end there is a picture of her in her wheelchair, and by then it's clear that Susan is just like me, just like you.

Sesame Street Parents

PreS-Gr 1-Through simple rhyming phrases, readers learn about the many things that a young redheaded girl can do: "Susan trots,/Susan rows,/Susan paints,/Susan throws." With great color and movement, the pencil-and-crayon illustrations depict this spirited child in her everyday world. She rides a swing with her father, plays a trick on her grandma, and boils with anger when her cat scratches her face. Abundant details such as patterned wallpaper and funny portraits on walls add interest to each scene. By the end of the story, children will identify completely with Susan, who is "through and through-/just like me, just like you," even if she happens to use a wheelchair, as shown in the final illustration. Thus, the story focuses on her abilities rather than on the things by which she is limited. This book works for sharing one-on-one, for smaller storytimes, and for classroom use.-Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

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