Sonia SotomayorJust Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You

I thoroughly enjoyed the story! It is well-written and addresses so many common disabilities. Honestly, I wished there was a second book that added to it, as this is a wonderful opportunity to expose kids to how different their classmates can be. I will say my only possible issues with the book were the somewhat stereotypical look at autism, and how broad wheelchair users can be. If I were to use this in a classroom, I would maybe explain how diverse those two groups are alone. Not ever wheelchair user permanently uses a wheel chair.Otherwise, I highly recommend the book.

The children who read this book were excited to see examples of handicapped children they have met. It explains why someone is different and how to act around them. It makes one feel ok to ask.

I have read this book to kinders, first graders, and fourth graders. They all liked this book. It has really cute drawing. Kids are alway interested in the world around them so they were really engaged learning about people who are different from them and getting to ask questions. Lots of times they get excited and share things like "I have asthma" or "my mom has diabettes". It is a great book to help introduce kids to people who aren't really like them.

I love this book! I bought it for my son. I wanted him to understand and know that it’s ok to be different. He has autism.

This book explains some of the differences in kids and the pictures reflect the author and illustrator's desire to show how every challenge can be looked at in a positive light, if we wish. Author Sotomayor describes how trees and flowers grow differently and so do people. She narrates how how she grew up testing the sugar in her blood and illustrator Lopez shows a young girl giving herself shots of insulin. Sotomayor explains why, in age-appropriate language, kids might want to repeat themselves carefully (stuttering), or use an inhaler (asthma). She describes other issues many kids deal with, including being in a wheelchair, being blind or deaf, autism, stuttering, Tourette's syndrome, ADHD, allergies, and Down syndrome. She devotes a paragraph to each; not going into a lot of detail but just enough to cover the basics and put them into perspective. In many schools, I've seen some of these challenges are called "learning differences"; in others they might be called learning disabilities. They are all challenges. Of course, kids have to be taught about the differences their peers have, hence the book's title, "Just Ask". On an adult level, in most schools the issues are accepted and accommodated. Kids needing insulin shots visit the nurse's office for their injections (and other kids may wonder why). Kids on the autism spectrum might learn organization and executive function skills, or, depending on the severity, might not be expected to speak in class. Kids using sign language might attend a special school. When I first started to read the book, I wasn't sure so many facts should be included in a single paragraph for each challenge, but this is a book that's meant to be read by an adult to the kids, explained, and discussed. Yes, it's a lot to take in, but it will start important discussions and put differences into perspective. In a sense, it levels the playing field. We are all different, some of us have more visible challenges than others, and it's okay to ask why.

I bought this book for my 9 and 7 year old grandchildren whose extended family includes multi-racial members. The author is Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor who was diagnosed with Type I diabetes as a child and has taken insulin most of her life. I have Type II diabetes and I also take insulin. Justice Sotomayor’s revelation in her autobiography about her own affliction helped me come to terms with my chronic illnesses and encouraged me to take my insulin regularly to keep my condition under control. Just Ask! Be different! describes the lives of different children and encourages young people to accept children as possible friends regardless of their appearance or disabilities. And to ask if we want to learn more. The book’s message and illustrations are lovely. I have met Justice Sotomayor in person when she visited Jackson, Mississippi for our annual Book Festival. She was especially interested in talking to the children and encouraging them to do well in school. She autographed her books and took pictures with them. I will also keep a copy of this book in the kids corner of my office. I am an immigration lawyer at a small nonprofit agency. Many immigrant parents bring their children to our office when they come for consultations, which are often lengthy. I have books and toys in the kids corner, including bi-lingual books for kids.

A gorgeous book with a gorgeous message! An important lesson to teach! The book's illustrations are stunning, however, it is rather wordy. I was hoping this would put the lesson of difference in simple terms but it instead uses more lengthy in-depth explanations that are more suitable for older children. With a bit of summarizing as I read aloud to my preschool students, this book will act as a wonderful text to jump-start our conversation about disability and difference.

Read this to my daughter’s kindergarten class, it inspired fantastic conversation about similarities and differences in people. I really appreciated that this book explored the concept rather than told children what to think.

Beautifully written! About embracing our differences and uniqueness.

Livro maravilhoso para crianças, sobre respeitar as diferenças. Ótima leitura em inglês.

Questa storia (in inglese), scritta da una giudice della Corte Suprema americana (prima donna di origini latine), vuole insegnare che esistono tanti tipi di bambini, anche con particolari difficoltà, ma tutti contribuiscono a creare un "giardino" variato, colorato e unico. La scrittrice parte dalla sua condizione di diabetica, per poi raccontare le brevi storie di bambini affetti da altri disturbi, come la dislessia, la cecità, le balbuzie, la sindrome di Tourette ed altre ancora. A volte questi bambini possono apparire strani, ma basta chiedere (Just Ask!) a loro o agli adulti per conoscere il perchè del loro comportamento diverso perchè capire ci permette di essere più comprensivi e facilita l'integrazione. Le illustrazioni sono molto colorate e dettagliate. Il libro è una bellissima scoperta.

Interesting book

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