Final Project Topic

After reading the book Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko, I started thinking about the under-representation of disabilities in children's literature. When I myself think of "multi-cultural literature," the category of "disability" seems to escape me. Why I am not sure. Perhaps it is my lack of exposure, as a child and as an adult, to literature centered around such a topic. Having previously worked with and cared for a child affected by more than one disability, both physical and emotional, this is a topic that interests me. While I am not a special education major, I would like to broaden my experience with children who are affected by a disability in their every day life. More specifically, I want to focus on emotional disability such as autism. This literature is especially important to include in the classroom. Through this project, I hope to critically analyze books focusing on emotional disability, which may or may not be good to use in the classroom.

Helpful Links:
Children's books about Autism

The Schneider Family Book Award

About: The Schneider Family Book Award is given annually bye the American Library Association in three different age categories. These are: Birth-Grade School, Middle School, and Teens up to age 18. Books are judged based on either the author or the illustrator's ability to portray a disability experience for a child or adolescent audience. Any disability that is mental, physical, or emotional can be considered. Winners receive $5000 and a framed plaque.

Awards Committee: Awards are assigned by a 9 member committee. Members are elected by the Executive Board of the American Library Association. Consideration is given based on recommendation, current membership on an Awards Committee, and overall membership of the Association. All members are elected for a 2 year period, and they may serve 2, but not 3 consecutive terms.

Current Winners (2007):
Young Children Category: The Deaf Musicians by Pete Seeger and poet Paul DuBois Jacobs, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons (2006).
Middle School Category: Rules by Cynthia Lord. Published by Scholastic Press (2006).
Teen Category: Small Steps by Louis Sachar. Published by Delacorte Press (2006).

Link to Official Website: The Schneider Family Book Award