Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair by Jamee Riggio Heelan

Illustrated by Nicola Simmonds.30 p., Peachtree, 2000. Taylor and his twin brother, Tyler, have similar interests and are best friends. There is also an important difference between them: Taylor has cerebral palsy, and Tyler does not. Taylor explains that this condition causes his brain to tell his muscles to jump, instead of moving more smoothly. He has used a walker and braces on his legs for a long time, and has regular physical therapy to help him get stronger. But he still feels frustrated sometimes because he had to depend on other people; for example, his mom had to carry him to physical therapy visits. So when he starts to use a wheelchair, he's excited about the speed and independence that will be possible for him. He's even able to play basketball with Tyler! A classmate thinks that moving on foot is better than using a wheelchair, but when Taylor explains its advantages, his friend is happy for him. Learning to use a wheelchair takes work, both to operate the chair itself and to pay attention to buildings' accessibility. But for Taylor, it brings a sense of invincibility. This story is illustrated with engaging, attractive collages of drawings and photographs. Both children have disabilities and children who don't will better understand the experience of using a wheelchair, and will be happy for Taylor as his world expands. Ages 4-8