Let's Talk About It: Extraordinary Friends by Fred Rogers

Illustrated by Jim Judkis.32 p., Penguin Putnam, 2000. When encountering a person with a disability is new to you, you might feel curious, surprised, or even scared. Mr. Rogers acknowledges all these feelings in this book about understanding disability in particular, and difference in general. He encourages children to talk about their concerns with adults, and suggests that able-bodied children make friends with disabled ones in the same way as with other people: by introducing themselves. In the context of acknowledging universal human experiences such as needing friendship and love, he educates children about ways to address differences. For example, he advises able-bodied children to ask before helping a disabled child, reminding them that they, too, sometimes want help, and sometimes not. Wisely, he remarks that as we get to know people, we learn much about them that isn't obvious from first impressions, and increase our self-knowledge as well. Illustrated wtih color photographs of children who are introduced on the first page, this book offers gentle, supportive, honest encouragement for understanding and looking beyond disability. Ages 3-6