My Friend Isabelle -- Charity McGill

Name: Charity McGill

Title: My Friend Isabelle

Author: Eliza Woloson

Illustrator: Bryan Gough

Age of Reader: 4 and up

Why you chose this book:

I chose this book because I liked how simple the descriptions of Isabelle are in contrast to Charlie. I think that 4 year olds would be able to understand what Isabelle’s disability is and understand why she acts the way she does. I liked this story because Isabelle’s mother wrote the story about her daughter and her daughter’s friend. The book is based on real people. I also think that this book would stir up some good discussions with my students.

Plot Summary:

This book is a very simple book about Charlie and his friend Isabelle. Isabelle is a girl who has Down syndrome. Charlie talks about playing with Isabelle and all of the normal things that children do. These things are playing with toys and also fighting about them sometimes. Charlie goes on to note that Isabelle may be slower at doing things than he is but she is still his friend.