WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

A boy fields questions about his missing leg in this British import.

On the playground, Joe is a pirate, battling crocodiles and sharks. Just as Joe’s about to vanquish Señor Sharkface, brown-skinned Kid One interrupts: “YOU’VE ONLY GOT ONE LEG!” Then comes a question that disabled readers will recognize instantly: “What happened to you?” Joe, not keen on telling “that story,” replies, “What do you think?” That unleashes an avalanche of guesses as racially diverse kids join the conversation. Did it fall in the toilet? Is Joe hiding it? But answering “no” over and over exhausts even a pirate. Though kids will giggle at the silly scenarios and George’s bright, expressive cartoon illustrations, Joe’s frustration is palpable. Finally, Kid One asks the perfect question: “Is that a crocodile down there?” Ice broken, the kids introduce themselves and join the fun. When Joe asks Simone, formerly Kid One, “Do you still need to know what happened?” Simone’s “No!” is a deep breath of fresh air. In a welcome departure from picture books where conversations about disabilities are treated as teachable moments for nondisabled characters, this one gently but effectively illustrates that while curiosity is natural, questions don’t always need to be asked…or answered. Vitally, Catchpole, himself an amputee, reminds disabled readers—who are often sidelined in discussions of boundaries—that their bodies belong to them, including their medical histories. Backmatter advises caregivers on addressing disability. Joe presents white.

Delightful, necessary, and long overdue.