THIS IS HOW WE PLAY

Whether they “sing, learn, sign” or “stim, dance, crawl,” families who are diverse in terms of ability—all based on real people—enjoy a fun-filled day.

A grandpa cheers as a child who uses a prosthetic leg plays basketball; a child explores the boardwalk with Mama, who drives a mouth-controlled wheelchair; kids play puppets with an aunt who appears to be developmentally disabled and lives independently with a nurse’s help—all amply demonstrating the refrain: “With love and adaptation, this is how we play!” A father signs a bedtime story, and the families’ busy day winds down: “With love and adaptation, this is how we… // ZZZZZ….” Though the rhyming text occasionally feels forced, Slice and Cupp, themselves disabled, realistically acknowledge challenges while keeping an upbeat, reassuring tone. They note that sometimes “bodies are not much fun. / They hurt and ache—can’t jump or run.” The accompanying image shows a child and an adult who uses a walker and takes medication; the two, on “days like this…love to cuddle. / Read our stories, nap and snuggle.” Harren’s detailed portrayals of myriad physical, sensory, and developmental conditions warmly embrace disability’s broad spectrum, and characters’ faces radiate love and enthusiasm. Backmatter includes a glossary of depicted conditions (unfortunately describing Braille as a language rather than a writing system) and tips for caregivers on addressing disability with children. Characters are racially diverse.

A wonderfully inclusive celebration of disability and family.