HUNTER'S TALL TALES

A youngster with a prosthetic leg conjures stories to counter kids’ questions in Mastaler’s picture book.

Hunter is starting at a new school that’s much bigger than his last one. The student behind him won’t stop looking at his prosthetic leg, and he can tell she has a million questions. When she asks him if he has a robot limb, he casually says that he’s part-robot on his dad’s side. At lunchtime, Hunter tells curious classmates that he didn’t eat enough vegetables, so one leg never grew. After a girl at recess tells him his leg “looks weird,” he explains that his pet piranha ate it; however, he’s getting tired of all the questions. He follows a rogue soccer ball and meets a fellow student named Miles, who, refreshingly, simply asks his name and if he can kick the ball around with him. Mastaler, an advocate for disability visibility, maintains an online database of books that feature fictional characters or real people with disabilities. Her book presents a powerful message with a light touch: that no one with a limb difference owes anyone an explanation. Prestwich’s adorable, full-color cartoon illustrations provide readers with representations of the real-life characters and Hunter’s fanciful imaginings.

An engaging book that pushes back against the “just ask” narrative.