What is the response when a child points out that a disabled child or adult looks 'different'? Shriver tells the story of Kate, who finds that making friends with a mentally retarded boy helps her learn that the two of them have a lot in common.
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When 8-year-old Kate meets a boy who seems somehow different, she feels funny inside. After talking with her mom, though, Kate begins to understand that Timmy is just like her in many ways. Timmy has special needs; he takes longer to learn than Kate, and can't walk or run as well. But he also "loves his family, he wants friends, he goes to school, and he dreams about what he wants to be when he grows up." Kate and Timmy meet, and the seeds of a friendship are planted.
For all those children who ask their parents why someone looks or acts "different," author and journalist Maria Shriver's What's Wrong with Timmy? provides a base for discussion. Kate's mother models appropriate behavior, speaking to her daughter calmly and directly, and providing examples from her own life to help Kate understand about Timmy. Illustrator Sandra Speidel's soft, intentionally hazy pastels are lovely; bold, enlarged phrases on the opposite pages of text act as captions. Shriver and Speidel collaborated previously on the tremendously popular What's Heaven?, also starring Kate and her mother. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
From School Library Journal
Gr 3-5-This brief book tells of the meeting in the park between an eight-year-old girl and the "mentally retarded" son of her mother's friend. The writer describes Timmy as someone who "looked different" and has a face that seems "flatter" than other children's. Kate asks her mother about the boy and learns that he is her age and was born with disabilities. The children discover that they like the same things at school, recess and sports, and don't like math. After a game of basketball with her friends, Timmy and Kate make a play date. The warm pastel illustrations support the theme of acceptance of all people no matter their differences. However, the little girl's questions and actions are quite mature for her age. The lack of paragraphs might be a bit confusing to young readers, and the intermittent use of bold-faced, larger-sized type is a bit disruptive, although its purpose seems to be to highlight the theme. The book reads well, though, and would be a good introduction for youngsters welcoming a disabled child into their school or neighborhood.
Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Once upon a time there was a girl named Kate who was very curious. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Once upon a time there was a girl named Kate who was very curious. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Tracy Beck
Format:Hardcover
This book is a real nightmare for children with disabilities. Maria Shriver does attempt to impart the message that nothing is wrong at all- unfortunately, she's already planted the seed in the young minds of her readers with the mere title of the book. She then spends an exhaustive twenty pages trying to be sure she'd convinced them of it. I'd recommend "Russ and the Almost Perfect Day" by Janet Elizabeth Rickert instead.
Format:Hardcover
Sydney, our 18 year old daughter with Down syndrome, recently had the opportunity to participate at a book reading, with a 'typical' buddy from our local high school. They did this as a public service and were able to demonstrate first hand, and by reading alternate pages, the very essence of this story. Maria Schriver, with lovely illustrations by Sandra Speidel, has conveyed many truisms about being differently abled, in a very meaningful way. There are no stupid questions and yes, some people do call others "retarded," stupid or dummy. In a sensitive manner, but using factual information at the same time, Mrs. Schriver addresses a real issue, that including a person with special needs might have social implications or reprecussions and that each person must learn to be strong and brave inside. This is a book that should be recommended reading for all students in the 4-8 year old age range ~ and beyond. There is a "bottom line" lesson to be learned from this wonderful book. Read it, I'm sure you'll agree.
Format:Hardcover
I just read What's Wrong with Timmy? It was a pleasure to read, especially having my own son, Craig, 13 years old, who has Down syndrome. It really hit home with me how other children sometimes view Craig. I am recommending that our school district order copies so teachers can read with their students. It was a very positive story focusing on the strengths of children with special needs and how much alike we all are. Kudos to Ms. Shriver for a touching book that I hope gets widely read and helps to de-stigmatize our children! This is a very hopeful book that should be read by every elementary and middle school student, and discussed in class with their teachers...
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3.4 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
What's Wrong with Timmy?-
I found this book to be partly positive but mainly negative based on the following criteria: focus of the book, setting in the book, characters portayals and the use of labels and... Read more
Published on Mar 17 2005
1.0 out of 5 stars
TOO RELIGIOUS.
The publisher should mention the heavily religious tone of this book ... I got this for my sons' school because it sounded good and valuable, but many schools do not accept... Read more
Published on Feb 29 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sincere Effort -- Many Positive Points
I was very curious to read this title from Maria Shriver knowing her family background with people with special needs. Read more
Published on Feb 7 2004 by Julie Jordan Scott
1.0 out of 5 stars
not specific
this might be a good way of introducing handicaps to children, however the book has no minorities, and there are no specific handicaps explained. Read more
Published on April 4 2003
1.0 out of 5 stars
What's Wrong with Timmy?
Where did the author get her information? It is disturbing that such a popular book teaches outdated and unrefined language to described a child with learning disabilities. Read more
Published on Mar 7 2003
1.0 out of 5 stars
Timmy may be different, but that is not wrong
This book is told from the point of view of a typical child looking at a special needs child. Though a young child might really ask what's wrong with someone, the question as the... Read more
Published on Mar 6 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful
"What's Wrong with Timmy" by Maria Shriver is a good read-out-loud book for children. Narrative is simple and up to date. Read more
Published on Aug 25 2002 by Beverly J. Scott
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very Disppointing!
As a teacher with a hearing impairment teaching children about diversity is a priority in my classroom. Read more
Published on July 28 2002
2.0 out of 5 stars
I really didn't like this book.
I did not like this book, but I will attempt to point out some good things first. The illustrations are beautiful--kind of like impressionist paintings of children. Read more
Published on Jun 6 2002 by Alice Fielding
5.0 out of 5 stars
a good thoughtful read
Our kids are always asking questions, & some of them give us pause as to how to answer them. One such question is when our kids see someone with a disability. Read more
Published on May 28 2002 by Rebecca Brown
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