Book #10 Jeremy's Dreidel

This book is a gentle introduction to the subject of blindness and Braille in a

Jewish context. It meets almost all of the standards for good literature that

portrays characters with disabilities.

	Related Information	Comments
Name of Book:	Jeremy’s Dreidel
Authors	Ellie Gellman
Illustrator	Maria Mola
Publisher	Kar-Ben
Year of Pub:	2012
ISBN:     (ISBN-13)	978-0-7613-7507-4
Age range	5-9
Type of Disability	Blindness
Fiction or Nonfiction	Fiction
Category:  C A) books that provide factual information about a disability B) books that provide information about a disability in a story format in which the character with a disability is integral to the plot C) books that provide stories that have a character with a disability who may or may not be integral to the storyline and who has been added to the story to achieve diversity and reflect reality D) books that include a main character with a disability, but the focus of the book is not necessarily the disability
Annotation:  Jeremy attends a dreidel-making workshop at the JCC and decides to make a Braille dreidel for his father, who is blind. The other children have creative ideas as well but are very interested in Jeremy’s dreidel.  They ask Jeremy a lot of questions about his father, including what he does all day and how he manages to do the things that other people do. Jeremy’s answers, which include how his father uses technology, surprise the other children. Jeremy requests not to have his dreidel displayed in a glass case even though it has been voted one of three dreidels to be displayed.  He explains that his father cannot see the dreidel, and if it is behind glass, he will not be able to play with it either. The children decide to invite people to play with their dreidels during the JCC Hanukkah party. Jeremy’s father is pictured in the illustrations having fun at the party with Jeremy and the other children. Information about Hanukkah is woven into the story.
Link to publisher:	http://www.karben.com/
Links to professional reviews:	https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellie-gellman/jeremys-dreidel/#review http://www.featheredquillblog.com/2012/10/book-review-jeremys-dreidel.html

           

Standards for Quality Portrayal of Characters with a disability		Comments
1. Promotes empathy not pity	Yes	Jeremy’s descriptions along with the gentle illustrations portray Jeremy’s father as capable of doing everything.
2. Promotes acceptance, not ridicule	Yes
3. Emphasizes success rather than, or in addition to failure	Yes	Jeremy’s father is active in the community and is a very effective parent. He uses a cane and a small GPS device to get around.
4. Promotes positive images of persons with disabilities or illness	Yes
5. Assists children in gaining accurate understanding of the disability or illness	Yes	Helps children realize that someone who can’t see can still function well with the help of physical and technological supports.
6. Demonstrates respect for persons with disabilities or illness	Yes
7. Promotes attitude of “one of us” not “one of them.”	Yes	Jeremy’s father sings in the JCC choir.
8. Uses people-first language	No	“The dots are called Braille. It’s a way of reading for blind people.” People-first language would be, “for people who are blind.”
9. Describes the disability or person with disabilities or illness as realistic (not subhuman or superhuman)	Yes
10. Depicts people with disabilities as more similar to than different from other people	Yes	“Jeremy’s father goes to work, just like your mom and dad.”
11. Shows peoples’ strengths and abilities along with their disabilities	Yes	The book shows Jeremy’s father’s excellent sense of hearing, his ability to use computers, his good parenting abilities, and the fact that he participates in the community.
12. Represents characters as strong, independent people who others can admire or learn from	Yes
13. Represents people with disabilities from different racial and cultural backgrounds, religions, age groups, and sexual orientations	Yes	Jeremy's father is the one with a disability. He is a Jewish man.
14. Shows people with disabilities in integrated settings and activities	Yes	Jeremy’s father is shown at the Hanukkah party interacting with the children.
15. Shows people with disabilities in valued occupations and diverse roles.	Yes	Jeremy’s father sings in the choir and goes to work.
16. Shows people with disabilities in reciprocal relationships	Yes
17. Main character develops and grows emotionally as a result of what happens in the story	No, but this is not necessary for the plot. Jeremy comes into this story knowing he is going to make a Braille dreidel for his father.