Shane Burcaw Is Not So Different

Nonfiction picture book Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw is one that answers questions that the author has encountered about his disability, a disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).  Published in 2017 by Roaring Brook Press, the book is formatted with Matt Carr’s colorful photographs of Burcaw and his family interspersed with graphics and speech bubbles, making it accessible not only to its intended audience of students in 1st-4th grades, but to readers of all ages.  Questions ranging from “What’s wrong with you?” to “Do people ever make fun of you?” are answered honestly and humorously by Burcaw, addressing topics just about everyone has wondered about those with disabilities and helping readers to see that Burcaw is not so different than them. He informs us that he likes foods like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and pizza, sometimes “all at once.”  He drives his chair with “a joystick, sort of like a video-game controller.” His author’s note reminds us that “we all have different strengths, weaknesses, and abilities, and that’s not just okay, it’s beautiful.” This book is a wonderful resource to share with children as we seek to educate them about not only those with disabilities, but also about what makes each of us unique and about the ways in which we are all similar.