Just Because

March 1, 2011
An endearing and enduring picture book about sibling love. On the very first page, Toby tells readers about his older sister. "My big sister Clemmie is my best friend.  She can't walk, talk, move around much...cook macaroni, pilot a plane, juggle or do algebra. I don't know why she doesn't do these things. Just because." With the many books about disabilities that are already on the shelves, it is refreshing to find a book where the narrator is the younger sibling. However, Clemmie's wheelchair plays only a minor role in this story. The wide-set eyes of Toby and Clemmie (and each creature on the page) reveal a deep concern and appreciation for each other. The list of quirky things about both children, whether it's eating crayons or having enormous hair, are accompanied by the refrain that emphasizes that the reasons why don't really matter: Just because. The double-page spreads burst forth in vibrant colors and energetic streaks and swirls. Clemmie, whose name, like the refrain, is always in the same distinctive faux-handwritten type, remains (mostly) serene and still. Full of unconditional love, this is a must-have title in today's world of false perfection. (Picture book. 5-10)

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August 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 2-A perceptive observer of the cover of this picture book will notice that the rocket bearing Clemmie and her little brother on an imaginative space journey is actually a wheelchair. Refreshingly, the story is about the bond between the siblings and all that they can do. The boy doesn't worry that Clemmie "can't walk, talk, move around much...." He admits honestly that he doesn't know why some people can do things and others can't. His answer to these big questions is a simple if not always satisfying refrain: "Just because." Those two words provide a format for the boy to explain that Clemmie's enormously curly hair, love for their pet ladybug, and ability to cuddle him to sleep are some of her best qualities. He also explains that his special talents include being good at drawing and pointing to things in books. Eating crayons and being scared during a thunderstorm top his list of his own shortcomings. The warm cartoon illustrations on canvas depict children with cheerful round faces and rosy cheeks. Although the story lacks examples of typical sibling friction that may have made it more believable for young readers, it serves as an excellent reminder that children in wheelchairs are not defined by their disabilities.-Jenna Boles, Washington-Centerville Public Library, OH

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