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189th out of 501 books
—
486 voters
Just Because
Amusing and often touching, thisstory encompasses the issue of disability in a charming celebration of sibling friendship to which all children can relate
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.
A younger brother describes a...more
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.
A younger brother describes a...more
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
July 17th 2012
by Lion UK
(first published August 20th 2010)
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Audience- I think that this book best suits younger students such as grades preschool-1st grade. I feel that the book is short enough for these ages, but even if the students are not able to read they would still be able to learn a lot just by looking at the pictures. The book is not gender specific.
Appeal- I think that they main appeal of this book for children is the bright and colorful pictures. The pictures would appeal and grab the attention for younger students. This book would also appea...more
Appeal- I think that they main appeal of this book for children is the bright and colorful pictures. The pictures would appeal and grab the attention for younger students. This book would also appea...more
Audience: The audience for this book is primary elementary school. I feel that preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders would benefit best from this book. The illustrations in this book are amazing and I believe these grade levels will get a lot from the images. The length of the story is fitting for pre-k, kindergarteners, and first graders.
Appeal: The fun, bright, colorful illustrations will appeal to younger children. I think children will enjoy hearing about all the fun things the ch...more
Appeal: The fun, bright, colorful illustrations will appeal to younger children. I think children will enjoy hearing about all the fun things the ch...more
Audience: boys and girls, grades K-3th grade, best in a full inclusion school
Appeal: adventurous, tells a great story while tells a good message, lots of colorful images, sibling connections, prior knowledge
Application: This book deals a lot with disabilities and connection between siblings. It allows students a different view point to a circumstance that they may be in or that they may experience. Also if read in a full inclusion school, this could answer a lot of questions for students
Award...more
Appeal: adventurous, tells a great story while tells a good message, lots of colorful images, sibling connections, prior knowledge
Application: This book deals a lot with disabilities and connection between siblings. It allows students a different view point to a circumstance that they may be in or that they may experience. Also if read in a full inclusion school, this could answer a lot of questions for students
Award...more
I wanted to follow the theme in this book and say that I loved this book JUST BECAUSE, but that would be a disservice to Rebecca Elliott and the poignant story that she is telling.
Ms Elliott dedicates her book to Clemmie and Toby her little muses, and the characters are also named Clemmie and Toby, so I the reader will jump to the conclusion that this is a story of her disabled daughter and her compassionate son.
Clemmie, the older sister, is in a motorized chair and cannot walk or talk or move a...more
Ms Elliott dedicates her book to Clemmie and Toby her little muses, and the characters are also named Clemmie and Toby, so I the reader will jump to the conclusion that this is a story of her disabled daughter and her compassionate son.
Clemmie, the older sister, is in a motorized chair and cannot walk or talk or move a...more
Jan 17, 2012
Shanshad Whelan
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens,
picture-book
This book has lovely artwork and it's a beautifully sweet story of a boy with an older sister who is clearly disabled in some significant ways, though he loves her anyway. I think I wanted to like this more than I did, it's so rare to find good works with disabled kids that don't become pendantic and plodding. The issue for me with this text is that every line of text ends with the same "just because" comment, even when it doesn't really make sense or when it isn't necessary. I feel like the aut...more
Audience: The best audience for this book would be preschool through first or second grade. It is a great picture book that is the perfect length for this age group. This book can be for both boys and girls; it does not lean towards one.
Appeal: These kids will love all of the colorful and fun pictures this book has to provide. I know that the children will love all of the great adventures the characters go on in the book. Also, kids that may have a disabled person in their family can directly r...more
Appeal: These kids will love all of the colorful and fun pictures this book has to provide. I know that the children will love all of the great adventures the characters go on in the book. Also, kids that may have a disabled person in their family can directly r...more
Audience: Boys and girls in kindergarten through third grade. It would be suitable for reluctant readers or proficient readers.
Appeal: There are lots of bright colors and fun pictures to look at. Even though the topic is somewhat serious, it takes a lighter approach to it.
Application: This book would make it easier for children to understand that people who have disabilities are the same as everyone else. This could help to open up a discussion or for kids to ask questions they have about other...more
Appeal: There are lots of bright colors and fun pictures to look at. Even though the topic is somewhat serious, it takes a lighter approach to it.
Application: This book would make it easier for children to understand that people who have disabilities are the same as everyone else. This could help to open up a discussion or for kids to ask questions they have about other...more
Audience: This book is for children who are younger. Most suitable for the primary grades, such as Kindergarten to Second grade. Also, suitable for children who have disabilities or one who know others who have disabilities.
Appeal: Bright pictures throughout the book. Learn more about others who might have it more difficult.
Application: This books shows that all people (children) are important. Lots of children tend to tease or not accept others based on their looks, abilities or lack thereof, e...more
Appeal: Bright pictures throughout the book. Learn more about others who might have it more difficult.
Application: This books shows that all people (children) are important. Lots of children tend to tease or not accept others based on their looks, abilities or lack thereof, e...more
This book is about a brother and a sister that get along very well. The little boy is the one telling the story that he has a sister who can’t walk, talk, or do much but he likes her “just because”. He says how she is better than other sister because she doesn’t yell, pull hair, or steal his things. His sister is always there to play pretend games and to comfort him when he is scared. And at the end of telling us why his sister is the best he says that he likes her “just because”. I thought this...more
In JUST BECAUSE, Elliott explores the simple love of a young boy for his older, wheelchair bound sister. From the very first page, the reader learns that big sister Clemmie cannot "walk, talk, or move around much...." And yet here little brother loves her for the way she makes silly faces, or has crazy hair, or even the way she prefers his pictures of dragonflies over that of pigeons. There are not too many books that feature significantly disabled characters. JUST BECAUSE celebrates the normalc...more
I would give this 2.5 if I could. I know it is sweet, but it is so sweet that my saccharine meter is starting to beep. I know that somewhere out there there must be a pair of siblings with a relationship that is nothing but sweetness and love, but personally, I've yet to meet a pair of kids who DON'T bicker once in a while. The fact that Clemmie is in a wheelchair makes me even more eager to see them acting like real siblings--don't we want kids with physically/mentally challenged siblings to kn...more
view all 4 comments
Application: Teaching children about different family dynamics and the variety of abilities and disabilities people have
Audience: Elementary school grade 1-4
Appeal: This story offers a topic that is difficult to teach children about in a manner that is very conversational and personal to the brother and sister in the story and helps children to see that those with disabilities experience the same things they do
Awards:2012 Dolly Gray Award
Audience: Elementary school grade 1-4
Appeal: This story offers a topic that is difficult to teach children about in a manner that is very conversational and personal to the brother and sister in the story and helps children to see that those with disabilities experience the same things they do
Awards:2012 Dolly Gray Award
Such a great story featuring siblings, one of which has a disability. Very positive while still maintaining honest observations. The refrain of "just because" helps the story move along well with a slight pause between Toby's observations. The illustrations closely match the text and allow the story to be read visually which makes this a great story to share with both readers and pre-readers.
Such a sweet story about the love between a brother and his disabled sister. This book is a good reminder that sometimes we do the things we do, or like the things we like, or love the people we love, "Just Because". 5 stars for terrific illustrations.
This is a delightful picture book featuring a young boy and his older sister. Because of her disabilities, she might not be able to do things that other sisters do, but he still loves her. Just because. And really, isn't that all that matters?
Apr 14, 2011
Sarah
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-books,
p-family
This is a really cute book about two siblings and all the things they do together Just Because. The sister is in a wheel chair, but that is not the defining aspect of the book, it is just one of those things just because
Simple story about a brother and sister, does not gloss over some of the hard stuff, shows us that we can love the things that makes someone different
"Just Because" is a heart-warming story about a little boy and his sister. The boy describes all the fun things they do together and enjoy. As the story unfolds, the readers begin to understand that the sister has special needs. It is such a precious story because it shows how this little girl with special needs is treated so fairly.
As a teacher, I would use this book teach children about the importance of treating everyone equally with respect. The story could be used at the beginning of the s...more
As a teacher, I would use this book teach children about the importance of treating everyone equally with respect. The story could be used at the beginning of the s...more
Yay for being yourself, knowing what you like and don't like, and being friends (even with your siblings)... just because.
A heart warming story for anyone dealing with disabled children. This is a great character education read aloud.
Interesting that the sister is shown handicapped but that never comes up in the story.
Audience: pre k-2ndish, students with siblings/siblings with special needs.
Appeal: bright colors, relatively easy to relate too, fun drawings, fun activities and characters
Application: to teach students to treat everyone with respect, to show students that just because someone is different doesn't mean they are wrong or bad
Award: Dolly Gray Award winner
Appeal: bright colors, relatively easy to relate too, fun drawings, fun activities and characters
Application: to teach students to treat everyone with respect, to show students that just because someone is different doesn't mean they are wrong or bad
Award: Dolly Gray Award winner
LOVE IT!! Finally, a book about disability that is CUTE!
Absolutely LOVED this book.
Cute
AR 2.1
AR 2.1
SM
A little boy tells about his sister, Clemmie. Clemmie is his best friend, and he loves her "just because." Clemmie is in a wheelchair and cannot speak, but the boy loves her anyway and finds ways to share with her and have fun.
A very sweet and important book. Excellent for children with special needs siblings, or students with special needs classmates.
A very sweet and important book. Excellent for children with special needs siblings, or students with special needs classmates.
I thought this was cute.
Just Because.
The illustrations were enjoyable to look at.
Just Because.
I like the whole "Just Because" idea because I remember when I was kid hearing that answer a lot!
Just Because.
Just Because.
The illustrations were enjoyable to look at.
Just Because.
I like the whole "Just Because" idea because I remember when I was kid hearing that answer a lot!
Just Because.
May 09, 2013
Sarah Thomas
added it
Apr 29, 2013
Krys
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
timothy-s-first-year-favorites
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