Cushla And Her Books

by Dorothy Butler

Authored by Cuslha's grandmother, this is the story of the part played by books in the early development of a severely handicapped how they brought warmth and colour to her life at a time of almost constant pain and frustration, and surrounded her with friends who went with her into the dark and lonely places where others could not follow. This book is based on a Case Study - Three Years of Enrichment in the Life of a Handicapped Child, an original investigation presented for the Diploma in Education, the University of Auckland, New Zeland, 1975. Hardcover, 128 pages.

Genres: Education

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Muriel Dorothy Butler was a renowned New Zealand children's author, bookseller, memoirist, and advocate for children's literacy. Born in Grey Lynn, Auckland, in 1925, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Auckland University College and later married Roy Edward Butler, with whom she had eight children.
She founded the Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop in Auckland, which became a beloved destination for readers. Her influential books Babies Need Books and Cushla and Her Books highlighted the importance of early reading and the transformative power of books, particularly for children with disabilities.
Butler received numerous honors, including the Eleanor Farjeon Award in 1980, the Children's Literature Association's Award for Services to Children's Literature in 1991, and the Margaret Mahy Award in 1992. In 1993, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her services to children's literature.
She published widely across non-fiction, children's books, and anthologies, leaving a lasting impact on New Zealand’s literary community. Butler passed away in 2015, remembered for her lifelong dedication to children's reading.

Reviews

[Steve Yeoman]

I'm Cushla's dad, and I'm ever humbled that Dorothy's book about her has continued to help people who are in the same situation as we were back then. She's a wonderful woman, that Dorothy.

Cushla's wonderful too, and she gets a great kick out of people finding her on Facebook, so if you enjoyed the book drop her a line - she'll love it.

[Bookwyrmgyrl]

This book tells a great story, which is true. Cushla was born with learning disabilities - to say the least, but her parents faithfully read aloud to her and over time she was able to conquer and recover from severe problems. It is a testament to the power of reading aloud to children.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a moving motivational read. I've always believed in the power of reading aloud and often with children, but this gave me a shot of steel.

Amazon Book Description:
This book describes how a mother turned to children's books as a source of comfort and help when her first child, Cushla, was born with what appeared to be an unrelated list of handicaps.