- all a young Brazilian boy wants is for someone to read with him
- he finally finds the perfect reading partner and they both bring each other joy
- wonderful, culturally-accurate illustrations
Type: picture book
Ages: 3-8
Author: Lawrence Schimel
Illustrator: Thiago Lopes
Not only do we quickly love the main character and hope, for his sake, that he’ll find someone who can spare some time to read, but this book also shines a light on disabilities. His eventual reading partner is overlooked every day and can empathize with little Antonio.
Two obvious lessons sprout up from this story:
- Try very, very hard to say yes when a child asks to read with you
- People with disabilities are people, too. Interact with them!
I’ve lived in two (and traveled to more) countries in South America in past years. I really enjoyed the illustrations with so many little details I can perfectly visualize, smell and hear. 🙂 Overall, I’m glad they translated this to English so I can share it all with you!