Arnie and the New Kid (Picture Puffins)

Rating:
Summary: Carlson failed miserably with this one!
Review: Clearly the author made an effort towards inclusion but she failed miserably. Arnie and the New Kid is really the story of how the school bully was able to save a classmate with a physical disability from a life of shunning by befriending him. This is far from the message that we should be imparting in our children. We need to show children that people with disabilities are valuable, contributing citizens. I'd recommend Verna Allette Willkins' books Are We There Yet and Boots for a Bridesmaid as wonderful examples of this fact.