My Friend Isabelle 

Author: Eliza Woloson

Illustrator: Bryan Gough

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Special Needs 

Grade Level: K-3

Charlie has a friend named Isabelle. Even though they are the same age, they are different. Charlie is tall and Isabelle is short. He runs fast and Isabelle takes her time. They carry around different things. Charlie knows a lot of words but Isabelle's words are sometimes hard to understand. Charlie's mom says that differences are what makes the world so great. Every Friday they play together and dance. They do everything together and enjoy each others company. They are friends even though Isabelle has down syndrome. 

This book is an important book to use in the classroom when teaching or talking about disabilities. I can use this if we have someone in the class that comes in for inclusion time and children may be confused with what is wrong with them. 

The illustrations are kind of darker and realistic. It shows the differences in little Isabelle's face compared to Charlie's.