Brilliant Bea

November 1, 2021

PreS-Gr 3-Dyslexia is hard for children and adults to understand. Do children with dyslexia have trouble reading fluently? Do they reverse their letters? Do they struggle with writing? The answer is "Sometimes." This book succeeds as a story about dyslexia not because the characters spout definitions of dyslexia, but rather because the story opens a window into the mind of one dyslexic child, Bea, and shows readers how adults can make a significant impact on the emotional state, and therefore the education, of children with learning differences. Although she is a great storyteller at home (a "real word slinger"), at school Bea usually feels stuck and finds reading and writing difficult because the words jump around the page. Her school experience is altered forever when her teacher, Ms. Bloom, tells her she has a "brilliant brain" and gives her a tape recorder for her stories. With that device, her imagination soars, the words flow, and she makes friends. The last, tacked-on page shows us that she grows up to be an author. The illustrations are wonderful, with a warm, brown tone throughout, and the characters have simple yet expressive faces. The back matter includes a note that defines dyslexia, provides symptoms to look for, and describes treatment possibilities. VERDICT A heartwarming story that will expand the understanding of dyslexia for children and adults.-Sally James, South Hillsborough Elem. Sch., CA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2021
A child with dyslexia gains confidence in herself. First-person text reveals at the outset that the narrator, Bea, is dyslexic. Appropriately, said text is set in a readable, sans-serif type to support dyslexic readers who might encounter her story, and she presents as a Black girl with big, red glasses, brown skin, and tightly curled black hair in Lee's bright and engaging cartoon-style illustrations. Bea struggles to complete her work, drifts into daydreams, and finds ways to avoid reading aloud. She's also fortunate to have a compassionate teacher, Ms. Bloom (who presents as White with lighter skin and cropped light-brown hair), who sees her challenges and offers accommodations. Rather than presenting Bea with common voice-to-text technological supports, Ms. Bloom gives her "some sort of ancient device" (a tape recorder), and Bea uses it to record stories that she tells aloud. Other kids become interested in her storytelling, and classmate Rudy (who presents as a White boy and who's shown interest in Bea in prior spreads) offers to illustrate her words. Bea's confidence gets a boost from this artistic collaboration and from others' responses to the comic book she and Rudy create. A flash-forward closing scene shows Bea as an adult reading a book she's authored to Ms. Bloom's newest crop of students. Backmatter offers further information about dyslexia for adult readers. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Affirming and helpful. (Picture book. 5-7)

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December 1, 2021
Grades K-3 Authors Vukadinovich and Rudolph are educators who have worked with students with language-based learning disabilities and with students with unique learning needs. Their experience comes through in this story of Beatrice, a smart, biracial girl with brown skin, dark curls, and round glasses, who feels left out because her dyslexia causes her to take longer than other kids to figure out her schoolwork. This makes her feel lonely and "stucker than stuck." When a writing assignment looms, Bea's teacher gives her a tape recorder so the girl can record her story and more easily share it. Sweet illustrations offer glimpses into Bea's classroom and whimsical splashes of her imagination at work. The teacher's supportive actions are wonderful to see, but even better is how the tape recorder helps Bea connect with her classmates. Printed in a dyslexia-friendly font, this affirming story about finding your feet and your voice is a lovely confidence booster for young readers, especially those who may learn differently. Back matter includes an explanation of dyslexia, information for parents, and conversation starters.

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