Boy who learned upside down

Gr 1-4-This story is based on The Shadow Project, a motivational educational program for students with learning disabilities. Alex's learning challenges make reading difficult. When he's assigned to a special-education teacher, he is at first humiliated for being labeled "special," but then is motivated by the helpful woman. The boy sets out to earn a stuffed toy, awarded to the students who do well on the spelling test. Alex works hard to accomplish the goals set out for him, with the family dog, Shadow, sitting by him as he studies. When he proudly takes the prize home, Shadow destroys it. Alex and his mother are able to salvage the toy rat and showcase it as a reminder of the child's hard work. They make plans to establish the first Shadow Day to encourage other kids with similar challenges. The illustrations in primary colors include brightly patterned letters that sprout limbs and cavort across the pages, indicating the learning problems the boy encounters. Alex's difficulty is never labeled, making the story generic enough to share with a variety of special learners. While the text is long, the upbeat message on a subject rarely written about makes this a choice worth considering.-Carol S. Surges, formerly at Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.