Bobbie Rodriguez

Bobbie Rodriguez, the author of "Sarah's Sleepover," tells a story about a young girl who is blind. I liked the way Rodriguez did not actually state the words "blind" or "visually impaired," it was left up to the reader to interpret why she had to be careful on the stairs, could not play checkers, and why she was use to the dark. I think that Rodriguez did a good job of not making Sarah the "hero" of the book because of her disability, but rather showed how she could still be helpful and a leader despite being blind. He also balanced out the things that she could not do with things that she was able to do. I think that this would be a good book to choose for a kindergarten - third grade class on the topic of people who are blind.… (meer)

Sarah's Sleepover is about a young girl named Sarah who is having a weekend with her family, cousins, and friends and they get to have a big sleepover. Sarah is all excited to see her cousins and play with them. The book hints that Sarah is blind by saying she can tell her cousins are here by their voices and also that they can't play certain games like checkers and musical chairs because Sarah can't see. While the parents are gone for a while, the lights go out and everyone is scared but Sarah because she is used to seeing in the dark and she can help lead the girls to the kitchen to call her parents. While the lights are out, the girls tell stories and realize they are having so much fun in the dark but in reality, the is Sarah's life everyday. I really liked this book. The story doesn't directly say Sarah is blind, but we get it from the text. It informs us on a lot of things Sarah can't do because she is visually impaired but it the story never shows that Sarah it bummed about it. Sarah doesn't let her disability become a "negative thing" and luckily for Sarah, her cousins are great and had no problem with coming up with other fun sleepover activities. They were very considerate and made sure the activities were something they all could do. I found no problem with this book. I believe this book showed: Emphasize the success of people with disabilities and show their strengths and abilities along with their disabilities. Also, demonstrate respect for and acceptance of people with disabilities, and depict them as more similar than different from other people. I would love to read this to my future students. The illustrations were done very well.… (meer)

Sarah's sleepover is about a girl spending time with her friends, however, the story informs the readers that Sarah is blind. I love that the book doesn't state this. The author uses the illustrations to show this and also gives hints by the actions given to Sarah. The friends suggest games but realize that Sarah would not be able to play all of them due to her disability but this story shows games that they can play that includes their friend. What separates this book from other stories about children accepting their friends who are blind, this book gives the other children a chance to sort of see what it feels like to not be able to see. The lights go out and at first, the girls are afraid, but this is how Sarah sees the world all the times. Sarah reassures them and teaches them how to use their other senses to get things done. I think this story is wonderful and could put someone in the place of those who cannot see as well as show people who have this disability that it is possible to do things and have friends.… (meer)

Sarah is blind but she can make her way around her surroundings with other senses like hearing, touching, and smelling. When she and her friends have a sleepover and the lights in Sarah's house temporary blacks out, her friends are all frighten. But Sarah comforts her friends and ensures she will lead them away from the dark. Knowing this since she can't see, she's quite used to the dark and makes the sleepover more than fun for her friends. Through telling scary short stories, the girls all had the best sleepover ever. Sarah is proud to know her disability didn't keep her from enjoying life.

This book is very empowering of letting other people with disabilities know they can achieve whatever goal they want despite their disabilities. It shows that people with disabilities aren't weak and that disabilities enhances other parts of their ability to function. Overall, I enjoy this fun, loving book about a young blind girl who doesn't let her disability get in the way of enjoying life.… (meer)