What a refreshing voice.
We are about to meet eight-year-old Rhodes who lives in Virginia and is in the second grade. Rhodes' life is about to take a huge turn---for the better and we are going to be there in the moment and get to watch it all unfold.
In this chapter book, Rhodes is headed to the bus stop as usual to go to school but this morning is different because today Rhodes is going to see the new girl running, running, running to make the bus stop. Will she make it? Nope. Rhodes is standing there watching as the bus - his bus too - pulls away from the bus stop leaving both of them standing there wondering what to do.
This is the moment when Rhodes meets Alana and when Alana meets Rhodes. Alana is a girl who can stand on her own two feet. Rhodes is a guy who is has the courage to solve a problem. "I am not scared. I would do it too but I don't want to get in trouble, " Alana tells Rhodes forthrightly. "If we walk fast, we can probably get to school at the same time as the bus, " Rhodes tells her. It's Alana who sets off and it's Rhodes who catches up with her.
As they walk along, Rhodes realizes he will need to tell Alana his secret. You see Rhodes has Type I Diabetes and he needs to do a finger stick right now.
This is a fresh, humorous adventure story about two good kids who are going to have to get through some obstacles if they want to get to school on time and one of them has Type I Diabetes. The story is about the adventure and it's about the two getting to know each other, finding a new friend in each other, and accepting each other naturally.
I would grab this one as a read aloud for classes of first and second graders to hear how these kids get along, to see them problem solve, and to witness the comfort with which they accept each other. It's a great real life adventure story and a great how-to for not being fearful of others because something about them is different.
The voice is so real. It makes you feel like you are there going along the walk with them.
This one will lift your spirits as it entertains.
48 pages 979-8986459608 Ages 6-9
Keywords: new friend, adventure, acceptance, Type 1 Diabetes, disease, accepting others, friendship, being yourself, 6 year old, 7 year old, 8 year old, 9 year old, part of a series
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
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Come along as eight-year-old Rhodes and his best friend Alana set out on their first adventure! Missing the school bus leads to an exciting journey and an opportunity for Rhodes to tell Alana about living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). As a result, a new friendship is formed between these two spirited and confident kids.
School Bus Secret is the first book in a new children's series called, The Adventures of Rhodes and Alana. This story will capture the imaginations of young readers with three chapters and color illustrations on each page. Parents, educators, and clinicians will appreciate the subtle lessons about friendship, responsibility, and life with diabetes. A valuable teaching tool for newly-diagnosed T1Ds, pediatric endocrinologists, diabetes educators, teachers and classmates of type 1 students, families and grandparents.
