Leo’s Book Den:  What Happened to You?

What Happened to You?

By James Catchpole

Illustrated by Karen George

Joe is at the playground, pretending he’s a swashbuckling pirate! Are those sharks under the bridge? Does that crocodile really believe they are any match for such a skilled buccaneer as Joe!? His imagination soars as he plays, but most of the other kids don’t notice Joe’s amazing pirate escapades or his brilliant imagination.

They are only focused on what they think Joe is ‘missing’. A leg. Joe only has one!

Joe’s game is interrupted by child after child wanting to know what happened to his ‘missing’ leg. Joe becomes more and more impatient that his great game is thwarted by all the intrusive questions the children won’t stop asking. They even stare at him; how rude!

This book, written by a disabled author, brilliantly shows us the experience of someone who is constantly bombarded with questions about their differences.

Has your child ever asked an embarrassing question? Children are curious, and that’s not a bad thing, however this book leads a great discussion on how their curiosity should addressed in the right places and spaces, and that people don’t owe us their stories. A great book to read with your child, along with some awesome parent tips on the back page.