Best of
Illness
2000
Lisa's Story: The Other Shoe
Tom Batiuk - 2000
Visit Lisa's Legacy Fund to learn more or to make a direct donation.A story from the comic strips that will make you laugh and cryTom Batiuk spent several years as a middle school art teacher before creating the comic strip Funky Winkerbean in 1972. Originally a "gag-a-day" comic strip that portrayed life in high school, Funky has evolved into a mature series of real-life stories examining such social issues as teen dating abuse, teen pregnancy, teen suicide, violence in schools, the war in the Middle East, alcoholism, divorce, and cancer.In 1999, Lisa Moore, one of Funky's friends and a main character, discovered she had breast cancer. Batiuk, unsure about dealing with such a serious subject on the funny pages, decided to go ahead with the story line. He approached the topic with the idea that mixing humor with serious and real themes heightens the reader's interest. Lisa and husband Les faced the same physical, psychological, and social issues as anyone else dealing with the disease.After a mastectomy and chemotherapy, Lisa was cancer free. She finished her law degree, opened a practice, and had a baby daughter, Summer. Then, in the spring of 2006, the cancer returned and metastasized. Lisa's Story: The Other Shoe is a collection of both the 1999 comic strips on Lisa's initial battle with cancer and the current series examining her struggle with the disease and its outcome. Additionally, it contains resource material on breast cancer, including early detection, information sources, support systems, and health care.
Let's Talk about It: Extraordinary Friends
Fred Rogers - 2000
In his characteristically wise and gentle way, Mister Rogers challenges the stereotypes that often plague children with special needs and celebrates six children who are extraordinary friends.
Miss Bindergarten Stays Home from Kindergarten
Joseph Slate - 2000
Tusky (who is a wee bit rusty) will be her substitute, but it just won't be the same. The kindergartners miss Miss Bindergarten! They pass the time by making get-well cards and singing songs, all the while counting out the days that Miss Bindergarten is away. What ever will they do without her?
Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair, a Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Learning Book
Jamee Heelan - 2000
But the twins are different in one significant way: Taylor has cerebral palsy, while Tyler does not. Taylor works hard to strengthen his weak legs in therapy and at home. But when he learns to use a wheelchair, he finds that he is able to get around school more quickly than he could with his walker. He is even able to play basketball with Tyler!Accompanied by Simmonds' bright multimedia paintings, Heelan's reveals the experiences of a child who lives with physical limitations and shows how wheelchairs allow people to be more independent.