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by Jothy Rosenberg (Author), Mary Garcia (Illustrator)
Adventures On The Can Do Trail is a richly illustrated large format picture book for 4-9 year olds with a strong positive message about fighting back against challenges that seemingly hold one back but which can be conquered. The book consists of seven fables about a human boy named Alex visiting and helping animals along a trail he is hiking called the CAN DO trail. Each fable is about a different animal who has a physical challenge (i.e. disability) and hears CAN'T constantly. There is the oh too short giraffe who everyone says can't eat the leaves at the tops of the trees, the horse with no back legs who his friends believe can't run and play outside with them, and the owl without the ability to see at night who is missing out on the choicest nocturnal morsels. Every one of them-as well as the five others in the book-conquer their limitations with Alex's help and CAN DO what others thought they couldn't empowering that animal to proudly proclaim: WHO SAYS I CAN'T!
On the last page, the biggest surprise is, after seeing all the amazing things Alex does to help his animal friends, that Alex has no arms and had to do all of that with his feet and arm stubs.
This book is about cleverness, determination, fortitude and the joy of overcoming what everyone else thinks You CAN'T do. The "overcoming" absolutely delights the child being read to. The fables are brought to life beautifully through the full color artwork of Mary Garcia. A large illustration, covering left and right page, explains an animal's dilemma; then when the child turns the page the outcome of what Alex and the adaptation the animal come up with is revealed on another 2-page spread.
In this book I leave it to the child's imagination why and how these situations occur-that leads to lots of great dialog with the adult reader. I never use the word disability or handicap in the book because these are situations that happen with no real reason like in the real life each child is living. Instead the child will just think about challenges and accomplishments. This positive message resonates with children and I find children coming away with a resolve to never say the word CAN'T.
