I Am Not a Label: 34 disabled artists, thinkers, athletes and activists from past and present

by Cerrie Burnell, Lauren Mark Baldo (Illustrator)

Overview

* 2021 EUREKA! Nonfiction Children’s Honor Book

“An inclusive and upbeat collection ideal for classrooms and libraries.” – School Library Journal

In this stylishly illustrated biography anthology, meet 34 artists, thinkers, athletes, and activists with disabilities, from past and present. From Frida Kahlo to Stephen Hawking, find out how these iconic figures have overcome obstacles, owned their differences, and paved the way for others by making their bodies and minds work for them.

These short biographies tell the stories of people who have faced unique challenges that have not stopped them from becoming trailblazers, innovators, advocates, and makers. Each person is a leading figure in their field, be it sports, science, math, art, breakdancing, or the world of pop.

Challenge your preconceptions of disability and mental health with the eye-opening stories of these remarkable people:

Ludwig van Beethoven, Gustav Kirchhoff, Henri Matisse, Eliza Suggs, Helen Keller,
Frida Kahlo, John Nash, Stephen Hawking, Temple Grandin, Stevie Wonder, Nabil Shaban, Terry Fox,
Peter Dinklage, Catalina Devandas, Wanda Diaz-Merced, Victor Pineda, Arunima Sinha, Abraham Lincoln,
Demi Lovato, Matt Haig, Redouan Ait Chitt, Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, Farida Bedwei, Jonas Jacobsson,
Trischa Zorn, Ade Adepitan, Stella Young, Lady Gaga, Naoki Higashida, Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, Aaron Philip,
Michelle Akers, Lil Wayne, Dynamo

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780711247451
Publisher:	Wide Eyed Editions
Publication date:	07/07/2020
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	158,651
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	6 - 12 Years

About the Author

Cerrie Burnell is an actress, singer, playwright, author, and former television presenter for CBeebies (2009–2017). She was born with half a right arm and has sought to increase visibility of disabled people through her career in presenting, writing, and acting.

Lauren Baldo is an illustrator based in the Philippines. He has worked as a storyboard artist, comic artist, graphic designer, and children’s book illustrator.

Editorial Reviews

'This book is there to help us all, to encourage us to talk about how we’re all different [...]  'It’s a really, really lovely book, beautifully illustrated as well.' —Ben Shepard & Ranvir Singh, 'Good Morning Britain' ITV

'A richly illustrated compendium of activists, artists, thinkers and athletes with disabilities [..] Burnell's dreamy yet fiery tone infuses each biography with a sense of its subject's refusal to be held back by the expectations of others.'—The Guardian

'An international and diverse selection of biographies profiling over 30 disabled artists, thinkers, athletes and activists.'—Fiona Noble, The Bookseller, July Previews

'I Am Not a Label is intelligent and politically bold at the same time as being beautiful to browse – every bookshelf needs a copy.’ —Disability Arts Online

'An eye-opening, stylish and empowering collection of biographies profiling over 30 disabled creators, thinkers, activists and athletes.'—LoveReading 4 Schools

'Be assured, this is [not] a book that simply says you can be a hero ‘despite’ being disabled. Crucially, this is a book that also recognises that you do not have to be a hero. [...] Fascinating, funny, informative, this is a much-needed anthology that breaks stereotypes and challenges assumptions.'—BookTrust

'Exploring disability and difference through the biographies of these remarkable people makes children truly see that nothing is impossible if you try hard enough. Featuring a clear index, glossary and further reading section, this book has a place on every bookshelf.'—Reading Zone

‘Cerrie's text deftly sidesteps the sort of triumph-over-adversity clichés we’ve come to expect in narratives about disability, and Lauren [Emel] Baldo’s artwork is uncompromisingly stylish too.’—James Catchpole, Caboodle

From the Publisher

06/01/2020

Gr 3 Up—This anthology spotlights 34 notable individuals with a range of disabilities and backgrounds. Profiles include Terry Fox, a Canadian athlete and amputee, and Aaron Philip, a Black trans girl and model with cerebral palsy. Other public figures include Lady Gaga, Frida Kahlo, Stephen Hawking, and Lil Wayne. The text is straightforward and brief. Burnell focuses on the accomplishments of her subjects rather than strictly defining them by their ability differences. Readers who want to dive deeply into the lives of the highlighted people will need to seek out additional information. However, the accessibility of the prose offers an inviting introduction to these changemakers and their stories. Back matter features a glossary, an index, and a few suggested sources for additional reading. With intricately illustrated spreads by Baldo, this title is a good addition to other biographical anthologies like Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and Vashti Harrison's "Little Legends" and "Little Dreamers" series. There is an art-deco sensibility to many of the illustrations, which include a portrait of each individual rendered in bright colors and carefully embellished page designs. VERDICT An inclusive and upbeat collection ideal for classrooms and libraries.—Jen McConnel, Queen's Univ., Ont.

School Library Journal

2020-06-03
English actor Burnell highlights the accomplishments of disabled people past and present.

“Everyone deserves to see someone like them in a story or achieving something great,” notes the author, who was born with one hand. To that end, she introduces a multiracial group of 34 noteworthy disabled people—with disabilities ranging from Down syndrome and spina bifida to depression and Crohn’s disease—from around the world, using identity-first language and a straightforward, upbeat tone. Subjects include such historical figures as Deaf and blind American author Helen Keller and such contemporary trailblazers as fashion model Aaron Philip, a Caribbean trans woman with cerebral palsy, and Indian mountaineer Arunima Sinha, the first female amputee to scale Mount Everest. Their faces radiate joy and determination in Baldo’s energetic, warmly hued illustrations. However, the layout is somewhat busy and uneven. Each name is announced in a different typeface, ranging from stylized block letters to ornate script. Though most subjects receive an individual page of text and a full-page facing illustration, those grouped under the separate headings of “Mental Health,” “Hidden Disabilities,” and “Paralympic Stars” share two pages per category, sporting shorter profiles and smaller illustrations. Though the book’s wide geographical range provides much-needed intersectional representation, keeping track of such a large group may tax some readers’ attention spans. Nonetheless, readers with and without disabilities will enjoy meeting talented disabled people who’ve thrived in eclectic occupations.

Though brief, these optimistic profiles will encourage readers to “shine [their] own light.” (glossary, index, resources) (Collective biography. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews