The Disability Book Archive

[ID: A book cover. The background is white. The author’s name “James Catchpole” is written in the upper left corner in black writing. The illustrator’s name “Karen George” is written in the upper right corner in black writing. The title “What Happened to You?” is written at the bottom of the cover in large, alternating red, blue and yellow lettering. Down the centre of the cover, art of a young blonde boy standing on a wooden swing. He is wearing a long-sleeved, striped white and red short, and blue shorts. He has no right leg. /end]

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Content Warning:

• Ableism

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Summary:

The first ever picture book addressing how a disabled child might want to be spoken to.

What happened to you? Was it a shark? A burglar? A lion? Did it fall off?

Every time Joe goes out the questions are the same . . . what happened to his leg? But is this even a question Joe has to answer?

A ground-breaking, funny story that helps children understand what it might feel like to be seen as different.

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Notes:

There is a kindle edition.

This book was nominated for the 2024 Schneider Family Book Award for Young Children and the 2022 CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards.

Here is a link to the author’s website: thecatchpoles.net

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Archivist Comments:

I read this book. I was volunteering at a children’s story time event and it was my turn to pick the book- the excitement I felt at seeing this one. The art is cute, I like the idea behind it, and I like that it doesn’t demonise children’s curiosity when it comes to meeting a disabled person while equally managing to show how frustrating it can be when confronted with those questions.

Also, did not realise there was a sequel to this. It’s called You’re SO Amazing, and is written by Catchpole and his wife, with illustrations again by Karen George.

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