Faber Members get 10% off their first order

What Happened to You?

James Catchpole
Illustrated by Karen George

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

Format
Hardback
ISBN
9780571358304
Date Published
01.04.2021
Delivery
All orders are sent via Royal Mail and are tracked: choose from standard or premium delivery.
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.

‘A revolutionary book on disability.’ Inclusive Storytime

‘Catchpole’s beautifully judged, child-friendly words ably evoke the fatigue and wariness of repeatedly being asked the same question rather than simply being accepted and allowed to play, while George’s warm images amplify the delight of shared imagination.The Guardian

‘Wonderful, delightful and important. […] Not only will it help nondisabled adults and children understand what it is like to be singled out for being different, but it will empower disabled children and help them realise they don’t have to justify themselves to people they don’t know.’ Jen Campbell, bestselling author of Franklin’s Flying Bookshop

‘With beautifully characterful illustrations and plenty of calming white space, it exudes gentle energy and humour to appeal to every child. This is a stunningly clever book.’ BookTrust

‘The beauty of What Happened to You? is its focus on empathy… a brilliant book to open up the conversation with pre-school kids.’ Disability Arts Online

‘A groundbreaking picture book reflecting the world of a visibly disabled child… a funny and very enjoyable read that will nevertheless perform an urgently needed task and generate very useful discussion at home and school.’ LoveReading4Kids

Critic Reviews

Catchpole’s beautifully judged, child-friendly words ably evoke the fatigue and wariness of repeatedly being asked the same question rather than simply being accepted and allowed to play, while George’s warm images amplify the delight of shared imagination

The Guardian
Critic Reviews

This book is fabulous. What Happened to You? beautifully depicts childhood with a limb difference in an honest and welcome way... Everyone should read it!

Cerrie Burnell
Critic Reviews

With beautifully characterful illustrations and plenty of calming white space, it exudes gentle energy and humour to appeal to every child. This is a stunningly clever book

BookTrust
Critic Reviews

Delightful, necessary and long overdue.

Kirkus, Starred review
Critic Reviews

Wonderful, delightful and important. Curiosity is a fabulous thing but endless questions from strangers can be exhausting. As a disabled person who often felt the need to make up answers as to why I was missing fingers (sharks! witches! *insert other ridiculous things here*), I wish I'd had James' book to read as a child. Not only will it help nondisabled adults and children understand what it is like to be singled out for being different, but it will empower disabled children and help them realise they don't have to justify themselves to people they don't know

Jen Campbell, bestselling author of Franklin's Flying Bookshop
Critic Reviews

James Catchpole's wonderful new book What Happened to You? is a great way of introducing body differences to the very young, in a way that's fun, sensible, natural and easy to enjoy. I'd say any child would benefit from this book, and moreso, any parent, especially those who feel awkward around the subject of disability

Mat Fraser, Actor and writer
JamesCatchpole

James Catchpole was destined to be either an itinerant singer or an amputee footballer. He managed to get off the substitutes’ bench a couple of times for the England Amputee Football Team, and also busked around Provence with a guitar (another profession where it actively helps to have one leg), but reached the limits of his talent in both fields…

Read More
JamesCatchpole
Children's author James Catchpole