The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses

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Sam doesn’t like his new glasses. They make his ears hurt. His parents say he looks handsome in them. But Sam just wants to look like himself. His teacher doesn’t recognize him — she says he must be a new superhero. But Sam doesn’t want to be a superhero. He just wants to be himself. Eventually, with a bit of confidence and a lot of humour, Sam finds out that wearing glasses isn’t so bad — and people still like him just the way he is after all.

Children and teens with glasses face adjustment to wearing them. It can be hard to look after glasses and keep track of where they are. It can make children and teens feel different. They can be teased and identified as different. Kids may refuse to wear their glasses. It’s important that children feel included when they wear glasses and even a superhero. For more information: Visit Good Vision for Life – Good Vision for Life

Download the Teacher’s Notes Here

 

Congratulations to Susanne and Marjorie who have had The Boy In The Big Blue Glasses shortlisted for The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc book awards 2020!

SPECIFICATIONS: 9781925335996/9781925820560 | 215 x 288 mm / 8.5 x 11.25 inches | Hardback/Paperback | 32 Pages

SKU: 9781925335996 Categories: , Tag:

Susanne Gervay is an award winning Australian author, educational consultant and children’s book advisor who had published 15 previous children’s book titles as well as anthologies.  Among other awards, Susanne has received the Lifetime Social Justice Literature Award for Children’s Literature from the International Literacy Association and the Order of Australia. She is the Regional Advisor for SCBWI Australia East & New Zealand. Her books are endorsed by Room to Read, Cancer Council, Alannah & Madeline Foundation, Variety, Life Education, and anti-bullying organizations.

Marjorie Crosby-Fairall is a designer and freelance illustrator of 7 previous children’s books. A dual citizen of Australia and the USA, Marjorie was raised on a farm in California with a menagerie of rescued animals. She devoured picture books as a child, examining the detail of their illustrations. Her books have appeared on the Premier’s Reading Challenge lists, and she won the CBCA Eve Pownall Award for her first picture book.

The Sector – Featured Interview with Susanne Gervay

Helping children to clearly see that being different isn’t bad – an author on a mission

Tackling topics such as disability, multiculturalism, bullying, inclusion and peace in a way which engages and doesn’t ‘preach’ is always going to be a tall order, but one which Ms Gervay has met time and time again, being awarded an Order of Australia for her services to children’s literature.


Hope 103.2 Hope Mornings Interview Click below to Listen now:

The Kids’ Author Cheering for Kids with Glasses and Undetected Vision Problems


4RO Rockhampton interviewed author Susanne Gervay

“Get your kids to an eye exam before they start school and rush out and pick up a copy of The Boy In The Big Blue Glasses.” Click here to hear the interview in full.


Radio National – The Drawing Room

“by experiencing (vision impairment) through story children get insight and understanding, they are standing in another person’s shoes”. Listen Below:


Author Susanne Gervay tells Rural Focus(Triple M) WA:

 “I have written this book because vision is the entry to learning. Often children don’t know they are vision impaired. Its really important to open an discussion because often children don’t realise if their children can’t see.”


Booktopia Q&A with Susanne Gervay

Read a Q&A with Susanne Gervay, author of The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses

Get Kids Booked
“Picture books always help with big life changes, and this story by Susanne Gervay @susanne_gervay has been super handy for our family. The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses, tells the story of Sammy, who feels like he loses his identity when he gets his new glasses. The grown-ups tell him he looks like a superhero, but he just wants to be himself.
I hope every child gets to read this book, and understand that vision problems affect so many.”


The Write Path
“The story is perfect for young ones getting their first pair of glasses. The events are relatable, from people always telling you how good you look in your new glasses, to the part where kids in class might tease you. It shows a child whether they wear glasses or not, they are still the same person.” Click here to read more


Review by Bridget and the Books
4th Grader Bridget Smith shares her four reasons why kids will like this book, starting with: “It is a good book for little kids when they first get glasses.” Click here to read more

Educating Young Children – reviewed
“This is an important book as it raises questions for all children. It validates their fears and helps them to realise there is a way through. I look forward to using this book to help young children to empower themselves in the face of adversity.”


The Village Voice
“Susanne Gervay taps into her knowledge of, and sensitivity to children’s issues and casts her sights on the difficulties of wearing glasses. The illustrations will ensure you read and reread this book”


Armadillo Magazine
“This book addresses an important issue that children can face and highlights the importance of having children’s vision checked and monitored as it can impact greatly on educational and social development.  The book has been beautifully illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall.  A great picture book to read and look at, and one that will prove useful at home and in schools.” Click here to read more


NM News Today “The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses explores many themes including communication, inclusion and persistence but I believe that one of the most important messages is that children accept that yes, ‘we are all different and this difference should empower us, not undermine who we are’ .” Click here to read in full


School Days Magazine “Sammy gets up to all sorts of antics to try and hide his glasses, but then he finds everything looks blurry and funny. He soon realises he can see so much better when he wears the glasses and can do so much more and get up to all sorts of fun things with his friends. ” Click here to view


Reading Time
“The real thread of this book, though, is showing how Sam feels about being different. The well-meaning adults in his life exacerbate his problem, so there’s a message in here about the affect words can have on a child’s perception of their self-image. An empathetic book, with great characterisation.” Click here to read in full


The Jewish News
“The book has been endorsed by Good Vision for Life to raise awareness for parents and children about sight impairment and its impact on self-esteem and development.”


Maria Marshall’s The Picture Book Buzz – Featured book on 10 New “Back to School” Books in 2019
“This is a great book for times when a child stands out or feels unseen for who they really are. A book for kids discovering they need glasses, for working through empathy in classrooms and schools, and for reminding adults to be aware of what and HOW we talk to kids.” Click here to read more


The Sunday Telegraph “An important, encouraging story for any child who wears glasses. ”


FiveAA – Alan Hickey
“it really is a delightful read”.


Dimity Powell’s Blog reviewed
“a treasure to share and not just with those little ones who find themselves suddenly bespeckled (although this story makes an excellent vehicle for easing into the transition of wearing glasses). ” Click here to hear the interview in full.


Maria Marshall (USA) interviewed the author Susanne Gervay and reviewed
“This is a book about empowering children to accept their differences and their necessity for glasses, or other things that set them apart. But what I LOVE about it is the way Susanne created an underlying message to the adults to be aware of what you say to a child. ” Click here to read in full.


Blue Wolf Reviews reviewed
“Change, and especially when directed at appearance, can be very hard for shy children to manage. By using stories and books to bring the topic into focus, it not only helps those having to deal with the issue, but also brings awareness to those who are quick to tease.”


Mums at The Table featured
” Engaging them through picture books and story is a powerful way to understand vision, the impact of wearing glasses, acceptance by peers and promote play, whatever a child’s difference”. Click here to read in full.


For Little Eyes reviewed
“This book touches really sweetly on many of the very real, difficult feelings that kids can have when it comes to getting glasses that can be hard for them to explain to others.” Click here to read in full


ReadPlus reviewed
“EK Books has a tagline ‘Books with heart’ on issues that matter, and thankfully Susanne Gervay is one of their authors. Gervay is able to write about issues that matter with an understated ease allowing students to read the story as any other story not one that sets out to make a point.” Click here to read in full


The BottomShelf reviewed
“belongs in any collection for young readers and which should be actively
promoted because so many children will see it as a mirror and learn to love
reading even more as they read about themselves.” Click here to read in full


New Idea featured
“helps de-stigmatise glasses for kids”.


Creative Kids Tales review
“This book will promote discussion about inclusion, anxiety, fear, miscommunication, identity, friendship, acceptance not only from those around us but also from inside us and of course, glasses.”
I don’t think you can ask more than that from a children’s book, can you?. Click here to read in full


Pinerolo
“Being different, like the only boy wearing glasses, can be a challenge until you assume super hero status. Involving and appealing story and illustrations.”


Story Snug Review
“The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses is a fabulous picture book for stimulating conversation with a child who is wearing glasses for the first time. It can also be used in a classroom to develop discussions about empathy and why some children may need glasses or other supports like hearing or mobility aids.” Click here to read more.


Little Parachutes Review
“A super book that has been carefully and skillfully created to comfort and reassure children who are finding it difficult to adjust to wearing glasses. The story is narrated by the protagonist Sam in a tone you would expect from a young boy. The beautiful illustrations by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall really breathe life into the characters.” Click here to read more


Good Vision for Life featured
” The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses brings the issue of vision problems into sharper focus. National marketing manager for Optometry Australia, Trinity Scarf, applauds the book as it addresses such an important issue in an engaging way for kids. ” Click here to read the full review


Additional information

Book Type

Paperback, Hardback

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