Mom Can’t See Me

Jacket Copy: “Told from the point of view of her nine-year-old daughter, this photo-essay is Sally’s own story. When she was twenty-four, an unknown disease caused her vision to diminish gradually over two years. Then, one day it was gone. Sally responded by developing the skills to function without sight, by changing her career, by marrying and becoming a parent, by lecturing, by living fully. As Leslie Alexander says of her Mom, “Mostly she’s like other mothers.” The book shows a slice of everyday life for a blind person. Beautifully illustrated by photographs by George Ancona, this book is funny, inspiring, and deeply moving.”

Awards and Honors

Best Pick, Boston Globe

Reviews

School Library Journal, 1990

“This is one of the best books available on blindness.”

Boston Globe, February, 1991

“...One of the finest, most accessible books about blindness for children.”

Booklist, Editors’ Choice

“…a refreshingly honest and open story of a young girl who loves her mother. Sometimes she feels embarrassed when her mother acts differently from other mothers. Other times she feels sad that her mother can’t see her or her brother. Usually, though, she’s aware that a lack of sight has not diminished her mother’s ability to take a more active role and derive more pleasure from life than many sighted people. Many stories about people with disabilities leave questions unanswered and feelings unaddressed. Not this one. Approaching the issue with an attitude that rewards honesty, encourages curiosity, and embraces open communication, Mom Can’t See Me invites the reader to re-examine his or her own attitudes. The story is candid and relaxed in tone, easily dispelling any fears of the unknown one may experience with disabled people. This well-written photo-essay provides an excellent way for adults to engender a positive outlook in children and themselves regarding disability.”