Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Carla's Sandwich
Illustrator: Sheila Bailey
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Flashlight Press, 2004 ISBN: 0972922520
Carla is bringing some very strange things to school for her lunches. In fact she is bringing such peculiar sandwiches to school that no one wants to sit with her anymore, and they make fun of her too. As far as Carla is concerned though, her sandwiches are “creative,” “unique,” and “different,” and not “gross,” “disgusting,” or “sick.”
When the children in Carla’s class go for a picnic, Carla is laughed at again for having a very “different” sandwich. As the children are eating their lunch sitting on the grass under the blue sky, Buster discovers that he forgot to bring his lunch. Feeling famished, Buster accepts Carla’s offer to share some of her peculiar sandwich – and he gets a real shock.
By telling a story that every child can relate to, the author shows her readers that being different is not a bad thing. On the contrary, it is something to be acknowledged and enjoyed.
