Dyslexia is a common learning disorder (in as many as one in five children) that affects the way the brain processes information. While it’s most often associated with spelling and reading comprehension difficulties, people with dyslexia often struggle with complex directions or decoding signs—particularly those without words, such as road signs. Unfortunately, dyslexia remains a poorly understood and stigmatized condition, and dyslexic children frequently suffer from intense shame and anxiety. ROBBY THE DYSLEXIC TAXI AND THE AIRPORT ADVENTURE is a children’s book by Lynn Greenberg and her son Jonathan Greenberg (who is dyslexic) that reframes the condition in a positive, lighthearted way, showing how a person can adapt and succeed in the face of the challenges posed by the disorder.
Robby is a little anthropomorphic taxi cab who works for the Creative Cab Company in the city of Greensborough. Robby is intelligent and capable, but his dyslexia causes him to have trouble reading street signs. Fortunately, Robby has a great support network among his co-workers at the cab company, including Allison the dispatcher, Sammy the mechanic, Bennie the tow truck, and fellow taxi cabs Arty and Emily, who make sure Robby only takes routes that he’s memorized. One day, however, a regular client unexpectedly changes his mind and decides to go to the airport instead of his office—a route Robby isn’t familiar with. Unable to rely on his usual strategies, Robby must use his creativity and problem-solving abilities to reach his destination. After an initial burst of panic, Robby calmly thinks through his predicament and comes up with a brilliant solution. Instead of trying to navigate unfamiliar street directions, he looks up at the sky and spots an airplane, which leads him right to the airport.
Printed in a dyslexia-friendly font and beautifully illustrated (by Jonathan) with bright, cheerful drawings, ROBBY THE DYSLEXIC TAXI is a wonderfully engaging demonstration of how a disability can be overcome using creative approaches. Robby may have trouble using mental tools in conventional ways, but he uses his unique strengths to find an unconventional—and even more effective—solution. It’s a terrific lesson for kids with dyslexia, who frequently find themselves stymied by everyday tasks simply because traditional ways of doing things don’t work well for them.
A sweet, gentle adventure that offers valuable insights for readers of any age, Lynn and Jonathan Greenberg’s illustrated ROBBY THE DYSLEXIC TAXI is a terrific way to help children and their parents understand and deal with learning disabilities in an uplifting and empowering way.
~Edward Sung for IndieReader