His Name is Joe by Chloe Mathis and Mimi Lou Martin

(c) Paps Publishing, Chloe Mathis and Mimi Lou Martin

His Name is Joe is the story about a boy who cannot walk and uses a wheelchair to navigate. Joe's schoolmates do not understand why he uses a wheelchair and end up staring at him. Although he admits that it happens quite often, Joe takes this in stride and, with a smile, communicates with those who stare to please stop staring and to say hi. Through his verbal communication and friendliness, Joe makes easy friends with fellow classmates Jimmy and Jill.

His Name is Joe is a cute illustrated book, with images drawn by the author's grandchildren. Her character Joe exhibits well taught manners and an understanding that while you may look different, you are still the same as everyone else - a person who wants to belong. I would recommend this story for children who can read longer stories by themselves or are able to sit through wordy text and few illustrations (approximately 4 years +), and for those children who have questions about others with disabilities. Well written and well-meaning, I definitely recommend His Name is Joe to those young at heart, for it is a story that will definitely put a smile on your face.


About the Author (from her website):
Mimi Lou Martin wants to make the world a better place, one story at a time! With her grandchildren's help, Ms. Martin achieves her goal through their heartwarming stories. Beginning with His Name is Joe, a charming book with a powerful message about a young boy in a wheelchair, each of Joe’s books is perfect for entertaining kids while making a positive difference in the world, one page, and one book at a time.

In addition to writing stories with her grandchildren, Mimi loves writing adventure novels for tweens and teens. In Song of the Eagle, what starts as a tale of vengeance becomes an unforgettable story of overcoming racial prejudice in a heart-opening way that rules and regulations could never accomplish. In her page-turner sequel, Adventures of Breezy Texas, adventures and surprises abound. One of the best surprises in this tall tale is the heroine, Molly Anderson. Molly is the main character in a story written by Mimi’s mother, Etta Pruitt Martin.

Mimi also enjoys writing short stories for the older generations on her blog and sharing treasured family stories. Mimi lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas with her husband, Jack Mathis. They have three sons and seven grandchildren.

You can visit her website for more information and for more warmhearted stories!