Essay Questions

How does Charley react when he first sees Emma?

When Charley first sees Emma, he is surprised and doesn't understand why she looks different them him. Emma doesn't have any hands, and is in a wheelchair, making her different from Charley. However, Charley keeps most of this shock in his mind only and asks only nice questions to Emma.

What does Charley learn after speaking with Emma?

After speaking with Emma, Charley realizes that talking and being friends with differntly-abled people is not bad at all. In fact, being different is a good thing that should be celebrated. Charley asks Emma a lot of questions, but he doesn't do so to be rude. He asks questions to learn about her personality and become a better friend to her.

What guidance does the book provide towards children and adults when interacting with differently-abled people?

When Charley Met Emma includes illustrations and text for children but also includes a page in the back of the book to remind parents of how to interact and help their children interact when they are meeting differently-abled children for the first time. If a child has questions, don't tell them to be quiet or hurry them away. Similarly, make sure that they do not use hurtful language towards other children. Instead, tell them that it is okay to get to know their peers and it is important to make them feel welcome.