This book is MARVELOUS, FANTASTIC, SUPERB and the other synonyms for great that I am sure I could remember if I wanted to. I wanted to fill my shelves with more diverse books with unique voices, and seeing more books about people with disabilities is fantastic. I naturally needed to pick up this book, because I have family and friends with disabilities and they deserve to be heard too. And, man, am I so glad I picked up this book! It's incredible! Cerrie Burnell did an excellent job crafting this book.

This is a non-fiction, anthology-esque collection of people who had disabilities and did great things. Sometimes they did art or sports, or sometimes they just did truly miraculous feats. There will be some you know about, like Beethoven and Terry Fox (Yay Canada, represent!), and some you might not, like Henri Matisse (I was not aware of his disabilities but did know about his art). Their stories are told in a whimsical and fun way too, which is why this book really stood out to me. It felt way more fun than your typical non-fiction book.

If you're looking to learn, grab this book! It's a great collection of facts and stories that also have absolutely beautiful illustrations to go along with them.

Five out of five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. ( )

I'll be posting my review for this book in September as a part of GeekDis a collaborative event I am hosting in September for the disabled community to discuss disability representation in pop culture.

You can learn more about GeekDis and how to take join in the discussion here!

For more of my reviews please visit my blog! ( )

I Am Not a Label is an anthology of 34 biographies include the talent of artists, scientists, activists, musicians, mathematicians, dancers, and athletes that show each one is more than a label of their disability. Drawing from past and present, each short biography explores the passion, perseverance, and trailblazing work of each individual facing unique challenges because of their disability.

Each individual's story is told in a two page spread--1 page the biography and the accompanying page a beautiful illustration. Similar to the diverse illustrations for each individual found in Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, each spread has its own color palate, artistic style, and mood.

* 2021 EUREKA! Nonfiction Children's Honor Book ( )

I Am Not a Label: 34 Disabled Artists, Thinkers, Athletes and Activists From Past and Present by Cerrie Burnell is a beautifully illustrated (Lauren Baldo, artist) anthology that introduces young readers to disabled role models.

Growing up, Cerrie felt the lack of books with disabled protagonists; she was born with one hand. "Representation matters," she writes in the Introduction. She decided to share the stories of her favorite role models.

Readers will learn about famous people, like Beethoven (deafness) or Helen Keller and Stevie Wonder (Blindness).

And those with mental disabilities, like John Nash (subject of the book and movie A Beautiful Mind) and President Abraham Lincoln (depression).

Illness also creates disability, like Henri Matisse's cancer that caused him to fins a new way of doing art, resulting in some of his most beloved works.

There are people representing those with Down's syndrome, spina bifida, polio victims, those who self-harm, chronic pain, autism, brittle bone disease, transgender, epilepsy, and more.

I was moved by these stories. Burnell's book is for everyone and every age. The wonder of what the human spirit can accomplish is marvelous.

Every library needs this book, for those who feel alienated by their disability, and for those who need to understand that disabled people are not so different, and in fact, may be remarkable.

I received a free book through Amazon Vine in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. ( )