Source: barnes and noble
Date: 7/24/2009

Leah Orr brings us the story of Kyle and his crush on Ashley Elizabeth who has cystic fibrosis. It a simple story, appropriate for pre-school through first grade, to begin to acquaint kids with the idea that some kids have problems. Orr hopes to promote awareness and to raise money for cystic fibrosis research; all of the profits from the sale of the book will go to that foundation.

Kyle thinks that Ashley Elizabeth is pretty and brave and when she is absent from school, he is worried, and misses her. This time she was only visiting her grandmother. Ashley Elizabeth assures Kyle that her doctor gives her lots of medicine to keep her body working right. At the back of the book are a photo of the real-life Ashley Elizabeth and a short section on her cystic fibrosis.

Kyle?s First Crush is very useful to initiate conversations with young children about other kids that have medical problems or disabilities and could be incorporated within the pre-school and grade school curriculum. It has a serious message for little inquiring minds, accompanied by wonderful illustrations by Josephine Lepore
Beverly Rowe, myshelf.com

I Also Recommend: Kyle's First Playdate.