Stranger in the Mirror by Allen Say

I liked this book because it is something different for Say to not do an autobiographical book. The topic of respecting elderly people and not treating them like old people is something very important that does not seem to get addressed enough with kids. This would be a great read aloud. In this book, a little boy hopes that he never has to get old and then turns into an old man. Everyone stares and makes fun of him for looking so funny. Even his parents are talking about it behind his back. He feels terrible and decides to run away from home. Before he leaves, he spots a skateboard and decides to go for a ride. As he is riding, he forgets all of his troubles and doesn't have a care in the world. Then, he jumps off and is instantly reminded that he looks old because all of the kids are staring at him. This part is great because Say doesn't tell the reader that the kids are staring but the picture shows this. He then goes home and his sister teases him by putting his bag into his grandpa's room. I love the part when he says, "who cares what I look like, I am Sam." This is something that I think a lot of elderly people can relate to because when they get older, people begin to forget them for who they are and just look at them as an old person. After just a day, he returns to his old body and is so relieved to be himself again. The pictures are very detailed and realistic looking and are great to get the reader to feel sympathetic for the little boy.