2018
WISE Score
Amazon
Joe just wants to play pirates, but everyone else is obsessed with his missing leg. A masterclass in setting boundaries without being a pill about it.
4.8
4.8View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
This isn't your typical 'be nice to the kid who's different' book. It's a sharp, funny, and deeply necessary look at disability from the perspective of the person actually living it.
Instead of making Joe an object of pity or a lesson in 'overcoming obstacles,' Catchpole makes him a kid who just wants to finish his pirate game. It’s a vital addition to any home library to teach both empathy and the importance of bodily autonomy. It's modern, it's funny, and it's 100% brain-rot free.
Perfect for the 3–8 crowd. It’s a picture book, so it’s a quick read, but honestly, the etiquette lesson at the back is something most adults could benefit from too.
It models healthy boundaries and agency for children with disabilities, showing that they are kids first and their medical history isn't public property. It ends with a beautiful scene of inclusive, imaginative play.
The story leans heavily into Joe's pirate-themed imagination. It uses the wild, silly guesses of other children (lions! burglars! sharks!) to contrast the mundane reality of just wanting to play.
It is a gentle picture book designed for toddlers and early elementary students. There is no violence, scary content, or inappropriate language; even the 'scary' suggestions like sharks are handled within the context of play.
This is a pioneering 'own voices' book that teaches disability etiquette and empathy without being preachy. It provides a rare perspective on the fatigue of being 'different' and includes a helpful guide for parents in the back.
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