SUZY

This ""Special Situation Picture Book,"" about a partially-sighted child, tells of her daily life, friends at school and interests at home. The text is simple; large type makes it accessible to children with this problem. The child appears to be mainstreamed with able-bodied students. The handicap is not the focal point of her life, nor is it ignored. Suzy enjoys reading, swimming and making clay models. She accepts help when needed: a friend identifies a bus number; a special magnifying glass is used for reading. The uninspired color illustrations reflect the tone of the story. A few British words include ""football"" for the American soccer; what appears to be volleyball is called ""netball."" The laminated board cover and cheap binding do not allow for heavy library use. In America, this child would probably be classified as legally blind, eligible for the Library of Congress talking books. But despite cultural variations, this provides a simple introduction to this handicap.