Rebecca's Interview with Lori Mitchell

Author of Different Just Like Me

Lori Mitchell:
I was thrilled to see our book Different Just Like Me on your site. How did you find us?
Lori
 
Rebecca :
I found you at our local one-room library. I make a point of reading the books children are reading by going to the “to be shelved” cart & taking a few home to review. I am somewhat used to being “different” myself -adopted into a family of boys; being told I was the only “Jew” in a “Christian” school; being an immigrant - your title caught my eye & said read me!
 
Lori :
I would like to give you a little more inside information about the book. There are some fun games to play with the book. If you go to http://greatbook.tripod.com/index-1.html you can find out about the games (one is the same and different game) and all about the real people in the story. There's also a list of games to play in the classroom.

The illustrations were kept black and white in the background so that the people would stand out from the background. I started doing the illustrations the traditional way but the people got lost in all the colors. I found that if I just drew them in, you would know where the people were, but it wasn't as important to color them all in. Then the beautiful colors of all the people could come shinning through. When they get to Grammy's garden you can see that it turns to full color. I wanted to make the connection between all the beautiful flowers and all the beautiful people.

There was a comment about April not being “different”. In the story we wanted April to be as generic as possible so lots of children could relate to her. We wanted as many kids as possible to say: “I'm like her, so maybe I'm like all those other people in the story.” Then maybe by the end of the story they will see that they really are just like all those people that look different from them and April. Then, maybe, when they see someone of a different race or different ability, they will know that they are just the same.

If I would have drawn April with her spots (April's condition, vitiligo, looks like white spots) too many kids would have said: “Well, she's nothing like me. She's “different” like all of those other “different” people in the book, but it has nothing to do with me.”

April had been diagnosed with vitiligo when she was only eight months old. So far there is no cure and they don't know what causes it. At age four the vitiligo was just starting to spread to her face and hands and people were asking questions about it at every turn. April started to ask some questions of her own. We went to a Padres game and she wanted to know why everyone else looked different. There was a man in a wheelchair next to us, a tall man behind us, a large woman down a few rows and so on. I told her we all have something that makes us different but we are all so much the same. I tried to find a book to help make that point and found one book about difference in race, one about the visually impaired, one about hearing loss and so on. There wasn't one book that said we are all the same and different at the same time. So April and I decided we would write one.

As you can tell I just love to talk about the book. I think talking to kids at schools is one of my favorite treats that has come out of writing this book. If you want to know any more about the book just e-mail me.

I'm honored to have my book on your site. I hope it does very well for you. Thanks.

Rebecca :
What a pleasure to receive your email - thank you!

I really like the way you have explained your book & I've put our Spotlite on Different Just Like Me. Is there anything else you would like to say?
 
Lori :
I would be happy to let you post my letter. Sounds like you know all about feeling “different”. I had my own reasons for feeling different in school. I think almost every child has that feeling, they just don't talk about it. This book can be such a relief for some kids.
 
Maybe we can just add the Instructions for The Same and Different Game:

Look for all the small illustrations under the copy in the story. Now try to figure out what makes them all the same and what makes them different. For example: The Fish Same: All have fins, All fish, All swim, All have eyes.... Different: All different shapes, colors, size. The students like to compete to see who can come up with the most things. They also try to come up with unusual things that you might not think of right away. (One child said they may all taste different) It gets pretty silly but the students catch on to the idea that we can all be so different yet so much alike.

Would you add the vitiligo society site it's www.vitiligosociety.org.uk/index.html. The book is also available in Braille through the Los Angeles Braille Institute.

I just finished a few book signings but I'll be doing more at the Barnes and Noble in the San Diego area. I'm working with the Anti-Defamation League on a campaign called “Close the Book on Hate”. Once I have the dates I'll e-mail them to you.

I just heard from the magazine Teaching Tolerance. They might put the book in an issue! Keep your fingers crossed. Thanks again.

For more information about Different Just Like Me go to: Amazon.Com. If you order through the link above 15% will go towards vitiligo research. Do remember to click from rebeccasreads to amazon thus supporting this site as well. For coloring book pages, a classroom outline, secrets and more go to: http://greatbook.tripod.com/index-1.html

I'm also starting a new web site for more information about the book. It will have the five day lesson plan for teachers and information about school talks and more! It will be at www.differentjustlikeme.com

Lori Mitchell
m_illustration@yahoo.com
Tel: 858/566-1032
Fax: 858/566-6349

Rebecca :
I wish you great success with your book, my dear Lori, very well done! Keep getting the word out about vitiligo research & keep teaching us tolerance.

(Published September 03, 2000)