A Touch of the Zebras

"I'm allergic to school!" Chelsea tells her mother. This story, for children ages five to eight, is playful, touching, sensitive and groundbreaking. It has all the elements that make a child excited, interested, and eager to know "what happens next?" The main character, Chelsea, is the focus of the attention of the adults in her world. They are concerned about what ails her and why she thinks that she is "allergic to school." Chelsea is suffering from "a touch of the zebras." The reader learns that this "touch of the zebras" is connected to Chelsea's mixed-race parentage. The reader then journeys with the child as her dilemma becomes a pleasant learning experience. Itah Sadu has been weaving this story across the country, and the response has been tremendous. From the oral traditions to the page, this delightful tale is full of fun and laughter. It also opens the door for dialogue on understanding multi-ethnic families.