Literature Analysis: Portrayal of Disability in 'A Boy and a Jaguar'

This report provides a literary analysis of Alan Rabinowitz's 'A Boy and a Jaguar,' a children's picture book suitable for children aged 3-5. The analysis explores the book's relevance to young children, focusing on its portrayal of a boy with a speech impediment and his connection with a jaguar. The analysis examines how the book depicts disability, the messages conveyed to children about disability, and how the book can be used to discuss disability with young children. The report highlights the book's themes of overcoming challenges, forming connections, and the importance of inclusion. It also includes scholarly references to support the analysis, discussing how the book can be a valuable tool for teaching children about empathy and understanding different abilities. The report concludes by emphasizing the book's potential to foster discussions about disability and promote inclusivity among young readers.

Running Head: LITERATURE ANALYSIS “A BOY AND A JAGUAR”
LITERATURE ANALYSIS “A BOY AND A JAGUAR”

LITERATURE ANALYSIS “A BOY AND A JAGUAR”
Introduction
The Boy and a Jaguar by author Alan Rabinowitz is an ideal children picture book suited
for children aged 3 to 5 years of age (Rabinowitz, 2014). The book is based around the disability
of the boy, who is seen struggling with a speech impediment. The book is a work of fiction and
thrills young learners as there are a number of visuals of animals in the book. The current literary
analysis is conducted for the book to understand its relevance to children aged 3 to 5 years of age
and to understand ways in which disability is portrayed in the book. In the end, a discussion is
conducted by which the book can be used or applied in discussing disability to young children.
Literary Analysis
At the initiation of conducting a literary analysis, it becomes pertinent to discuss the
importance and relevance of this book to young children aged 3 to 5 years old. Children of such
a young age are very interested in animals and interaction with animals is an aspect that would
naturally attract young readers (Rieger & McGrail, 2015). The story is set against a backdrop in
the zoo, where the boy is seen to try and communicate with a jaguar. The author is highly aware
regarding interests that children have hence he set his story in the backdrop of the zoo. The boy’s
disability is portrayed through his inability to communicate and make friends, rather
communicating to an animal at the zoo. This feature of communication will highly attract young
learners as children of the age of 3 to 5 years old is seen easily making friendship with pet
animals such as dogs, cats and so on. Alan (the boy) is seen to return home to his world full of
animals and talk to them, his hamsters, turtle, gerbil, garter snake and chameleon. Children of
that age can also be often seen talking to them. The love for animals is one thing depicted in the
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LITERATURE ANALYSIS “A BOY AND A JAGUAR”
story, which is bound to attract children. Therefore, it can be said that the author in the story
offers children a perfect outburst to their imagination and establishes a connection with them.
The book describes Alan traveling to several parts of the world. The concept of traveling
is again fascinating for young learners, where they can visualize and undertake imaginations.
Alan is depicted by the author to travel at various places and studying different animal habits as
he is seen traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains, learning about black bears. This is another
aspect of the story which is seen highly suitable for young learns for their avid imaginations. The
story can be used for showing to young children different landscapes present. The book also
depicts the way in which the boy is able to overcome his stuttering and speak fluently in a
successful manner. Once he is able to speak fluently, he is able to convince the leader for the
world's first jaguar preserve, keeping his promise. Thus, the concept of heroism is seen depicted
in him at the end. This will thrill young learners as they can visualize a disabled child being able
to achieve something.
The book is based on a boy, who is seen struggling with a speech impediment. The boy
has been noted to desperately overcome his stutter and speak like other children of his age. The
boy is seen making a promise to a jaguar at the zoo as he does not seem to have anyone to
confide in. The book portrays disability as the boy is shown to desperately overcome his stutter
in several instances. He tries and makes several efforts to speak similar to other children of his
age. The boy is seen to be shut off from the rest of the world and heartbroken (Beckett, Ellison,
Barrett & Shah, 2010). Alan's (the boy) stuttering isolates him from everyone and no one seems
to be interested in talking to him except the animals. This aspect can be used to discuss disability
with children of age 3 to 5 years of age. The story can easily provide the idea of disability to
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LITERATURE ANALYSIS “A BOY AND A JAGUAR”
young learners and the ways they are excluded and isolated from rest people. The story very
clearly depicts no other distinction between Alan and other children, except for his problem of
stuttering.
The story provides a clear message to children of 3-5 years age that disabled children are
often lonely (Irwin & Moeller, 2010). The message can be used is the story is loud and clear and
it can be used for children, not only to discuss disability but also enable them not to make the
distinction amongst children with and without a disability.
The choice of book is appropriate for children at the age of 3-5 years of age. The book
will be used to depict to young learners the concept of disability and ways in which disabled
children are generally treated. With the learning of practical experience regarding Alan gained
from this book, readers can apply the concept of distinction and overcome the same in their
individual lives. They can broaden their concepts more such that they can emerge as more
inclusive and tolerant towards disabled children.
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be said that the book offers a perfect combination of thrill, excitement
at the same time heartbreak for young children of the age 3-5 years. The author successfully
provides the voice for animals loud and clear. The message is so empowering that Alan makes a
promise to the jaguar, captivated in the zoo and later goes on to fulfill his promise after growing
up. The story and information provided are fascinating for young readers and it can offer
tremendous lessons for them.
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LITERATURE ANALYSIS “A BOY AND A JAGUAR”
Reference
Beckett, A., Ellison, N., Barrett, S., & Shah, S. (2010). ‘Away with the fairies?’ Disability within
primary‐age children's literature. Disability & Society, 25(3), 373-386. doi:
10.1080/09687591003701355. Retrieved from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09687591003701355
Irwin, M., & Moeller, R. (2010). Seeing Different: Portrayals of Disability in Young Adult
Graphic Novels. School Library Media Research, 13. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?
id=EJ888377
Rabinowitz, A. (2014). A Boy and a Jaguar. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Retrieved from
https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=02F-
AgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT6&dq=A+Boy+and+His+Jaguar+by+Alan+Rabinowitz&ot
s=quYGwngJV5&sig=roaXP6RdD9hk8Z4I-vqFBbOQMuQ#v=onepage&q=A%20Boy
%20and%20His%20Jaguar%20by%20Alan%20Rabinowitz&f=false
Rieger, A., & McGrail, E. (2015). Exploring children's literature with authentic representations
of disability. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 51(1), 18-23. doi: 10.1080/00228958.2015.988560.
Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00228958.2015.988560
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