Tell Me the Number before Infinity: The Story of a Girl with a Quirky Mind, an Eccentric Family, and Oh Yes, a Disability - Tapa blanda

"I learned so much about human nature reading this book that I forgot to worry about the disability of one co-author and the enormous frustrations of the other. It's not that this exceptional mother-and-daughter team glosses anything over; they face all of it like warriors, with ingenuity and courage, and we learn a great deal from that, too. Rather it's their focus on the power within that struck me to the core. It's hearing myself laughing out loud at their beautiful sense of humor. It's understanding through them that the strength it takes to face life head on can inspire readers like me, who feel genuinely renewed at book's end." -Patricia Holt, former book review editor, San Francisco Chronicle "This book should be required reading for teachers and everyone in equity and critical disability studies." -Gloria Filax, Professor of Disability Studies, Athabasca University "... it's a big thing to feel one's life has been changed by something-and reading this book has done that for me." -Kathryn Chetkovich, author of "Friendly Fire" "This is a story of a family always focused on the child's full humanity and capacity and of the child trailblazing her own, unique path in the world.... It will change how you think about cerebral palsy and families." -Julie Olsen Edwards, Early Childhood & Family Life Education specialist, co-author "Anti-bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves," Cabrillo College faculty. "It tugged at my heart, made me laugh, infuriated me and gave me deeper and richer understanding of what it's like to be in the world with a physical disability. I applaud these two strong women for their clarity, honesty and humor." -Helene Simkin Jara, author of "Because I Had To" and upcoming "True Doll Stories" "'Tell Me the Number before Infinity' allowed me to walk into Becky and Dena's life, sit down at their kitchen table, and listen to their story firsthand... and what a story it is! I picked the book up and did not put it down. This narrative is a gift for all allies of people with cerebral palsy. Teachers, parents, and counselors can use this book as a guide on the journey to make our spaces more welcoming, more supportive, more embracing of all of our 'trailblazers.'" -Kathryn Harmon, Library Media Specialist Quirky indeed! WILD indeed! A must-read....This family truly taught me what it meant to be an advocate for one's child... Undoubtedly my best math student ever, Becky arrived in my third-grade classroom and crashed into my heart forever. It was painful for me to read about Becky's rough patches, especially during adolescence and at university.... Thankfully, Becky has achieved meaningful work for social justice, and the independence she always dreamed of." -Marcia Areias, Becky's third-grade teacher This thoughtful book makes me think about life, bodies, and minds. Becky says that if she was different than she was, she wouldn't think the way she does, and this is beautiful, important for everyone to think about. The back and forth layout between mother and daughter makes me eager to read the next piece. The great beauty of the book is that we experience the honest, blended lives and feelings of these two women, navigating all that happens together from birth through adulthood, from different viewpoints that are very deeply intermingled. This is an important book. It carries strength, humor, and pain, and it will make a profound difference in people's lives." -Stan Rushworth, author of "Going to Water: The Journal of Beginning Rain" "I feel as though I were invited into Becky's family. Dena shares intimate feelings as she experiences the challenges of raising an independent-minded daughter with cerebral palsy. As a teacher, being a part of Becky's mathematical thinking is a rare treat. It's fun experiencing Becky analyze the world around her." -Lynne Alper, mathematics educator

TELL ME THE NUMBER BEFORE INFINITY, THE STORY OF A GIRL WITH A QUIRKY MIND, AN ECCENTRIC FAMILY, AND OH YES, A DISABILITY describes life and the realities of having a disability in 60 short chapters, arranged chronologically. Although several books on disabilities already exist, the use of two narrations is unique. The subject is Becky Taylor, from her birth in 1972 to about age forty. The mother, Dena Taylor, begins the book by telling us about her daughter's earliest years, discovering Becky's cerebral palsy, and her exceptional gift for calculus and depth of thought at the age of four. Then Becky and Dena, from their own distinct perspectives and styles, in counterpoint, write of Becky's early childhood, school years with the family, and on to college and adulthood. Stan Rushworth wrote about the book: "..we experience the honest, blended lives and feelings of these two women, navigating all that happens together from birth through adulthood, from different viewpoints that are very deeply intermingled.... carries strength, humor, and pain, and it will make a profound difference in people's lives.”

 

TELL ME THE NUMBER BEFORE INFINITY is a hero's journey with Becky Taylor at the forefront of the 1975 federal education act mainstreaming disabled children into the public schools. Parents, teachers, people with disabilities, people who know and work with people with disabilities, those curious about how a child's mind works, and even brain researchers will find TELL ME THE NUMBER BEFORE INFINITY a fascinating and informative read. The title is Becky's answer to her father’s question to her as to whether infinity is an odd or an even number. She was four years old at the time, the same age as she was in the cover photo.

 

Becky Taylor has a degree in accounting, and is a Computer Science graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She lives in Santa Cruz where she vice-chairs the Commission on Disabilities, and is involved in other civic organizations. Dena Taylor, M.S.W., Rutgers University, is the mother of two grown daughters, and is retired from careers in social work and education. She is the author, editor and co-editor of six books on women's issues.

 

Included are 20 photos and newspaper clippings from throughout Becky’s life, and resources with links at the end of the book.