AbstractsRecreation

The premise upon which "The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie" was written rests on the belief that children fear the unknown. Presently, books about the handicapped, fictional in nature, are sparse. It was believed that a children's book in which the handicapped person plays the protagonist of the story, would be helpful to negate the stereotypical role played by handicapped people today. Handicapped people are seen as helpless, and hopeless. In "The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie" quite the opposite happens, causing the hero of the story to be much admired by the reader. By making this master' s project., in a children's book form, it was felt that children, normal and handicapped alike, could be touched by this unusual story. Hopefully, it will influence both the self-concept of beauty and the stereotype of the handicapped person. The story itself emphasizes beauty as a secondary characteristic, and actually satarizes society's view of aesthetics. "The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie" is the story of two "normal" children, searching for the "perfect" chocolate chip cookie. In their travels, three characters take on primary significance in the outcome of the story. The three characters are blind, deaf, and paraplegic. The five children find the "perfect" chocolate chip cookie, only to discover that the standard of beauty in society stops their cookie from truly winning the prize for which they have aspired. However, as it happens, someone recognizes the cookie for taste, rather than looks, and the cookie becomes "The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie" in The Cookie Hall of Fame. It was hoped that this book will become a significant model for children, both normal and handicapped, and for adults. Handicapped people are special in their own way, and deserve the equal rights such as society claims is granted to all people.