Unlike a traditional storybook, We Love Our Glasses by optometrist Stephanie Lipsey-Liu is a beautifully illustrated educational guide. It serves as a much-needed kids book explaining eye conditions, created specifically to bridge the knowledge gap for children and parents alike. It directly answers the question “Why do I need glasses?” by exploring a wide range of reasons with accuracy and warmth.
What is “We Love Our Glasses” About?
This book is not a single narrative but rather a collection of profiles. Each double-page spread is dedicated to a specific child and the reason they wear glasses. The left-hand page features a vibrant illustration of the child thriving, while the right-hand page provides clear, factual information about their specific condition, why their glasses help, and other relevant details. This format allows the book to be used as a comprehensive resource that can be read in sections.
Eye Care Themes in This Book
The book’s greatest strength is its breadth. It provides clear explanations for an impressive range of topics, including:
Myopia (short-sightedness) and Myopia Management
Hyperopia (long-sightedness)
Astigmatism
Anisometropia (a difference in prescription between the two eyes)
Strabismus (a squint)
Accommodative (focus changing) problems and bifocals
The use of tints for Visual Stress (Meares-Irlen Syndrome)
Low Vision aids
The importance of UV protection
Colour Tinted Lenses
Jason’s View on “We Love Our Glasses”
From an optometrist’s standpoint, this book is an outstanding asset. It’s written by a UK ophthalmic optician (optometrist), and the clinical accuracy shines through. Its value as an educational tool for the waiting room or a school library cannot be overstated. The inclusion of a wide array of conditions, a glossary, and a detailed FAQ section for parents is incredibly useful. The decision to use the OpenDyslexic font is also a thoughtful and inclusive touch for those with reading difficulties.
We Love Our Glasses structure is its most debated feature. The author herself has explained her intent: the illustrations are for younger children to see themselves represented, while the more technical text on the opposite page is for parents and older children to learn from. This clarifies the book’s purpose perfectly – it’s designed to be a shared resource. My only minor critique is that the information-heavy pages can feel a little cluttered, and a pronunciation guide for terms like “anisometropia” would be a helpful addition for parents.
As a parent, the most impressive aspect of this book is its inclusivity. The pages are filled with a diverse range of children of different ethnicities and abilities, all happily wearing cool and stylish glasses. This sends a powerful message of normalisation. The “fact book” format means it’s not a traditional bedtime story, and a young child expecting a narrative might lose interest if left to read it alone. It is definitely a book to “dip into” and read together.
The age range is broad (listed as 3-12), and I agree that it works best as a shared family resource. A pre-schooler can enjoy pointing at the pictures and seeing other children in glasses, while a junior school child can read it with a parent to better understand their own prescription or that of a friend. It’s an educational tool, and a brilliant one at that.
What Other Parents Think
The book receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with an average rating of 4.6 stars. Parents, teachers, and even other optical professionals call it an “amazing,” “informative,” and “must-have” resource. Many adult readers comment that they learned things they never knew about their own eyesight. The beautiful illustrations and the book’s success in helping children feel comfortable and confident in their glasses are consistently praised. The most common observation is that it’s a book to be read with a child, with the information proving invaluable for parents.
Final Verdict
We Love Our Glasses is not a bedtime story; it is an essential family reference book. Its purpose is to educate and empower, and it succeeds masterfully. It’s the perfect resource for a child asking “why?” about their glasses, or for a parent wanting to understand their child’s vision more deeply. It is an ideal addition to any school library or optical practice waiting room. For families on their eye care journey, this book is a truly valuable tool.
Ready to read it yourself? You can purchase “We Love Our Glasses” on Amazon by clicking the link below.
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