Tell Me the Number before Infinity

TELL ME THE NUMBER BEFORE INFINITY, THE STORY OF A GIRL WITH A QUIRKY MIND, AN ECCENTRIC FAMILY, AND OH YES, A DISABILITY in 60 short chapters arranged chronologically from two distinct perspectives, is about Becky Taylor, from her birth in 1972 to age forty. The authors, Becky Taylor, mathematical whiz, who has cerebral palsy and a B.S. in Computer Science, and her mother, Dena Taylor, M.S.W., who raised her, describe life in their family and the realities of having a disability. Most of the chapters were written at the time they happened, so the reader truly gets a sense of what it was like for Becky, her sister and her mom while she was growing up. Included are photos and newspaper clippings from throughout Becky's life. Although several books on disabilities already exist, the use of two narrations is unique. 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. The Taylors' pivotal action hugely contributed to California's historical mainstreaming of disabled children into the public school system. 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 an honest, moving, informative, often funny and inspiring account of a girl's and her mother's journey.