From his wheelchair on a rooftop, he flies it vigorously, battling the neighborhood bully. After the celebration, his compassion spurs him to help a girl with a kite escape from the same bully. Bee is an orphaned girl who runs away from the exploitive traveling circus. She’s sensitive about the birthmark on her face, and feels like an outsider everywhere she goes.
Sign up for our Book Deals newsletter and get up to 80% off books you actually want to read. Matthew wants to write about his older brother Ben who has Down syndrome for a school project on individuals who the students admire. A photographic diary documenting a day in the life of a four year old girl. Zane the zebra feels different from the rest of his classmates. He worries that all they notice about him is his “”autism stripe.”” With the help of his Mama, Zane comes to appreciate all his stripes — the unique strengths that make him who he is!
I think this is a good book to read aloud to children’s books with Down syndrome characters to help them understand why a child with Down Syndrome may feel different and how children can sympathize with them. Melanie, that is quite a family history your husband has–they must have lots of stories to share! How great that his grandparents were such advocates for his uncle and aunts with Down syndrome. It’s important for children to feel represented in the books they read. It’s also important for books to expose children to the beautiful diversity of our world. Brought to life through lyrical prose and vivid illustrations, this is a story of what it’s like to feel like an outsider—whether it’s because of how we look, what we eat, where we’re from, or something else.
His little brother, Charlie, has Down syndrome and the inciting incident in this book comes to pass when the aforementioned actual bully calls Charlie the r-word. To my great delight, Charlie isn’t in this book as a human plot point or anything. He’s caring and sweet but he can also be incredibly difficult or fearful. He’s well-rounded in the best sense of the word, and you grow very attached to him . We need more books like this for kids like Penny, so that they can find their own experiences mirrored back to them and know that they are not alone. This time around, when I searched for children’s and young adult literature, I discovered protagonists with Down syndrome in everything from picture books to young adult novels.
Based on the pivotal summer Ali performed in her first musical by the Jersey Shore, the story is about a spirited girl in a wheelchair who stages a show for her hometown. A Good Manners Chart and a Good Manners Certificate are found at the end of the book. These are good incentives and a visual way to reinforce particular manners that you and your child are focusing on. Malik is looking forward to flying his kite during the festival of spring.
