My family wanted to share a new children’s book The ABCs of Inclusion: A Disability Inclusion Book For Kids by Mia Armstrong (Narrator), Beth Leipholtz (Author), Vuon Illustration (Author), Little, Brown Young Readers (Publisher) with you we received in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase, I will make a small percentage from the products, you purchase.
I sat down to read the book this morning but became distracted with the cover and all the different children shown including one in a wheelchair. There were Chickens which reminded me of the Chicken I had as a child.
I love how the Author reminds us we all live in a big World and not every person is the same. In the book the Author Beth Leipholtz introduces us to 26 real children all facing real life disabilities including autism, Epilepsy and so much more.
In the story we are reminded all children deserve to be seen, heard, valued, understood and loved which at times all of us needs to be reminded of. Remember when you meet a new friend, they may be different from you but that is what makes them unique.
The book follows the alphabet, and A is for Arthur because of complications with his birth Arthur is blind. Then we meet B Bates who has anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder or (OCD). Which at times I believe Charlie might have.
C is for Cooper who is deaf and I know Charlie would have enjoyed getting to know Cooper and to work on Sign Language with him which Charlie has been wanting to learn. Up next is D for DJ. a pretty little girl with brown curls just like Suzzie had. Her bones are very fragile from a condition called Osteogenesis a #teachingmoment for my family.
E was next and we meet Emma and she is so cute she reminds me of a baby doll. She was born with Cerebral Palsy. I could go on and show you most children in the book but I think you need to pick up a copy of The ABCs of Inclusion to share with your friends and family so you can share these amazing children with them.
Charlie also enjoyed meeting Lily who has Moebius Syndrome another #teachingmoment for our family and someone he can’t wait to introduce to his cousin Lily. Charlie liked learning Lily likes to listen to music and to go horseback riding like his cousin Lily does.
I loved finding out that M stands for My’Kiah a name we hadn’t heard of. Had you? She has Albinism and she is also blind. Charlie also enjoyed seeing the illustrations for the letter T which stood for Tyrian who is playing soccer with his friends. Tyrian has Goldenhar Syndrome another learning moment for our family.
Charlie also wanted me to let you know Tyrian loves learning about Dinosaurs which Charlie and Suzzane did as well. X we meet Xochitl another name we hadn’t heard of but liked a lot. Y is for Yiannis. Isn’t that a cool name?
Before you ask yes, there is something with a Z name Zoe. Isn’t that a cute name? Zoe has Epilepsy like a friend of mine in Jr High had. Because my friend would have seizures, she was never allowed to drive a car. Charlie said he would like to be friends with Zoe because she loves to watch people and listen to funny noises and Charlie likes to make funny voices when he talks.
There is even more illnesses you will hear about the more you’re out in the world. Including ADHD which stands for attention deficit disorder which Charlie has. This book came to life in 2019 when the Author’s son Cooper was born deaf. That had to be a scary time for the parents.
As a mom I know how scared I was when the Doctor told me Charlie might have Down Syndrome which thank the LORD Charlie wasn’t born with Down Syndrome, but he was born with a hole in his heart which was able to fix itself.
I love how the Author reminds us this story is a book of love and that she hopes it will serve as a tool to help other families out and after reading the story and sharing the story with Charlie and David I’ve sure they will.
In the back of the book make sure you take the time to read the Afterword by Tonia Teasley Director of Pacer Center and Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center or stopbullying.gov Then go over what “kids can do” with your children and take the time to read “things adults can do” to share with your friends and family.
