Valentine's Day: Feeling the Love

Happy February, everyone!

I’m certainly feeling the love this month. Lucky me, I got to travel to Nashville with my mom and sisters for my 40th birthday.

The music, the murals, the food... Everything was super duper sweet.

We’ve also been busy preparing three sets of valentines for each of our girls’ classes. This year’s line-up was a little bit Frozen, a little bit OMG, and a little bit Star Wars.

It took us DAYS to get them all done, but we’re finally finished! My oldest, Miss E, who has Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, is not yet able to write with a pen or pencil. So she signs hers in a different way.

We line up the valentines…

Dip into the ink pad…

Then press down…

Voila!

The personalized stamper was a gift from my exceedingly thoughtful sister in law. (Thank you, Leslie!) Miss E uses it to sign thank you notes and birthday cards. It gets a lot of use, more than I ever could have imagined… but Leslie did!

February also is Rare Disease Month. Life with a rare disease has its ups and downs, as many of you know first hand. Awareness lies in the details. We’re an active part of the Wolf-Hirschhorn community through the website www.wolfhirschhorn.org, where parents and caregivers share the latest about what their child is up to. It’s been an enormous blessing to our family, to read and see what other kids with WHS are doing and when - to get an idea of where our rare experience might be headed, and also to support others on this similar path.

Miss E recently turned 8 years old, so I wrote a round-up about what life looks like for her at this moment in time. Taking a bird’s eye view really helped me see Miss E’s gains, as well as larger patterns and breakthroughs. Here’s a link to the post, which covers everything from food and medications, to mobility and behaviors. (With joys too, of course!)

This Rare Disease Month, you may also enjoy meeting the Johnson family, I know I certainly did. They have three adult children with WHS. This video posted on the WHS website is full of *wow* moments. I am so encouraged by this family!! Their ambitions, outlook and hope are absolutely incredible…

Wishing you all a very happy Valentine’s Day! Love powers life, right? We certainly have received our portion, and more, and hope you feel as loved as you are today!

Book Joy Delivered! Holiday Book Drive 2019

The 2019 Holiday Book Drive was the biggest one yet!

On Dec. 12, 650 books were delivered to students served by Leading with Literacy on Chicago’s South Side. Sooooo many books! I shared them with Pastor Michael Neal, founder of Leading with Literacy, in two batches. The first delivery…

And the second!

(Here’s a roundup of all the books donated in 2019!)

As the holidays neared, I prayed that authors, publishers, family and friends would be interested in the book drive again in 2019 - that the books would arrive in time and that the titles delivered would be enjoyed and shared broadly, to foster an enduring love of reading.

Wow, prayers were answered. The 2019 drive was a heart-racing joy, from start to finish. Generosity and momentum just grew and grew, culminating in an action-packed Delivery Day. We received so many donations that we were able to deliver books to classrooms at EVERY grade level in one Chicago Public School - a Holiday Book Drive first!

And that was just the start. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day…

To all those who pushed pause on their incredibly busy lives to place an order of books, or collaborate with their publishers on a special delivery - from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. The books that you shared are now being enjoyed by hundreds of young readers!

And a most-enormous thanks the Delivery Day dream team - my dear friend Chazmin Baechler and Pastor Michael Neal. Chaz and I so enjoyed our time with Pastor Neal, visiting the schools where he has such incredible partnerships and touring the Timothy Community Corporation, where many exciting things are underway for residents of Bronzeville.

(We love your new Free Little Library, Pastor Neal!)

So with Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I send my heart-filled gratitude to all for your help in making the Holiday Book Drive happen… again! I sure hope you’ll join us in 2020 for a fourth year of book giving joy!

Kidlit Spotlight: Fred's Big Feelings

We didn’t have cable when I was growing up, so PBS programming was a constant childhood companion. Sesame Street, Mathnet, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, and, of course…

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Rogers’ humble home, methodical routines, fascinating friends and thoughtful words were a quiet, yet enormously positive force. The show was so different from every other on television. I never questioned or considered what made it unique, back in the 1980s. Instead, Rogers earned a special role in my active imagination, reminding me that…

Living is great.

Every day has positive potential.

I would have lots of feelings.

And we would talk about them.

As an adult, the profundity of this mantra is so apparent. And yet Rogers managed to deliver it seemingly effortlessly, in simple songs and friendly interactions. For this, Rogers’ life has inspired many pieces of art of late. The documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” A new movie starring Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” And several picture books, including one that really grabbed my attention: Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Fred Rogers by Laura Renauld and Brigette Barrager (Atheneum).

Ah, this cover! So much to love! The cardigan. The warm, rosy smile. The emphasis on feelings. Not to mention perfect art elements… The retro font. The movement of the hearts. That LEMON yellow backdrop. (I love yellow, as you know.)

This summer, I picked up a DVD of Mister Rogers episodes from the library. My girls were familiar with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (and its incredibly infectious songs), but Mister Rogers was new to them. I wondered if it would resonate. It didn’t. I was super disappointed.

But then PBS started airing old episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood on its app. Game changer. There he was, right in the queue with their other shows. Slow. Intentional. Deep. Direct. Personal. Revealing the world moment-by-moment. Feeling-by-feeling.

This is precisely how Mister Rogers is captured in the new picture book Fred’s Big Feelings (which publishes Jan. 14). As we read the story together, my girls and I were fascinated to learn how a shy boy grew up to create his very own TV show. So, how exactly did he achieve this? You’ll need to read the book to find out! But here’s a peek inside…

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A Boy and His Feelings

Fred’s Big Feelings begins much like an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The narrator speaks to the reader as a friend, giving a warm welcome and setting the stage for the story to come. After a proper hello, readers go back in time and into the boyhood life of Fred Rogers, a period full of surprising revelations and undeniably formative moments.

As readers, the Schulte family knew nothing of Fred’s youth and were saddened to learn that he spent much of it as a social outsider. Music provided a safe space for Fred, an environment where he could explore his emotions. In this gorgeous spread, author Laura Renauld and illustrator Brigette Barrager introduce the concept that, even at a very young age, feelings were everything to Fred. Powerful, sweeping sensations of the heart felt intimately by him, and also shared by all people, everywhere.

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The Power of Television

Fred recognized in young adulthood the impact that one person can have on the life of another. This realization became a call to action in the 1950s. Fred didn’t at all care for the television for children that typified this time period - the endless gags and pranks. But he saw TV’s tremendous potential for good.

The beautiful vignettes (below) show how, on his program, Rogers took every opportunity to explore feelings and introduce children to something or someone new: Look! Mister Rogers feels playful. He is taking a juggling lesson. (and) Mister Rogers feels sad. One of his goldfish has died. Just as in the iconic episodes featured in this spread, the words and art in Fred’s Big Feelings invite young readers to slow down, feel and learn.

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Exploring in Make Believe

Rogers showed the real world with patience and clarity, but that was only half of the brilliance of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The true magic began when you heard the urgent call of the trolly coming around the bend and were transported into a realm of imagination and play.

Children of ALL ages explore ideas and feelings from the safe distance afforded by make believe. “The World of Make Believe” was one such place. Barrager’s bright, whimsical illustration (below) recalls the wonder of this world, as Renauld’s prose reminds that even in this very separate place, Rogers never stopped showcasing feelings.

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Fred’s Big Feelings left a very particular imprint on my readerly heart. I learned many things I didn’t know about Rogers, while also getting to revisit a joyful part of my own childhood. And my daughters, who LOVE picture book biographies, added a new favorite to their list. This is a truly beautiful story about how one person, driven to make the world a better place, did exactly that.

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Laura Renauld is the author of PORCUPINE’S PIE (Beaming Books), and the upcoming 2021 title BEAR’S BICYCLE (Beaming Books). Brigette Barrager is the illustrator of many books for children, including VLAD THE RAD (Random House), POCKET FULL OF COLORS (Atheneum). UNI THE UNICORN and UNI THE UNICORN AND THE DREAM COME TRUE (Random House), FLORABELLE (HarperCollins), and others, including the upcoming HOW TO BE A PIRATE (Bloomsbury).

One lucky reader will win FRED’S BIG FEELINGS, signed by Laura Renauld! Here's how to enter:

*** Win FRED’S BIG FEELINGS ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 1/17/20 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

Brand New Look in 20/20

Miss E recently had her annual ophthalmology appointment. Things were pretty routine until the last few minutes, when we learned that our just-turned-8-year-old girl is officially near sighted. Her ophthalmologist told us back in 2018 that we might eventually be having the glasses conversation. And here we were.

Dr. R demonstrated what Miss E’s vision is like up close, and then at a distance. Wow. No wonder she’s been frustrated when watching TV and sitting in church. Total blur. I’ve never worn glasses, so when I experienced what she’s NOT been seeing, it was clear.

Glasses. STAT.

But could we keep them on? Sunglasses have always caused us trouble. Dr. R said that kids of all motor abilities can tolerate glasses well because clear vision is just that great an incentive. So with Miss E’s fresh-off-the-printer prescription in hand, we went shopping.

Many children with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome have a small head and face, so infant frames were a must. That made our first stop fruitless. Only standard-sized kid frames there. Luckily, the second stop had a few to choose from… and the nicest tech on the planet. Big bonus.

It was really exciting! I mean, Miss E was getting a brand new look. What style would she like? Would she want colored frames? Or, wait. Maybe we should manage our expectations. There might only be one pair that stays put... One by one, we gave them a go. It was all a bit like Goldie Locks and the Framed Squares.

The first pair: Too… colonial?

The second pair: Too big.

The third pair: Waaaay too small.

Goodness. Were we getting any closer to a good fit? Her sisters were pretty busy playing hide-and-go-seek and trying on different looks, so not a lot of help there….

A pink and a purple pair sat untouched in the tech’s box of options. I crossed my fingers and toes. Miss E’s favorite color use to be purple, and as of late, it’s pink. (You may recall she chose Pinkalicious as her Halloween costume this past year.)

The tech reached for the rosy hued pair. We put them on and Miss E gave them a discerning look…

The fit was great!

What do you think? I asked Miss E.

With her PODD book, she told me to turn the page, then pointed right to…

BEAUTIFUL.

Score! Not only did we have frames… we had frames that she loved. They won’t be in for another week or so, but until then, this smile is a reminder that my birthday girl’s feelings about her new look for 2020 are completely clear.

2019 Picture Book Picks

What was your favorite picture book of 2019? Choosing one title is a nearly impossible task. Yet, this month I posed the mind-bending question to 20 picture book authors, illustrators and champions. (Just as I did in 2018, creating the list you’ll find here.) Oh my, these new picks do NOT disappoint. You are in for such a treat! So grab some paper, or open a new tab for online shopping, because you’re gonna want to fill your library tote and cart with the beautiful, touching, inspiring and wildly creative stories found below. Enjoy!

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2019 Picture Book Picks

Justin Colon (@JustinRColon), author and creator of the #PBChat mentorship program and weekly Twitter chat, recommends DUCKWORTH, THE DIFFICULT CHILD by Michael Sussman, illustrated by Júlia Sardà (Atheneum Books for Young Readers): “I love this dark and humorous tale, born of a brilliant collaboration. Júlia Sardà’s delicious illustrations and overall aesthetic compliment Michael Sussman’s text to perfection.”

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Margarita Engle (@margaritapoet), author of many books for children (including 2019 titles DREAMS FROM MANY RIVERS and DANCING HANDS), recommends BETWEEN US AND ABUELA by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Sara Palacios (Farrar, Straus and Giroux): “I'm an own voice advocate, but this is a beautiful example of an author whose multilingual international experience and sensitivity helped her cross cultural lines.”

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Eric Fan (@opifan64), creator of many books for children (and co-illustrator of the 2019 title THE SCARECROW), recommends POKKO AND THE DRUM by Matt Forsythe (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books): “Pokko checked a lot of boxes for me. It was beautifully illustrated, funny, sweet, with some unexpected twists.”

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Vicky Fang (@fangmous), author of three children’s titles coming out in 2020, recommends EVELYN THE ADVENTUROUS ENTOMOLOGIST by Christine Evans, illustrated by Yasmin Imamura (Innovation Press): “This book is so fascinating, beautiful, and inspiring! It tells the true story of entomologist Evelyn Cheesman with an empowering theme for girls to pursue their dreams. Wonderfully written and illustrated, it's my favorite picture book of the year.”

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Amy Guglielmo (@amyguglielmo), author of books for children, including the 2019 release GOODNIGHT, STARRY NIGHT, recommends PARKER LOOKS UP by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry, illustrated by Brittany Jackson (Aladdin): “This story is based on a real photo that went viral of a little girl taking in Michelle Obama's portrait at the National Portrait Gallery museum. This book has all my favorite things inside: a true story, a strong woman, and a visit to an art museum! I love how museums and art can inspire us to dream big! And I LOVE that this little girl saw herself in the painting!”

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Bruce Handy (@henryfingjames), author of WILD THINGS: THE JOY OF READING CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AS AN ADULT, and Vanity Fair contributing editor, recommends A STONE SAT STILL by Brendan Wenzel (Chronicle Books): “I was privileged to be one of the judges for The 2019 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's books so won't include any of those wonderful titles here. A personal favorite not on the list: Brendan Wenzel's gorgeous A Stone Stood Still, a worthy followup to his 2017 Caldecott Honor winning They All Saw a Cat. The new book is both a clever meditation on perspective and a subtle and moving ecological parable. More here.

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Julie Hedlund (@JulieFHedlund), children’s book author and founder of year-long writing challenge #12x12PB, chose BIKES FOR SALE by Carter Higgins, illustrated by Zachariah OHora (Chronicle Books): “A sweet tale with a timeless feel, culminating in a satisfying ‘unexpected, but perfect’ ending.”

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Ioana Hobai (@ioanahobai), author, illustrator and creator of 2019 release LENA’S SLIPPERS, recommends A LIFE MADE BY HAND: THE STORY OF RUTH ASAWA by Andrea D’Aquino (Princeton Architectural Press): “I love the striking and refined artwork in this biography of the Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa by Andrea D’Aquino. The engaging text and images will inspire young readers to pay closer attention to the world around them and find beauty in ordinary things.”

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LaRonda Gardner Middlemiss (@IamLGMiss), author of 2020 picture book release I LOVE ME!, recommends I WILL BE FIERCE by Bea Birdsong, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani (Roaring Brook Press): “She's confident. She's brave. She's kind. The text and vibrant illustrations deliver an empowering story and message that can be embraced by all.”

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Daniel Miyares (@danielmiyares), author and illustrator of many children’s books, including the 2019 title COME NEXT SEASON with Kim Norman, recommends KING MOUSE by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Dena Seiferling (Tundra Books): “King Mouse is simply and elegantly told. We are in a “What about me?” culture, and this is a “What about others?” story that echoes in my heart. The illustrations whisper to you and in doing so allow you to hear what needs to be heard. I’m a big fan.”

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Katrina Moore (@kmoorebooks), author of 2019 picture book debut ONE HUG, recommends A GREEN PLACE TO BE by author and illustrator Ashley Benham Yazdani (Candlewick): “This book pops with compelling narrative. Richly researched, fascinating tidbits shine a beautiful light on the curation of Central park and its creators. Lush, vibrant illustrations are full of hidden gems. This breathtaking book is truly a masterpiece!”

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Miranda Paul (@Miranda_Paul) recommends AT THE MOUNTAIN’S BASE by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre (Kokila): “Set against artistic yet contemporary illustrations, Sorell is able to convey the rollercoaster of emotions that a family goes through when one of their own is far away, and in harm's way. It is one of those books that is both incredibly specific and universally relevant to readers. So much for a family or classroom to discuss after reading it, especially in consideration of the author's note at the end.”

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Lori Richmond (@loririchmond), author and illustrator of numerous books for children, recommends FROM A SMALL SEED: THE STORY OF ELIZA HAMILTON by Camille Andros, illustrated by Tessa Blackham (Henry Holt and Co.): “Camille's writing is always lyrical and beautiful, and Tessa's artwork feels so warm and homey. This dynamic duo of amazing women wonderfully and thoughtfully tell the story of another amazing woman!”

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Liz Garton Scanlon (@LGartonScanlon), author of many books for children, including 2019 titles FIVE MINUTES and ONE DARK BIRD, recommends TRUMAN by Jean Reidy, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins (Atheneum Books for Young Readers): “Truman is universal and relatable, but also intimate and specific (the city bus! the green beans!). It's a first-day-of-school story, a loyalty-and-friendship story, a bravery story, but it's also just a beautifully told and deeply felt Truman-and-Sarah story.”

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Aimee Sicuro (@aimeesicuro), illustrator of 2019 picture book DANCING THROUGH FIELDS OF COLOR: THE STORY OF HELEN FRANKENTHALER, recommends KINDNESS GROWS by Britta Teckentrup (Caterpillar Books): “I pick Kindness Grows for its ingenious approach in illustrating how kindness can bring us together and how the lack of it can break us apart.”

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Meera Sriram (@Meeratsriram), author of 2019 picture book title THE YELLOW SUITCASE, recommends GOING DOWN HOME WITH DADDY by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter (Peachtree Publishing Company): “I loved the heartfelt lyrical writing with rich imagery. While the story celebrates the joys of family and home, it also salutes the land and the family's roots - the struggles and triumphs of ancestors - and it was beautiful and powerful.”

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Melissa Stewart (@mstewartscience), author of 185 science books for children, including 2019 titles A PLACE FOR TURTLES (second edition) and SEASHELLS: MORE THAN A HOME, recommends BIRDS OF A FEATHER: BOWERBIRDS AND ME by Susan L. Roth (Neal Porter Books): “One of 2019’s standouts is Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me—a fascinating expository meditation in which author-illustrator Susan L. Roth compares her creative process to the way a male bowerbird constructs a beautiful, extravagant structure to attract a mate. It broadens our idea of what nonfiction can be.”

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Jess Townes (@JessicaTownes), children’s writer and director of outreach and communications for @_allthewonders, recommends BABYMOON by Hayley Barrett, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (Candlewick): “As a former doula and lactation counselor, I've had the privilege of bearing witness to the tenderness of the first moments and days when a family grows, and both the text and the illustrations in this book perfectly capture the everyday magic of a new baby.”

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Matthew C. Winner (@MatthewWinner), host of the Children’s Book Podcast (@ChildrensBkPod) and co-host of #KidlitTheseDays on @BookRiot, recommends VAMOS! TO THE MARKET by Raúl the Third (Versify): “There is so much for the eye to take in on every page of Raul the Third's debut picture book, but what's most memorable is how fully-realized the setting and its cast present. Readers walk away with a sense of having walked into a market with the leads, taking in the sites, witnessing the drama, and delighting in all that's going on!”

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Mike Wu (@tinyteru), Pixar animator and creator of ELLIE and other books for children, recommends PAPER SON: THE INSPIRING STORY OF TYRUS WONG, IMMIGRANT AND ARTIST by Julie Leung, illustrated by Chris Sasaki (Schwartz & Wade): “Paper Son the inspiring story of Tyrus Wong, immigrant and artist. It’s a bit of an illustrated biography (no cute irreverent characters), but I felt it was an important story to tell written by Julie Leung and beautifully illustrated by Chris Sasaki.”

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Thank you SO very much to the amazing kidlit folks who shared a favorite title. It was not an easy task, but wow - the results were truly phenomenal. Compiling this list, connecting with each of you, and collecting the gorgeous art was a joy. Now I look forward to digging into these delights in what remains of 2019 and in the New Year, as well.

Wishing everyone a VERY happy holidays!

Anitra

(PS: Be sure to check out the books of the creatives who curated this list!)

Author Spotlight: Tara Lazar

When I first put my ear to the ground of children’s publishing, one of the first voices I heard was that of Tara Lazar. Tara is the author of eight supremely entertaining books for kids and also is a font of online fun and information for authors and illustrators.

Tara delivers a near-daily dose of hilarious animal content on Twitter. (Squirrel mischief? Sign me up!). She’s also the founder of Storystorm, an annual brainstorming event that challenges creatives to come up with one story idea each day for a month, building a bank of at least 30 story ideas that can be drawn from and built upon throughout the year.

A fun ‘lil tidbit - one of my 2018 Storystorm ideas became a manuscript that is going to be a book in Fall 2020 (DANCING WITH DADDY, Two Lions). I’m so grateful to Storystorm for coaxing that idea out of my brain and into a Word doc! The 11th annual Storystorm kicks off soon (Jan. 1, 2020). Be sure to click here in the New Year to join the event and tap into a wealth of knowledge shared by Tara and a host of other successful kidlit professionals.

But, back to the books!

My love of Tara’s stories started with the 7 ATE 9 (illustrated by Ross MacDonald, Disney*Hyperion). I knew I had to read it when I saw the cover art in Tara’s pinned tweet. The concept. The wordplay. Just too good…

I soon discovered what thousands of other readers already knew: That Tara is a master of tone and tempo, who can deliver jokes with both abandon and restraint, pulling off the most clever of literary endeavors.

Fans of 7 ATE 9 have been craving a sequel, and this fall it arrived. THE UPPER CASE: TROUBLE IN CAPITAL CITY (Disney*Hyperion, October 2019) is out in the world, regaling readers with humor and who-done-it hijinks. Here’s the neon-yet-noir cover…

When THE UPPER CASE begins, readers learn that there’s trouble in Capital City. Mark (Question Mark, that is) and Exclamation blow into the office of Private I to share some worrisome intel: All of the uppercase letters are missing! Private I can’t stay in the margins. He takes the case, but cautiously. He doesn’t want to be next…

Dry, wry Private I takes readers along on his investigation. He interviews all the “types” - Hyphen, Period, Ampersand, the Quotation Twins. His interrogations personify punctuation, introducing young readers to meanings of familiar marks and earning plenty of parental chuckles in the process.

Private I is out of ideas and feeling down when he sees a light shining way across town. He follows the gleaming beam into the winding streets of Cursive Loop. I won’t ruin the ending, but suffice it to say the climactic scene is, quite literally, laugh-out-loud hilarious.

It’s now my pleasure to introduce the author of THE UPPER CASE, Tara Lazar, who is stopping by the blog this week to answer three questions (and give away a signed copy of her new book!). I hope you enjoy this Author Spotlight with the 100 percent fabulous Tara Lazar!

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3 Questions with Tara Lazar

The follow up to 7 ATE 9 is here! Can you share a bit about how THE UPPER CASE came to you?

When I began talking to Ross MacDonald about a sequel, he mentioned that for a long time, Kevin Lewis (the acquiring editor) had wanted to do a punctuation book with him, but a story never materialized. So I took that suggestion and ran with it---nowhere fast! I had the opening line of Question Mark being "bent out of shape," but that was it. I couldn't figure out how to continue the story using a punctuation problem.

Then one day, months later, it finally hit me: punctuation does not occur in a vacuum! It needs words and letters to work! Once I realized I could mix the two together--letters and punctuation marks--the story took off.

Are you sharing this new story in student Skypes this fall? What are the key components to a successful session?

Yes, lots of Skypes! I love connecting with classrooms via video calls! The key components to a successful Skype session are:

- Pajamas

- A magic trick

- Reading with character voices

- A Q&A period

- Off-key singing

- A British accent

- A cup of tea

OK, I wanna attend one of those Skypes. Final question from the kiddo in the back row (me!): What are your goals, as you move forward in your picture booking life and career?

The main goal is to keep making books. There are loftier goals like winning major awards, becoming a NY Times bestselling author, and turning a book into a movie, but if I'm going to do this for the rest of my life, I have plenty of time to keep growing as a writer and to keep reaching higher. But bottom line, a sustained career is what I hope to achieve.

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Thank you, Tara!

Tara Lazar is the author of many books for children, including YOUR FIRST DAY OF CIRCUS SCHOOL (Tundra/Penguin Random House Canada), WAY PAST BEDTIME (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster), 7 ATE 9: THE UNTOLD STORY (Disney*Hyperion), THE MONSTORE (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster), I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster), LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD (Random House BFYR), and NORMAL NORMAN (Sterling Children’s Books).

One lucky reader will win THE UPPER CASE, signed by Tara Lazar! Here's how to enter:

*** Win THE UPPER CASE: TROUBLE IN CAPITAL CITY ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 11/15/19 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

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A parting treat: The book trailer for THE UPPER CASE!

Choosing a Halloween Costume with AAC

Picking what to be for Halloween can be really hard. There are so many options! And once you finally choose, and the costume has been bought or made, you’re pretty committed.

But how do you choose a costume when you have complex communication needs?

For the past few years, Miss E has picked hers out of a field of two. This is how she chooses what to wear for school each day, as well. I present two clothing options. If Miss E chooses one of them - by looking or touching - that is her selection. If she seems unimpressed, I bring out two more choices.

Last year, from options found in our dress-up bins, she selected Cinderella…

Using this approach for everyday outfits works, for the most part, because I know that Miss E is choosing something that she at least reasonably likes (and her wardrobe isn’t extensive). But when it comes to Halloween, there are hundreds of things Miss E might want to be. The more I got to thinking about that this fall, a few hand-me-down choices from the basement bin wasn’t really fair.

So we tried something new…

On Columbus Day, when the girls were off of school, Miss E chose her costume using AAC, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication, a term used to describe various methods of communication that can help people who are unable to use verbal speech to communicate. October is International AAC Awareness Month.

We spent the morning on Pinterest, looking for that JUST RIGHT costume. I spoke as I searched. “What about Frozen? The Descendants? Miraculous?” If Miss E perked up at the mention of a movie, show or character - by waving her arms or leaning in - I pulled up an image of the costume on my laptop, making the picture as big and vibrant as possible.

Whenever Miss E said she liked a costume idea, my middle daughter, Miss C, wrote it down on our small white board…

When we reached a total of SIX good possibilities, Miss E’s costume selection went NCAA tourney-style! We showed Miss E the first grouping of three. After pointing to and naming each idea, we asked her to choose a favorite from that group…

Then we showed her the next field of three…

You’ll notice one of Target’s new amazing adaptive Halloween costumes in the grouping above. Miss E really did like the chair-turned-carriage idea! But ultimately, it was down to Pinkalicious and Anna… What did she choose?

Drumroll please…

PINKALICIOUS!

Happy Halloween, everyone! (Even in the face of snow, here in Chicagoland!)

Kidlit Spotlight: Roll with It

We go to the library once or twice a week. On the kidlit shelves, we always see lots of animals and kids looking back at us. Very rarely, though, have we picked up a book with a girl on the cover who reminds us of my oldest daughter. I can count the instances on one hand… and still have two fingers to spare.

Then a new middle grade novel arrived on our stoop. On its cover? A spunky girl in a cute yellow hoodie, sitting in a chair that looks just like my daughter’s chair. Even the aqua blue of Miss E’s backpack matches the book’s bright blue background.

ROLL WITH IT by Jamie Sumner (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) has been sitting on our living room end table ever sense. Partly because I love this story. But also because I just love seeing it there - smiling at me, looking so adventurous and confident. Representation is such a powerful thing.

And I’m just a parent. Not just, but… what I mean is… this book wasn’t written for me. Yet it gives me such pride to see it on my table and know the story that lives inside. So, how must people who do use a wheelchair feel to see themselves on this cover and in this book?

ROLL WITH IT was released exactly one week ago, and it’s already on its third printing. Holy smokes, that’s quite a reception - and for good reason. Not only does this story meet a tremendous need, but it does so with incredible style, humor and heart. Here’s that cover I’ve been going on about…

ROLL WITH IT is the story of Ellie, a witty, bright, headstrong girl with cerebral palsy. She also is quite an accomplished baker - icing on the cake of this already awesome character. Ellie has a lot on her parchment paper, so to speak. Her father is more-or-less out of the picture. Her loving mom is often stressed and strained. Her grandfather’s health is deteriorating. And, early in the story, we learn that Ellie is about to start all over - in a new school, in a new town.

There are tiramisu-level layers to this story. Where to begin? Grab a fork, and we’ll dig into the elements that struck me most and connected so strongly to my family’s life.

Seeking Independence

Ellie is an independent girl, who wants real autonomy and freedom. But in so many moments throughout her day, she just can’t get it. She wants to transition between classes alone, but her mom thinks she needs supervision. She wants privacy in the bathroom, but her safety requires assistance. Ellie puts it this way…

When you’re like me, you get used to seeing your body as a separate thing. Leg one. Leg two. Muscles and hair and a heart that beats. It makes it all a little less embarrassing when people are always putting their hands on you.

The detail in Ellie’s most frustrating moments rang so true to me, particularly her restroom issues. My daughter and I spend hours in the bathroom each day, and even more time when we’re on the road, traveling or vacationing. When we’re making due in tiny gas station bathrooms, I can’t help but think about how easy the same act is for others. ROLL WITH IT captures this anger and resignation vividly.

Connecting through Cooking

Ellie loves baking and frequently writes letters to food writers at publications, such as Food & Wine and the New York Times, to get to the bottom of a preparation conundrum. The letters she pens reveal her baking acumen and attention to detail. But they also demonstrate her desire to solve family problems and bring people together through the magic of flour, butter and sugar. In one letter to an editor, she writes…

I wouldn’t bother you with this under normal circumstances, but I am hoping to be a professional baker one day, sir, and so I’d really like to get this right. Also, my family could really use a pick-me-up and I’m trying to find the perfect thing.

When an opportunity arises for Ellie to enter a pie baking contest in her new town, she is all in. Baking is, after all, a huge part of her identity. It gives her a chance to “make something from nothing.” As a mom of a child with complex needs, I want to make sure I’m giving Miss E opportunities to explore her passions. On a recent school questionnaire, my daughter told me she wants to be a musician when she grows up. ROLL WITH IT has encouraged me to investigate more avenues for my girl to explore her love of music.

Navigating Hurt

Though Ellie is distanced from her father, and keeps a low profile at school, she has a great inner circle. The most constant bond is the one she shares with her mom, which plays out in snappy, playful, sometimes cheeky banter. Ellie also has amazing grandparents. (It’s easy to see where Ellie gets her trademark sass and charm.) But those relationships can’t protect her from the hurtful words and perceptions of others at school. One day, a girl makes fun of Ellie’s fruit pouch at lunch. It’s simply heartbreaking…

I shove my entire lunch back into the bag. I wish I could crawl in too. How do I explain that those squeeze pouches were the only fruits and vegetables that I could eat for a long time? “Easy calories,” Mom says. I can’t help it that I still like them. I must look like such a baby.

If only Ellie could explain to this student… surely she would understand. But so often we just don’t get the chance to say our piece. My daughter often has her favorite toy, a musical light-up jungle, on her lap. When we're out and about, sometimes little kids ask why such a big girl has a “baby toy.” I wish I could say it doesn’t bother me, but labeling things as babyish is so demeaning. I hope ROLL WITH IT encourages readers to slow down and think about the impact of their words.

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I tend to wade longest in a story’s deep moments, to fully feel and empathize. So I probably disproportionately emphasized the heavier moments of this story. So I have to also loudly shout that THIS BOOK IS SUPER FUNNY!

Sumner can do it all. She balances emotional heft with light, clever humor. She sets scenes with sensory detail and immersive, creative metaphors. In quick-paced, conversational prose, she keeps the plot moving ever-forward, but with such control. And the voice… Ellie’s thoughts and words play, then rebound and then resound, full of ALL the things. Sarcasm and anger and worry and joy and love and HOPE.

Like the very best desserts, ROLL WITH IT isn’t overly sweet. It’s undisputedly a little bit salty. And it leaves you satisfied, delighted and asking for seconds. Lucky for us, Sumner has more literary goodies coming. Congratulations to Jamie on this incredible debut. (See below for your chance at a signed copy!)

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Jamie Sumner, author of ROLL WITH IT, is also the author of two more middle-grade novels, which will release with Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2020 and 2021. Sumner is the author of the non-fiction book on motherhood UNBOUND and the forthcoming book, KEEP ON, SUPERHERO, for parents of children with special needs. She is the mother of a son with cerebral palsy and writes and speaks about disability in literature.

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One lucky reader will win ROLL WITH IT, signed by Jamie Sumner! Here's how to enter:

*** Win ROLL WITH IT ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by EOD 10/11/19 

(Sign up to receive Jamie’s newsletter HERE and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

Holiday Book Drive 2019: Ready, Set, Go!

I’m thrilled to be teaming up again with Pastor Michael Neal of Leading with Literacy, a non-profit on Chicago’s South Side, for the 3rd Annual Holiday Book Drive. Here we are, making final arrangements for the 2019 event. Me in my dining room. Pastor Neal lakeside in lovely Washington Park.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of authors, publishers, family and friends, the Holiday Book Drive has connected hundreds and hundreds of young scholars with nearly one thousand new books. Click the links below to see the impact of our past two holiday seasons:

Delivery Day 2017 here

Delivery Day 2018 here

We are officially open for donations for Holiday 2019! Woohoo! Want to get involved? Here’s how you can be part of this year’s effort!

• Books, Please! We are excited to receive any book written for children. We do ask that the books are new, not used. Picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade and young adult titles - all welcome, and very appreciated!

• The Magic Number: Any single book donation is celebrated. But if you have the ability to join forces with a friend (or friends) and donate 30 copies of the same book, you’ll be able to give an entire classroom the SAME book, which is a truly amazing gift.

• Pssst! Authors… If you think your publisher might be able to provide a complete classroom donation of 30 books, please let me know!

• Book-Skype Combo: Also, authors! If you’d like to donate a copy/copies of your book to a class, and offer a free Skype alongside it, that would be terrific! I’d be happy to help make those arrangements.

• Shouting It Out! I celebrate all book donations as I receive them, on social media and on my website, too. Sharing these special deliveries is one of my favorite things to do!

• Special Collections: If you are planning a local giving initiative this holiday season, consider asking friends and family to donate a book for a Bronzeville scholar. If you’re interested in organizing something like this, let me know and we can chat logistics.

• Title Ideas: I’m happy to share book recommendations at any time, if you’re not sure which book or books to give. (Diverse books are always greatly appreciated by Leading with Literacy.)

• Or… If You’d Rather: Financial donations are most welcome, too. Whatever works best for you!

• Follow Along: Want to know what’s going on with the drive? Visit Twitter and search the hashtag #HolidayBookDriveChi for the latest!

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 1, 2019. On Delivery Day (Dec. 12), we’ll visit classrooms all over Bronzeville and in other nearby Chicago neighborhoods to share the gift of literacy!

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Here, you’ll find photos of the donated books and an up-to-date total!

I kicked things off with my donation of a signed copy of…

ONE PLASTIC BAG

(By Miranda Paul, Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, Millbrook Press)

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Thank you Bradley Family for your full classroom donation of…

BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE

(By Kate DiCamillo, Candlewick Press)

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Thank you Moran Family for your full classroom donation of…

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN

(By Katherine Applegate, HARPER)

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Thank you to the Baechler, Hulsen, Klaus and Twohig families for their full classroom donation of…

GHOST

(By Jason Reynolds, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books)

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Thank you to the Arturi, Dow and Happel families for their full classroom donation of…

HI! FLY GUY

(By Tedd Arnold, Scholastic)

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Thank you Doug Cenko for a complete classroom donation of your book…

MY MAMA IS A MECHANIC

(By Doug Cenko, Blue Manatee Press)

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Thank you Wendy Greenley for a complete classroom donation of your book…

LOLA SHAPES THE SKY

(By Wendy Greenley, Illustrated by Paolo Domeniconi, Creative Editions)

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Thank you Katey Howes for a complete classroom donation of your book…

BE A MAKER

(By Katey Howes, Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic, Carolrhoda Books)

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Thank you Moran Family for your full classroom donation of…

THIS IS ME

(By Jaime Lee Curtis, Illustrated by Laura Cornell, Workman Publishing)

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Thank you Jody Jensen Shaffer and Beach Lane Books for your full classroom donation of…

IT’S A FIELD TRIP, BUSY BUS!

(By Jody Jensen Shaffer, Illustrated by Claire Messer, Beach Lane Books)

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Thank you Pat Zietlow Miller for your full classroom donation of…

LORETTA’S GIFT

(By Pat Zietlow Miller, Illustrated by Alea Marley, Little Bee Books)

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Thank you to The Schulte Family for your full classroom donation of…

I AM ENOUGH

(By Grace Byers, Illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo, Balzer + Bray)

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Thank you Bea Birdsong and Roaring Brook Press for your full classroom donation of…

I WILL BE FIERCE!

(By Bea Birdsong, Illustrated by Nidhi Chanani, Roaring Brook Press)

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Thank you Schrero Family for your full classroom donation of…

JADA JONES: ROCKSTAR

(By Kelly Starling Lyons, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton, Penguin Workshop)

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Thank you Geneva friends for your donation of 51 books to the book drive…

including the titles below, and many, many more!

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Thank you Raven Howell for the donation of 37 of your books,

including a full classroom donation of…

GREETINGS! (By Raven Howell, Illustrated by Ann Pilicer, Michelkin Publishing), and

GLIMMER: SONG OF SUN! (By Raven Howell, Illustrated by Carina Povarchik, Spork)

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Thank you Ariel Bernstein for the donation of 28 of your books, including…

WARREN & DRAGON: VOLCANO DELUXE and SCARY SLEEPOVER

(By Ariel Bernstein, Illustrated by Mike Malbrough, Viking), as well as

WHERE IS MY BALLOON? (By Ariel Bernstein, Illustrated by Scott Magoon, A Paula Wiseman Book)

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Thank you Kelsey Skea and Two Lions for the donation of 18 of your books, including…

SANTA’S STORY (By Will Hillenbrand), THIS BOOK IS GRAY and DON’T FORGET DEXTER! (By Lindsay Ward),

IT’S NOT HANSEL AND GRETEL (By Josh Funk, Illustrated by Edwardian Taylor),

JUNIPER KAI: SUPER SPY (By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis), and

PIPPA’S NIGHT PARADE (By Lisa Robinson, Illustrated by Lucy Fleming)

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Thank you Katy Duffield for the donation of sixteen of your books, including…

The REMY & RUBY’S RESCUE RANCH series, EMERGENCY VEHICLES, DESENTIERRO DINOSAURS!,

DOZER BUILDS A HILL, PETS AROUND THE WORLD, QUE COMEMOS, AYUDANTES DEL BARRIO,

and COUCH POTATO (Rourke), as well as

FARMER McPEEPERS (Rising Moon), ALIENS GET THE SNIFFLES TOO! (Candlewick),

and LOUD LULA (Two Lions)

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Thank you Lauren Kerstein and Two Lions for the donation of 10 copies of your book…

ROSIE THE DRAGON AND CHARLIE MAKE WAVES

(By Lauren H. Kerstein, Illustrated by Nate Wragg, Two Lions)

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Thank you Richard Ho and Roaring Brook Press for the donation of eight copies of your book…

RED ROVER: CURIOSITY ON MARS

(By Richard Ho, Illustrated by Katherine Roy, Roaring Brook Press)

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Thank you Denise Shimabukuro for the donation of six of your books, including…

FROZEN II: ANNA, ELSA, AND THE SECRET RIVER

(By Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum, Illustrated by Denise Shimabukuro and

Maria Elena Naggi, Disney Press), and FROZEN II: READ-ALONG

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Thank you Patricia Toht for the donation of five copies of your book…

DRESS LIKE A GIRL

(By Patricia Toht, Illustrated by Lorian Tu-Dean, Harper)

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Thank you Nancy Viau for the donation of five copies of your book…

CITY STREET BEAT

(By Nancy Viau, Illustrated by Barbara Bakos, Albert Whitman)

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Thank you Jenna Grodzicki for the donation of five copies of your book…

I SEE SEA FOOD

(By Jenna Grodzicki, Millbrook Press)

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Thank you Laura Renauld for the donation of your book…

PORCUPINE’S PIE

(By Laura Renauld, Illustrated by Jennie Poh, Beaming Books)

as well as THE WONDER THAT IS YOU (By Glenys Nellist, Illustrated by Aurelie Blanz),

I LOVE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (By Tammi Salzano, Illustrated by Ada Grey),

SPARKY! (By Jenny Offill and Chris Appelhans), and DRAGONBREATH (By Ursula Vernon)

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Thank you Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum for the donation of four copies of your book…

FROZEN II: ANNA, ELSA, AND THE SECRET RIVER

(By Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum, Illustrated by Denise Shimabukuro and

Maria Elena Naggi, Disney Press)

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Thank you Natalee Creech for the donation of four of your books…

WHEN DAY IS DONE

(By Natalee Creech, Illustrated by Robert Dunn, Beaming Books) and

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD’S LOVE!

(By Natalee Creech, Illustrated by Joseph Cowman, Worthy Kids)

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Thank you Lauren Eldridge for the donation of four copies of your book…

SLEEP TRAIN

(By Jonathan London, Illustrated by Lauren Eldridge, Viking)

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Thank you Cathy Ballou Mealey for the donation of your book…

WHEN A TREE GROWS

(By Cathy Ballou Mealey, Illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska, Sterling Children’s Books)

as well as BIRDS (By Carme Lemniscates) and

DO YOU BELIEVE IN UNICORNS? (By Bethanie Deeney Murguia)

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Thank you Melissa Stoller for the donation of your books…

READY, SET, GORILLA!

(By Melissa Stoller, Illustrated by Sandy Steen Bartholomew, Clear Fork Publishing)

RETURN TO CONEY ISLAND

(By Melissa Stoller, Illustrated by Callie Metler-Smith, Clear Fork Publishing)

SCARLET’S MAGIC PAINTBRUSH

(By Melissa Stoller, Illustrated by Sandie Sonke, Clear Fork Publishing)

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Thank you Jackie Azua Kramer for the donation of your books…

IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP

(By Jackie Azua Kramer, Illustrated by Lisa Brandenburg, Clavis)

THAT’S FOR BABIES

(By Jackie Azua Kramer, Illustrated by Lisa Brandenburg, Clavis Publishing)

THE GREEN UMBRELLA

(By Jackie Azua Kramer, Illustrated by Maral Sassouni, NorthSouth Books)

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Thank you Shannon Bramer for the donation of three copies of your book…

CLIMBING SHADOWS

(By Shannon Bramer, Illustrated by Cindy Derby, Groundwood Books)

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Thank you Laura Gehl for the donation of your books…

PEEP AND EGG: I’M NOT TAKING A BATH

(By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Joyce Wan, Farrar Straus Giroux)

and

JUNIPER KAI: SUPER SPY

(By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis, Two Lions)

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Thank you Jarrett Lerner for the donation of your books…

ENGINERDS

and

REVENGE OF THE ENGINERDS

(By Jarrett Lerner, Aladdin)

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Thank you Ruth Spiro for donating two of your books…

BABY LOVES THE FIVES SENSES: SIGHT! and HEARING!

(By Ruth Spiro, Illustrated by Irene Chan, Charlesbridge)

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Thank you Jacob Grant for donating two copies of your book…

BEAR OUT THERE

(By Jacob Grant, Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

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Thank you Michelle Schaub for the donation of your books…

FRESH-PICKED POETRY: A DAY AT THE FARMER’S MARKET

(By Michelle Schaub, Illustrated by Amy Hungtinton, Charlesbridge), and

FINDING TREASURE: A COLLECTION OF COLLECTIONS

(By Michelle Schaub, Illustrated by Carmen Saldana, Charlesbridge)

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Thank you Mike Ciccotello for donating three art prints and a copy of your book…

TWINS

(By Mike Ciccotello, Farrar Straus Giroux)

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Thank you Sarah Aronson for the donation of your book…

JUST LIKE RUBE GOLDBERG: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines

(By Sarah Aronson, Illustrated by Robert Neubecker, Beach Lane Books)

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Thank you Jodi McKay for the donation of your book…

PENCIL’S PERFECT PICTURE

(By Jodi McKay, Illustrated by Juliana Motzko, Albert Whitman)

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Thank you Mia Wenjen for the donation of your book…

SUMO JOE

(By Mia Wenjen, Illustrated by Nat Iwata, Lee & Low Books)

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Thank you Susan Romberg for the donation of your book…

THE HOUSE THAT CLEANED ITSELF

(By Laura Dershewitz and Susan Romberg, Illustrated by Meghann Rader, The Innovation Press)

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CURRENT TOTAL:

623 BOOKS

THANK YOU for coming along on this journey and being a part of delivering book joy to young scholars! I can’t wait to see what we do together this holiday season!

A Tale of Two Systems: High Tech & Light Tech

Our oldest daughter Elsa has complex communication needs. In order for her to express her thoughts, feelings and wants, she has to navigate complicated systems that require a lot of work and practice. She’s super smart, so that helps.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Through babbling, labeling and reiteration, we all come to realize that certain sounds and symbols have meaning and can be linked in endless combinations. Elsa has learned these things, too, but doesn’t have verbal language to convey her ideas.

Instead she has tools. Two of them. And they are oh-so-different.

Her high-tech tool is a talker device called the Accent 1000. Doesn’t that sound like a computer from the future? The language system that she uses on her Accent is CoreScanner and it operates in full blast mode. Each of these small buttons provides an in-road to even more buttons.

So… how does Elsa move through this thing? By gently touching white and orange triangle sensors on her tray, Elsa can move between the colored blocks on the screen. She scans options with the left triangle (the big one), and selects with the right triangle (the small one). Once Elsa picks a block, she cycles yet again - this time through the smaller buttons within each block.

When she selects a word, it goes into a box at the top of the screen. Word-by-word, she builds her sentence. Then, when she’s ready, she hits SPEAK DISPLAY, and her message is articulated in a child’s voice. It’s powerful, specific and exhausting. After about an hour, she needs a break.

Can you tell?

Good thing we have her PODD book, a light-tech tool. PODD (which I featured on the blog in Speaking PODD: 9 Things to Know) stands for Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display. Pssst! The main character in my debut picture book DANCING WITH DADDY uses PODD, too!

PODD books come in many varieties. Elsa’s current PODD is a thick spiral-bound flip book with tabs that allow her to build messages through collaboration with a smart communication partner. (That’s me, my husband, my daughters, and her speech therapist and school team.)

See that scrunchie on Elsa’s wrist? She’s working on raising that hand when she has something to say. Look, she does! (We’re still fighting some of her hitting behaviors… hence, the arm stabilizers.)

Though we’ve been using PODD for several years, I’ve always wanted to go to the official training. This September, I finally had my chance to attend this in-demand two-day course. PODD expert Linda Burkhart led the class, walking us through the ins and outs of PODD, a system designed by Gayle Porter of the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre in Australia.

One of the most important things about PODD is that the book always needs to be within arm’s reach, so Elsa can gesture toward it or look at it to initiate conversation.

Elsa’s book has 12 frames on each page. Hers is a high-contrast book with black background, to help her focus. Below you’ll find her first page. These squares are called pragmatic branches because they allow her to begin building her message with a clear intention and direction. The numbers on each square let her smart partner know where to flip next.

Naturally, Elsa loves PODD because it’s partner powered and kid directed. She is really social, and PODD requires a communication buddy. Attending the two-day course gave me renewed energy for PODD. If I don’t model speaking on it, how will Elsa know how to get to what she wants to say? It was very convicting. My girl deserves nothing less than full access to full language, at all times.

We used the puzzle activity page in Elsa’s PODD book while playing with our friend Kendall at a recent meet-up with fellow Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome families from Illinois and Iowa. We’ve known Kendall since she was a toddler, and Elsa was just a baby, and it’s been incredible to watch her grow and flourish. She is AMAZING and quite the role model for Elsa.

Here’s the full slideshow of our WHS playdate. It’s always wonderful seeing the kids and spending time with folks on this same rare parenting journey. Truly priceless. We are blessed by their friendship and, also, by the amazing tools that help our girl communicate.