"In a society that often overlooks those with intellectual and developmental disabilities…this book will inspire readers to befriend and champion people with Down syndrome." – JACQUELINE JODL, Special Olympics International
In this illustrated biography collection, meet over twenty people with Down syndrome who have accomplished amazing things in their lives. Excelling in film, sports, business, photography, and more, these people are changing hearts and minds about their disability. Read about Chris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman Triathlon, and Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, the first designer with Down syndrome invited to showcase her work at London Fashion Week. Learn about the Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and other organizations who support the Down syndrome community. Each of these stories will educate and inspire young readers, both kids with Down syndrome and their family members, friends, classmates, and teammates!
Included in this book:
AC Heigel
Alex Bourne
Alex Lee
Allison Fogarty
Chris Nikic
Christine Lau
Geoffrey Mikol
Grace Key
Grace Strobel
Isabella Springmuhdi Tejada
Jamie Brewer
Jared Kozak
John Cronin
John Tucker
Karen Gaffney
Kayla McKeon
Madison Trevlin
Meg Ohsada
Michael Holton
Nick Doyle
Ronnie Brown
Sofia Sanchez
Tommy Jessop
Yulissa Arescurenaga
Zack Gottsagen
Special Olympics
Best Buddies
National Down Syndrome Society
The Buddy Walk
Melissa Hart grew up in Los Angeles with her younger brother, Mark, who has Down syndrome. She’s the author of two novels for middle-school readers―Avenging the Owl and Daisy Woodworm Changes the World―both of which have main characters with Down syndrome. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Smithsonian, Slate, CNN, and many other publications. She’s the author of Better with Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy and Encourage Self-Acceptance in Tweens and Teens. Melissa lives in Oregon with her husband and daughter, plus one dog, five cats, and four chickens. She’s an Oregon Master Naturalist and loves to kayak, hike, bicycle, and cross-country ski. To learn more about Melissa, please visit www.melissahart.com.
María Perera was born in Gijón, a small town in the north of Spain. At a very young age she found out that there are few things in life she enjoyed as much as listening to The Beatles and drawing. When she grew up she graduated in Art History at the University of Oviedo and soon after she studied Graphic Design at the Art School of Avilés. Nowadays she still listens to The Beatles and feels fortunate to be able to do what she loves the most for a living: illustration.
