Synopsis
Mikayla's friends have an important message. This story of acceptance, understanding and blossoming friendship is one that should be shared with everyone regardless of age or physical diversity. It is a story of honesty and then ultimately trust and the realization that no matter one's limits, we're all the same. The children have dedicated Our Friend Mikayla to "all people with disabilities and their friends." When they chose the dedication, one of the children realized that might mean they were dedicating the book to everyone in the world. That is our hope - that this story will touch lives everywhere. How can you help them achieve their dream? Purchase a copy and donate it to local schools or libraries. Give one to your child's teacher as a gift. Volunteer to read the story in a school or library. These are just a few suggestions out of the many that will touch lives and make a difference. Our Friend Mikayla was made possible by a grant from the National Inclusion Project whose mission is to create awareness about the diversity of individuals with disabilities and the possibilities that inclusion can bring. Proceeds from Our Friend Mikayla will help fund programs for children with disabilities in our schools and communities. The children's journey to understanding and friendship represented in this book is the embodiment of what the National Inclusion Project strives for every day. With your purchase, you will help spread the word and make full inclusion the reality for children everywhere.
Reviews
Kindergarten-Grade 3—Third graders in a school in Pennsylvania describe their experiences with their classmate Mikayla, a girl in a wheelchair with multiple disabilities, including mental retardation, legal blindness, and hearing loss. Through observations, anecdotes, and child-created art, the students explore how they move from initial feelings of fear to acceptance and friendship. Each youngster takes a turn illustrating a class-written narrative that expresses such things as Mikayla's love for cotton candy and for singer Clay Aiken as well as how the kids thought up a way to include her as the pitcher in kickball. While this book reads, at times, like a teacher-driven class project, the students' affection for their friend feels very honest. The watercolor-and-ink paintings, including one by Mikayla, display an authenticity that an adult illustrator may not have been able to replicate. This title is of great value for classrooms and home use alike as more and more schools, students, and parents work toward mainstreaming children with disabilities.—Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
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