My Friend Isabelle

[ALLISA]

I came across this book, "My Friend Isabelle" at CHristmas time. It is a very sweet children's book about a little girl who has a friend with DS. I gave it to my neigbors, twin girls who are Erin's age and just ADORE her.

It tells how they are similar and how they are different. It had me with tears in my eyes as I tried to read it to them !!

It is a great way to introduce Down Syndrome to a child. They have known Erin as long as they have been born and are starting to ask "why can't Erin talk yet, like us ?" "Why is Erin so small ?" "Why does she still wear diapers?'. etc.

It introduces them to Down Syndrome without making too big of a deal about it, if that makes sense.

It is a very sweet book that I would recommend giving to a sibling or a young child that is friends with a child with DS.

I tried to add a link to the book, but not sure if I am doing it properly. IF the link below doesn't work, I will repost with proper link.


www.woodbinehouse.com/zoom.asp_Q_product_id_E_1-890627-50-X

[LisaRI]

Allisa.. I looked in my Barnes and Noble store and they didnt have this book. I forgot who the author was so I couldnt order it. I can call by phone to do so. ;D I think this would be a nice book for Kimberly's second grade class to have for the children to read. After I read it!

Lisa

[ALLISA]

Lisa, the book may be a little too young for 2nd graders, tough to say, they grow up way too fast for me !!

The author is Eliza Woloson. Check out the link above, you can buy it online if you are comfortable buying stuff on the internet.

I just thought it was so sweet and it is so important to talk to your childs peers, because they do have questions, but (as I have found) their parents tell them it's not polite to ask, so then they get the idea that "this must really be serious" and don't ask anything. I love when other kids approach me with questions, because (so far) they are all just asking out of innocence & curiosity. They don't have any hurtful agenda. God knows I had a ton of questions when I was told about her DS.... it only makes sense that they'll have as many.

Best of luck and if you find any other books relating to expalining DS to kids.... I'd love to hear about them

[bellasmom]

Allisa,

Thanks for the post about this book. It so happens that my daughter's name is Isabella. I will have to keep this one in mind as she gets older!


Maria

[ALLISA]

Marie, how perfect is that ?? Just adorable !!

[adisonsmom]

Allisa,
One of our DS counselors gave us this book last week and we read it to our 5 year old (big sister to Addy w/ DS) along with "We'll Paint the Octopus Red" by tephanie Stuve-Bodeen. It is about a little girl who finds out she is having a little brother and then when baby is born they find out that he has DS and that he can still do all of the things they planned for with a little help. It also has a great Q & A section in the back of the book. It is wonderful!!! These are both great books. I also love the illustrations.

Lori