The Wonderful Way You Are Blog Tour: Book Review + Giveaway

 **I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are my own. 

About the Book

Book:  The Wonderful Way You Are

Author: Sarah E. Brooks

Genre: Children’s Non-fiction Picture Book (age 3-7)

Release date: October 10, 2020

 

Every child deserves to feel fully loved, fully seen, and fully known.

We all long to feel accepted and loved. Our special needs children are no different. Growing up with a disability or chronic medical condition can create a unique set of challenges and may leave a child asking questions like:

”Why am I the way I am?”

”Is there anyone else out there like me?”

”Where do I belong?”

”Is it OK if I don’t look, think, or move like those around me?”

Based on real special needs children, the book’s vivid illustrations and rhyming text help children, with a variety of medical conditions, see their story reflected on the page, because every child deserves to see their story told.

Unlike other books that focus on a single condition, this book highlights a variety of children with different complex needs.

Some of the conditions included:

Cerebral Palsy

Cystic Fibrosis

Gorlin Syndrome

Vitiligo

G-Tubes

Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids

Prosthetic Limbs

Limb Difference

Autism/Neurodiversity

Down Syndrome

When special needs children know they are wonderful, not in spite of their differences, but because of them, they are equipped to not just survive, but thrive.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Sarah Elizabeth Brooks is a special needs mom to a warrior princess and three fantastic sons. When she’s not writing or recording instrumental piano albums, you can find her dodging Mt. Laundry to sneak away with a cup of hot tea, some dark chocolate, and a good book.

 

More from Sarah

I was always that awkward kid at recess who opted to sit on a bench with a book. Not because I was antisocial, but because I loved being able to experience new worlds and adventures through the pages of a book. As I grew, that love of reading stayed with me, and it’s a pastime that I hope to pass on to my own children.

While, I always knew that I wanted to write a book one day, a rhyming picture book about special needs kids was not on my radar…that is until my youngest daughter was born. At five-months-old, she faced her first brain surgery, with a second brain surgery following two months later.

When we received her diagnosis of Gorlin Syndrome, I went into mama research mode. I wanted to do everything I could to help keep her safe and prepare her for the future. As my daughter prepared to enter a preschool for children with developmental disabilities, I wondered how others would treat her.

The Wonderful Way You Are is a love letter from a parent (or grandparent) to the child they love. It acknowledges some of the unique challenges that can come with being different from those around you, while reinforcing the truth that we all have a unique gift to share with the world.

My hope and prayer is that this book will be a blessing to families with children of all abilities, that it will open up conversations about difference, and encourage and equip children to know that they are wonderful, exactly the way they are.

 

Thanks for taking the time to join me on this journey!
-Sarah

My Thoughts

As the mother to a special needs child, I absolutely, positively adore this book. Throughout the years, we have read many books that celebrate the uniqueness of each of us. While not necessarily specifically written about those with special needs, I have always tried to teach my kids that message that differences make us who we are, and who we are is amazing. I have found that often the books that we have come across that DO put more emphasis and different abilities tend to be written not for those with special needs, but for those around them. This is a great thing too, but I loved that THIS book really was written for those kids... and they were given a wide variety of different characters within the pages that they could see themselves in. Some wore hearing aids or glasses. Some had prosthetics or were in a wheelchair. Others had no physical distinguishing traits but were said to have minds that worked a bit differently. All of this was illustrated beautifully...and written about just as beautifully as well. I enjoyed the discussion questions at the end, and the introductions to some of the real life kids seen within the pages.

My son is a teenager now and a bit too old for this type of picture book, but it is certainly the type of book that I would have loved for him when he was younger. If you have a child that is differently abled, this is a great book to check out... and it can be great for all kids too to remember to embrace those differences too! 

Blog Stops

For Him and My Family, May 19

Inklings and notions, May 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 21

Texas Book-aholic, May 22

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 24

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 25

A Baker’s Perspective, May 26

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 27

deb’s Book Review, May 28

Beauty in the Binding, May 29 (Author Interview)

cats in the cradle blog, May 29

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 30

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 31

Vicky Sluiter, June 1 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and an autographed copy of The Wonderful Way You Are!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10ca4/the-wonderful-way-you-are-celebration-tour-giveaway