Hansel & Gretel: Fairy Tale w/ Down Syndrome Twist Review

I love classic stories with a bit of a twist. Hansel & Gretel: Fairy Tale w/ Down Syndrome Twist is a very inspiring book.

Since we have a family member that has Trisomy 18, it's important to me to have my kids understand that having disabilities doesn't make someone not special. They are special. Many kids and adults that have special needs touch the lives of others daily.
 

This adaptation of the classic Grimms’ tale includes the wicked witch and the poor siblings in search of food; but in this version Jewel Kats’ main character, Hansel, is a mischievous, yet courageous, five-year-old boy with Down syndrome. The original is pretty dark. I remember as a kid I was sort of scared of the story. In this version it's not as dark. Hansel does save the day!


I had Mica read this book to Isaak. Some of the words are too hard for Isaak to read. They both enjoyed the book.

"The fisherman interjected. 'You've always been too overprotective of the boy. He's not sick. He has Down syndrome. Let him go out in the world. At the very least, he can keep his sister company.'"

Young readers of the book will get the message that children with Down syndrome are capable and can achieve extraordinary success with determination. 

Hansel’s story will also teach by example that people cannot be judged by appearance. So many people that have special needs are happy, giving, and love attention. Those are all good things that we should focus on.

I love Jewel Kats’ insightful story. The illustrations by Claudia Marie Lenart are so whimsical. I have a friend that makes fiber art, and it's neat to see that type of art put into a book.  

Hansel and Gretel: A Fairy Tale with a Down Syndrome Twist

Publisher: Loving Healing Press
Series: Fairy Ability Tales
Author: Jewel Kats
Illustrator: Claudia Marie Lenart
ISBN-13: PB 978-1-61599-250-8 / HC 978-1-61599-251-5 / eBook 978-1-61599-252-2
Cost: Kindle $4.95, Hardcover $23.61, Paperback $14.36
Trim: 8.5 x 8.5 (44 pp)
Audience: 5-7 years
Pub Date: 10/01/2014

I feel like this book is great for anyone. Not just people that have special needs kids in their lives. I remember being in the hallways at school, and seeing kids that have special needs. I was afraid of them when I was little because I didn't understand their disabilities and abilities. A book like this would have made me feel more at ease with them. They to are just people. They often have a lot to offer!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Random Tid Bits

1. One of my huge pet peeves is seeing sprinkler systems mainly watering the street, or sidewalk. I understand a sprinkler doing this, but a whole system everyday doing this! Talk about a waste of water!


2. A older lady was grocery shopping. She was probably late 80s, early 90s. She was waiting for me to get done getting a veggie bag. I got my bag, opened it up, and handed it to her. Her face lit up like she won the lottery. She said, "Oh thank you. Those bags are so hard for me to get." Then I said with a smile on my face, "Opening the bag is the hard part for me." I got her a twisty tie. Then when I saw her go to reach another I handed her my 2nd bag. Sometimes it's the little things that make a person's day. 


3. I started my longest, and biggest summer class this week. I was supposed to have 4 students. I'm down to 2. 1 was taking a class before mine, and failed it again for the 3rd time. She was asked to leave. I remember the 1st time this same girl dropped out, she wasn't mad that she might loose her financial aid, she didn't seem too upset with herself for not trying harder, and she wasn't hurt that her chances of making it as a designer were less. She was mad, crying, and yelling because her mom wasn't going to give her money anymore because she wasn't a student. The fact that she took the class again, and again with no success did not surprise me. I hope that one day life will teach her a lesson, and she'll changes her colors. There is some good in there. I've seen it before.


4. True story Mica's friends with someone that has a sister who dresses like a boy. Even her hair is short like a boy's haircut. There's nothing wrong with this. It's just that Isaak always calls her a him. I've corrected Isaak many times, but he just looks confused and still calls her a him. What would you do?


5. My sister sent me this article about the connection between Alzheimer's being another form of Down Syndrome.
   
   Some of you may know that my Grandma passed away with Alzheimer's. Some of you may know that what my nephew Emerson has is called Trisomy 18 - Edward's Syndrome. It's too much of the 18th chromosome. Down Syndrome is too much of the 21st chromosome. We have rare carriers of Trisomy 18 in our family. My nephew Evan is a carrier, my sister Terra is a carrier, and my mom is a carrier. My mom had a baby before me that had Trisomy 18, and died after 2 weeks. It is believed that my mom became a carrier of Trisomy 18 from my Grandmother's side. My Grandma is the one that had Alzheimer's. She had a few miscarriages. They could have been Trisomy 18 babies. We'll never know because she wasn't tested to see if she was a carrier.
   
   If there is a break through in the connection of Alzheimer's and Down Syndrome that's huge! That means Alzheimer's could be connected to other genetic conditions.
   
   There was an article years ago in the N.Y. Times about a doctor that has a daughter who has Down Syndrome. He's been giving rats with Down Syndrome the same drugs that Alzheimer's patients receive. Their brains functioned normally. Now they still had a high risk of dying from cancer, and physically they didn't change. My sister called the doctor to see if he's done any research on any other chromosome flaws? He did not.
   
   Then I saw a PDF that Alzheimer's Association along with 2 Down Syndrome Organizations are trying to mutually do research.
   
   Any developments like this with diseases and conditions are amazing! Here's a heart warming video about Alzheimer's. I may have showed it before. If you haven't seen it, it's a happy video.
   
   
   
   

Donation

I have to be honest I haven't donated to places all that often. Sure I have, but it's not a regular thing that I do.

I donated to Trisomy Tea. Trisomy covers a lot of things. I have a nephew that has Trisomy 18. Down Syndrome is Trisomy 21. There are others as well. It's just extra of that particular chromosome.

By donating to Trisomy Tea part of the money goes towards Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and Hope for Trisomy. They sent me these cute paper mugs in the mail with tea for donating:

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is an organization that has volunteer photographers that help take pictures of babies in the hospital that may not make it. It helps with the grieving process. Hope for Trisomy helps with research, education and awareness for Trisomy 13 and 18.

I wanted to show you an amazing photo called Tim's Place.  It's a must watch!

Such a Smart Little Girl!

This is a great video! Please watch it: