"The Wobbly Penguin": I Made A Book For Disabled Children

About Pearl the wobbly penguin

When Pearl was in her egg everything seemed fine, her mum and dad kept their egg safe and warm. However, when Pearl was born it turned out that she had a problem with her legs, but her mummy and dad loved her all the same. The book follows pearl as she grows up and how she tries to be independent. Pearl starts school and all the other penguins don’t know what to make of her and some even say mean things about her. However, Pearl knew that one day she would show them how special she is. With the love and support of her parents, she figures out how to get about herself and even ends up teaching all the other penguins how to get about.

Why I wrote Pearl’s story

I wrote this book because growing up I remember seeing myself in very few books. It’s so important for children to see themselves and their stories in literature. It’s also important to teach disabled children that just because one of their classmates may need a mobility aid doesn’t mean that they don’t want to run and play just like them. I feel Pearl is a good role model for disabled and able-bodied children alike as she is a strong little penguin who, although she may find life frustrating sometimes, doesn’t give up.

How Pearl the penguin mirrors my own life

When I was born I looked just like any other baby. It wasn’t until I was 4 that I started showing signs of my condition. As I’ve gotten older my condition has gotten worse and I’m now a full-time wheelchair user. I have fought to be as independent as possible thou and I think this is where I’ve put my character into pearl the most.

I’m currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter to be able to print 500 copies of my book. Please take a look at my project page.

More info: kickstarter.com