The Prince Who Was Just Himself, written by Silke Schnee, illustrated by Heike Sistig, translated by Erna Albertz, published by Plough Publishing House in 2015.

The Prince Who Was Just HimselfParents, teachers, librarians, pediatricians, please buy this book!

Silke Schnee called on her personal experience of having a child born with Down Syndrome to write this delightful little story. This book will help children see that being uniquely gentle and loving can save the day. They will appreciate the heroism of the little prince, even though he looks a little diffferent and learns a little slower than they do. The tale is simple and timeless, aimed at children ages three years and older.

The abundant illustrations, many of them full page, are bright and colorful. The book’s large size makes it perfect for reading groups in school or as a bedtime story at home. This is a terrific resource to help children learn a little bit about other children who might look different, behave differently or learn differently than they do.

The book is also helpful for adults who may not know how to engage young children in such a conversation. The back of the book includes some information about Down Syndrome, as well as organizations that can provide additional information and support.

I cannot urge you strongly enough to buy this book for the child in your life. 

From the publisher…

The royal couple is looking forward to their third child. “He looks a little different,” muses the king at Prince Noah’s arrival. “He is not like the others,” agrees the queen. Soon they notice what a very special person he is, even though he can’t do everything his brothers can.

When the youngest prince disarms the cruel knight Scarface, the nation’s most dreaded enemy, with an act of compassion, everyone finally realizes how good it is that each person is unique.

This delightfully illustrated fairy tale for children three years and older instills appreciation for children with Down syndrome and other developmental challenges, making it a valuable aid for teaching tolerance in the home or classroom.

The Prince Who Was Just Himself will be published in September. I willl repost this review as the date approaches. But, why wait? You can pre-order it on Amazon.com today.

Note: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher at no cost to me. However, in no other way did they influence the content of this review.