Awesomely Emma Is Out in the World!

It’s been a little over a week since Awesomely Emma was officially released out in the world (although, many of you got your copy much sooner thanks to Amazon) and I am genuinely SO. FREAKING. EXCITED!

I hope you love this book as much as I do. And I really do love it.

If you’re familiar with When Charley Met Emma–my first children’s book–you know that it was a great introductory primer to teach children about disability, as well as providing much needed representation for disabled bodies in the world of children’s literature. The book was purposefully basic, a way for parents and young children to learn about and discuss disability and differences while having a beautiful book to help guide the conversation. The mantra throughout the book has become a popular and universal message for many kids reminding them that, “Different isn’t weird, sad, bad or strange. Different is different. And different is OK!”Awesomely Emma takes a little deeper dive into disability. First of all, it’s told from Emma’s perspective. And the rally cry of this book centers on body acceptance and self love–a message specific to the story and disability, but also universal in it’s application. Another major theme of the book is accessibility and teaches children (and adults) about the difference between the social model of disability (your body is wrong, thus we need to fix your body) vs. the medical model of disability (your body is not the problem, but society’s lack of access is the problem, therefore let’s fix society’s lack of access) but in a simpler way that children can digest. Lastly, it also models advocacy and what “help” can actually look like.

When Charlie met Emma and Awesomely Emma are not the be all, end all of kidlit disability representation. They cannot, and we’re never meant to, represent the entire broad, varied and vast world of disability. BUT they have made a positive difference for your kids—both non-disabled and disabled. And I know this because you’ve told me. These books are education, and these books are representation. Below are just a handful of messages I’ve received about the When Charley Met Emma and Awesomely Emma. 

I hope these aren’t the only books about disability in your home, schools and communities, but I am proud and honored every time they are a part of that representation.

You can purchase Awesomely Emma at Barnes and Noble.com, Target.com, Amazon, and of course I would recommend that you also reach out to your local bookstores which you can do here, through IndieBound.Also, check out the Emma Dolls that are available for purchase from illustrator and doll maker Merrilee Liddiard! I CANNOT wait to get ours!

Have you read Awesomely Emma yet? What do you think? What do your kids think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!