Tween actress Mia Armstrong celebrates her fun, funny, beautiful childhood living with Down syndrome in this debut picture book.
Mia likes many of the things other people like--going to the beach, the color blue, drawing. But she doesn't like when strangers stare at her because she looks different from them.
Down syndrome allows Mia to see and understand the world in a way that may not make sense to others. She considers it her superpower--and instead of it making her strange, she considers herself a masterpiece. As we all are.
In this sparkling picture book, Mia offers a glimpse into the life of a child with Down syndrome, helping some readers see themselves in a book and helping others understand those friends, classmates, and family members who are neurodivergent.---from the publisher
40 pages 978-0593567975 Ages 4-8
Keywords: being yourself, self esteem, understanding others, inclusivity, Down Syndrome, neurodivergent, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old, 8 year old
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Meet the author:
Mia Armstrong is a SAG-AFTRA actress, model, and voiceover artist who once declared in a Good Morning America interview that Down syndrome is her superpower--and she’s proving that to be true.
Mia will star in her first feature film, Christmas in New Hope, which hits streamers this Christmas. She has also starred in the Apple TV show Hello Jack, Muppet Babies, and Disney’s YouTube series The Disney Princess Club. In her modeling work, Mia has appeared in ads for Tommy Hilfiger, Walmart, Target, Amazon, Walgreens, Samsung, Cheerios, Chase, and Nickelodeon. She made history as the first child with Down syndrome to voice a cartoon character on Netflix. Mia has appeared on The View, MSNBC, and The Tamron Hall Show.
Mia is changing the way intellectual disabilities and differences are perceived as she fights for inclusion and against discrimination. Mia is a prolific artist who draws and paints daily, and her art has inspired Owtside The Box, an apparel company featuring the art of individuals with Down syndrome. Mia lives in California with her parents and brother. This is her first book.
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*I Am A Masterpiece is a tribute to the genius, creativity and spunk of tween activist and actress Mia Armstrong and everyone like her. Mia was born with Down Syndrome, which makes her different from other people, but all humans have dreams and desires. While she may look a bit different, and her speech might sound different, she likes to do the same things other kids do: she likes to draw, she loves roller coasters and sleepovers. *
*Sometimes grown-ups treat her like she's invisible, but her mother tells her to practice patience. Some people need to be taught that different is amazing. *
*The actress herself believes her superpower is her Down Syndrome. It makes her empathetic and sweet. She knows when someone needs a hug or a kind word without them telling her. She may not wear a cape like a superhero, but she is one. This book is a celebration of acceptance and growth. It is such a positive message for all families and children with Down Syndrome. *
*In her note, Mia explains that Down Syndrome is not the "r" word. People with Down Syndrome are intelligent and creative. The reason her voice sounds different is that the tongue is a muscle, and her muscles are "floppy." It doesn't mean she's not intelligent or that she can't speak. Different is not scary. Different is good. *
*Highly recommended for all collections grades 3 and up. Inclusiveness, celebrating differences, Down Syndrome, educational, activism. *
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Recommended by: Thompson McLeod (Pamela), blogger, reviewer, literary intern, writer, Florida USA
See more of her recommendations:
http://booksbypamelathompson.blogspot.com/
