Children’s Series Aims to Eliminate Stigma Around Disabled
Dr. Owlkin and The H.O.M.E Team, a series of children‘s books by Dr. Terri Howard-Hughes & Clint Hughes, has a mission set to change the world by eliminating the stigma around disabled children.
Based in Hopeville, The H.O.M.E (Help Or Motivate Everybody) Team celebrates characters’ differences or disabilities and promotes acceptance and inclusion for children aged 3-8. This series is devoted to raising the self-esteem and confidence of children with special needs and teaching other children acceptance of those with “differences.” Even though others may be “different,” we find that inside, everybody just wants to be loved, encouraged, accepted, appreciated and included. Dr. Owlkin is quick to remind readers, “It’s WHOOOOOO you are on the inside that matters most!”
Dr. Owlkin and the H.O.M.E Team directly benefit St. Jude & Scottish Rite’s Children‘s Hospitals and are currently working toward developing relationships with other children’s charities. Book 5 is set to release this fall, 2023.
The mission of the Doctor Owlkin book series is to raise the self- esteem and confidence of children with special needs, disabilities, or differences and teach other children acceptance and inclusion of those with differences or disabilities. When children look past their differences, they find that inside everyone wants to be accepted, appreciated, included, and encouraged! Doctor Owlkin, the members of The H.O.M.E. Team (Help Or Motivate Everybody), and the characters in the books become the heroes who find a way to make their diversity and differences an attribute or advantage. The stories encourage those with differences to be their best!
The H.O.M.E. Team is led by wise old Doctor Owlkin and loving Nurse Sharky, who bring together their helpers. The first four books in the series tell the amazing stories of each of the helpers. The H.O.M.E. Team includes Trouble, a Bloodhound who was born with extraordinarily long and useful ears; King Tux, a tiny cat who has a BIG personality and smarts; Pirate, a lop-eared rabbit with only one eye who sees the world in a unique way; and Goldie, a Golden Retriever, who was born with 3 1⁄2 legs, but doesn’t let that stop her from being a hero. Each of these characters has adapted and developed special skills – their superpowers – that allow them to uplift and encourage others. Each book addresses a new difference to teach children why that character is special.
As Doctor Owlkin always reminds the team,
“It’s WHOOOOOO you are on the inside that matters most!”