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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!”
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BORN TO SPARKLE – A Story About Achieving Your Dreams
“Uplifting, encouraging, and quite lovely” – * Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Author Megan Bomgaars, who has Down syndrome, is an activist, TV personality, and entrepreneur. This Fall, she adds “published children’s book author” to her list of accomplishments with her debut title arriving in stores nationwide.
Inspired by Megan’s moving “Don’t Limit Me” speech, Born to Sparkle encourages young readers to dream big and work hard to make those big dreams come true. Whether you dream is to become an astronaut, firefighter, dancer, teacher, chef or anything you can imagine, you can achieve it because, just like Megan, you were born to sparkle!
Never condescending or preachy, Megan’s pitch perfect story reassures, that there are no limits and anything is possible if one follows their dreams and works hard. It’s about doing your very best to make dreams happen. Be brave. Study. Learn. Practice. Ask questions. Educators and parents will revel in this uplifting, inspiring picture book with a cast of stuffed animals leading by example at each turn of the page.
About the author: Megan Bomgaars
Megan Bomgaars is an amazing woman who works hard to achieve her dreams every day. She starred on A&Es Emmy Award-winning and Critic’s Choice Real TV Award-winning reality television show Born this Way. Megan currently attends college and has already started her own business, starred on a TV show, and travelled the world as a public speaker. She was even invited to the White house by Michelle Obama to attend the “Beating the Odds Summit.” This is Megan’s first children’s book.
About the illustrator: Peter John Olczyk
Peter John Olcyzk was born in Manchester. He studied art foundation at Manchester Metropolitan University and then illustration at Stockport College. He uses his own experiences and memories to put himself in the mind and shoes of a child when he illustrates, as well as being greatly influenced by stories, music and nature. He currently lives in the Highlands of Scotland with his wife and two young children.