Dudley's Solo

I thought that it would be nice to share with you this lovely children's book I found entitled Dudley's Solo by Tiffany Alexander.

I did discuss before that as parents, I feel that it is our duty to develop the good habit of reading in our kids. I won't go into it's advantages or benefits as I've already touched on that in one of my previous posts. Suffice it to say that developing good reading habits in our kids is always beneficial to them.

Part of encouraging our kids to love reading is providing them with reading materials that not only develop the habit of reading but also allow them to learn something important about life.

Dudley's Solo is an excellent book that makes kids learn valuable lesson in life. It teaches kids to embrace their individuality and find delight in it.

The book tells the story of Dudley, a little boy who can't hear or speak. He is surrounded by friends, who because they didn't have the same disability as Dudley had, could perform in musicals. Dudley, however, didn't let his limitations stop him from being part of the group, from contributing a lovely performance of his own and becoming happy.

Such a heartwarming tale that teaches kids to love themselves despite their imperfections.

Accepting oneself, one's uniqueness, is important for our kids to learn because as they grow older, they will see that society will not always look with favor at most human imperfections, no matter how absurd that practice may be. Making kids learn early in life that part of being human is being imperfect and making them accept that, getting them to be comfortable with it, making them love themselves despite of it, helping them work around it and making them focus on their strengths instead, will be such a great help to them.

I hope you will take the time to check out this heartwarming book. Here are additional descriptions of the book:

"You've got to accentuate the positive.
Author encourages kids to embrace each other's talents and abilities.

"Atlanta, Ga. - Whether you were the lanky redheaded, freckled face girl with glasses or the chubby, big-eared boy with braces, we've all been teased for being different. In fact, as many as half of all children are bullied at some point during their school years, and at least 10 percent are bullied on a regular basis, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).

"However, children's author Tiffany Alexander believes it is possible to teach children to embrace the qualities that make them different. In her new children's book, "Dudley's Solo" (Alexander Vision LLC, March 2009), Alexander reveals how positive attitudes can change the way we tackle obstacles in our lives. She speaks to kids and parents alike on embracing our differences, being thankful for our God-given talents and realizing the importance of helping others.

"Growing up visually impaired had a tremendous impact on my life," says Alexander, who was legally blind until middle school. "I could do what most of the kids could do, but I always had limitations. As hard as it was to be different, I gained inner-strength and the desire to persevere no matter what."

"The first book in the Children's Band series, "Dudley's Solo" takes place at a neighborhood church where the children's band excitedly rehearses for their upcoming choir concert, including Dudley, a hearing-impaired little boy. But being deaf doesn't prevent him from participating in the concert. Encouraged by his friends and father, Dudley embraces his disability and becomes the star of the show by signing the words to "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" to the entire congregation.

"Children's band was instrumental in my spiritual and social growth. Like Dudley, this is where I received my earliest encouragement," Alexander says. "The other kids and I learned the importance of volunteering, being a good citizen, and mostly importantly, I learned that I could do anything if I put my mind to it."

"Dudley's Solo" encourages kids to:
-have self-confidence and to believe in themselves,
-embrace their differences,
-never give up on something you really want and
-find the positive lesson in every challenge they are handed."

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