Jana’s Brightly Coloured Socks by Sally Fetouh
About the Book:
Cheerful text and whimsical illustrations bring alive this
heart-warming story of kindness and inclusion featuring a character with Down
syndrome.
When young Jana receives heaps of beautiful socks from her
parents after learning how to put on socks all by herself, she can’t wait to
show her friends at school. They are always kind and patient with Jana when
they play together. Jana decides to share a pair of her new socks with each and
every friend. This calls for a school sock parade! All of the children had so
much fun showing off their colourful socks together that they gave a very
special and huge gift for their kind and generous friend, Jana, a box of more
socks!
Author Sally Fetouh was inspired to write this touching
story by her own daughter who has Down syndrome, feeling it was important for
her and other children like her to be able to see themselves in literature. Two
years ago, after reading a different story about a girl with Down syndrome to
her daughter’s preschool class, Sally says, “The children were so engaged in
the story and asked questions. They were very accepting and loving of their
friend—my daughter. I left with a heart overflowing with emotion and that
inspired me to write my story.”
Review:
About the Author:
Writing is very much a part of who author Sally Fetouh is as
a human being. As a child, writing was a way for her to express herself and all
of the stories and ideas she had in her head. Now, as an adult, she has been
inspired to write a beautiful story of kindness and friendship, Jana’s Brightly
Coloured Socks, a heart-warming picture book loosely based on her daughter who
has Down syndrome.
It was important to Sally that her daughter and other
children like her were able to see themselves represented in literature. The
idea came to Sally when she visited her daughter’s preschool to read a story
about a girl with Down syndrome. The loving, accepting, and inquisitive
responses from her daughter’s classmates inspired her to write a story reflecting
these caring friendships.
Sally believes a great book is one that has impactful
characters and a story that provides a new experience or perspective to the
reader that stays with them long after the book is closed. She hopes that her
young readers with disabilities or those who are different in some way will be
able to relate to the main character and see a little bit of themselves, while
also aiming for other readers to gain insight into the world of Down syndrome
and the importance and impact of kindness and friendship.
When she isn’t writing thought-provoking children’s books,
Sally works as a lawyer and a photographer. She enjoys being in nature, hiking,
and horse riding. She lives with her family in Sydney, Australia. Jana’s
Brightly Coloured Socks is her debut picture book.
Keep in touch on
social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyfetouh/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089048475502
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/sallyfetouh
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