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Life can be hard for children with disabilities.
As much as their own perceived shortcomings may hinder their ability to live what many would consider a full life, the misunderstanding of what they’re going through from other children in the form of staring, snickering and teasing only makes matters worse.
Well, local folk artist Hank Holland and his wife Maria Holland, both born with Cerebral Palsy, have introduced their first children’s book with the hopes of educating all children regarding disabilities and empowering those with disabilities that they can accomplish great things.
In “The Zydeco Krewe,” Lilly, a frog that can’t hop, Pinch, a crab with one claw, Nubby, an alligator born without a tail and can’t swim, Shelly, a green turtle born without a shell and Pelly, a pelican born with one wing and can’t fly, join their friend Jazz, who is based on Hank and Maria’s 9-year-old son Christian. Like Christian, Jazz’s parents experience disabilities as his father Baton lost his legs as a young boy and walks on two cypress tree knees and his mother Rouge was born deaf and uses a piano and sign language to communicate.
The group goes on an adventure and uses their abilities together to accomplish a task.
The children’s book, co-authored by Hank and Maria and illustrated by Hank, aims to teach children that everyone is different in their own special way, and we must accept each other as well as their differences.
“Everybody’s different, and even though they’re different, they still have feelings, and they can still do some things as friends,” Hank said. “There are so many times in life people stare, people question, people don’t understand people with disabilities. And it’s not that they’re ignorant. They’ve never been taught. They’ve never been exposed to it so it’s an opportunity for us to expose disabilities at their level.”
Hank and Maria feel that the children’s book is the best way to reach kids at their level and speak to them in a way in which they would understand.
“If so-and-so has multiple sclerosis or so-in-so has Cerebral Palsy or autistic or really disabled, [other children] don’t really comprehend that, but if you show them a crab with one claw, they know crabs usually have two claws. It puts it in a way that they can understand,” Hank explained.
“They’re kids right now. They’re sponges,” Maria said. “So the more you expose them to differences, the better they’re going to be as people. They’ll be more compassionate and more understanding.”
The book, self-published and released last month, takes about six minutes to read, according to Hank.
The co-author and illustrator said “The Zydeco Krewe” is the first in a line of children’s books with the same characters. In the second edition, expected to be released this summer, the krewe will experience Mardi Gras. Hank and Maria hope to release three editions per year.
“The Zydeco Krewe” costs $15 and can be purchased at Hank’s art shop at La. Highway 5714 in Lockport or online by emailing Hank at babyjanestudios@rocketmail.com.
Some of the first children to have the book read to them participated in a book reading at Hank’s art shop last week. Attending were 5-year-olds Aubrey Sampey, Alex Freeman and Allie Sevin, 6-year-olds Allie Arcement, Addison Hanley, Parker Cheramie and Carly Dufrene, 8-year-olds Myles Arcement, Hailey Sevin, Megan Freeman and Isabella Hanley and 9-year-olds Molly Freeman and, of course, Christian.
“I really think that for a child to read this or be introduced to this book is important because people are different,” said Desiree Sampey, who brought her granddaughter Aubrey, niece Allie Arcement and nephew Myles. “Everyone has their own disabilities, and they don’t understand. You know how little kids walk around, and they just stare at people. Maybe by reading this, they’re able to really understand about what’s happening in life.”
Lockport Police Chief Warren Vedros brought the son of a family friend, Parker, and said the book gives kids an understanding that you can have disabilities and succeed in life.
“If you just put your focus and your goal on succeeding, then you can,” Vedros said. “I think that’s a very positive impact that Hank and Maria are doing, showing the kids that they can succeed.”
Linda Plaisance, a friend of Hank and Maria, read the book to the children during the reading.
“Hopefully it makes them realize that we’re not all the same but we can work together and can accomplish a lot,” Plaisance said. “I think it helps raise awareness in that we all have a disability in some way and we can accomplish whatever we want.”
Hank said he intends on having more book readings in the future. Check his art gallery’s Facebook page at facebook.com/hollandfolkart for reading dates and times.
Hank Holland, co-author and illustrator of “The Zydeco Krewe,” shows his book to children attending a reading at his art shop in Lockport Friday.
