Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Book, by Pey Carter and Abigail Bailey (Wise Ink, 2024, $18.95, ages 4-8, 31pp HB) Review by Skye Anderson
What a Title!
Written by mother Pey and daughter Abigail, Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin is an unforgettable title that explains a very rare genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos. Both mother and daughter exhibit the condition but the book follows daughter Abigail as she receives her diagnosis and as both explain the condition to Abigail's school chums.
The Value of Friendship
Pey wears knee braces to help support her when walking and sometimes has to use a wheelchair while Abigail needs to sit in a soft chair and sometimes must leave class to walk a bit but other than that, she is as normal as ever. This is a condition that can be an invisible disability so the students then brainstorm what they can do to help their friend. They decide to run on grass rather than asphalt or concrete, and to play basketball when Abigail feels too weak for races.
Lovely Illustrations
We also love the watercolor illustrations and Abigail's red hair but mostly we love the zebras - count them and see if you can find one on nearly every page. Just as some cancers have associated colors (pink for breast cancer), Ehlers-Danlos has an animal, the zebra, with a story behind it that can be found by googling.
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