Q: What is different about this book compared to other children’s book on this topic?

A: A few things.

• One main difference is the target audience. The target audience for most children’s books about limb differences is written for children who have limb differences. Let’s Explore The Missing Piece of Captain Reece targets children who have little to no understanding or exposure to people that have limb differences.
• Another major difference is the tone of the book. Developmental research is overwhelmingly clear that children learn via play. I wanted to improve the odds of capturing children’s interest to explore an unusual topic on human differences by appealing to their playful side. What kid doesn’t like pirates and boogers? Haha.

This book may be a useful tool to encourage active bystander intervention for bullying behavior in children. Research shows that bystanders, referred to individuals who witness harmful behavior towards another person, can actually have a powerful role in interrupting or stopping harmful behavior when they feel more confident in their ability to help. One of my greatest fears upon learning that our son had a missing limb is the increased likelihood that he may be rejected and/or bullied by other children because of his differences. Since I can’t always be there to intervene during challenging social situations, I want to equip not only our son, but also the children around him, with a strategy to interrupt hurtful social behaviors he may encounter from others.