Press Release
Popular IGER, Podcaster & Mom of 3 Offers a Joyful & Empowering Children’s Book to Create a More Inclusive, Welcoming World Advocate Heather Avis is on a Mission to Shout the Worth of All Children
Now a New York Times Bestseller!
In order to help create a more inclusive, welcoming world, popular Instagrammer, podcaster and mom of three adoptees Heather Avis has written the joyful rhyming picture book—
Different–A Great Thing to Be! (a WaterBrook/Penguin Random House hardcover; on sale 6/29/21) which was inspired by her daughter, Macy, who has Down Syndrome.
This sweet and joyful story—beautifully enhanced by Sarah Mensinga’s vibrant illustrations—encourages children to value the “different” in all people, leading the way to a kinder world in which the differences in all of us are celebrated and embraced.
Macy is a girl who's a lot like you and me, but she's also quite different, which is a great thing to be. With kindness, grace, and bravery, little ones can journey with Macy as she finds her place in the world, bringing beauty and laughter wherever she goes and leading others to find delight in the unique design of every person. Children are naturally aware of the differences they encounter in everyday life and relationships. They just need to be given tools to understand and appreciate what makes us “different,” permission to ask questions about it, and eyes to see and celebrate it in themselves as well as in those around them.
Different–A Great Thing to Be! makes a wonderful, empowering gift for parents, and other caregivers, educators and ministry leaders throughout the year.
“
Different is
just the kind of book our world needs. Macy teaches us all a valuable lesson in confidence and celebrating our differences. I can’t wait to read this book to my little girl!”
–
Sadie Robertson Huff, speaker, influencer, and New York Times bestselling author
"Each page of this book is a beautiful work of art. Macy can do many everyday things but sometimes she is a little quiet, and other times she is not. People don’t always understand her, but with her bright heart, she manages to convince them that being different can be OK. A wonderful book to share with little ones, and open discussions about equality, kindness, being true to yourself and accepting others who are not exactly like you." Barbra Hesson, Calgary HeraldABOUT THE AUTHOR: Heather Avis is founder and chief visionary officer at The Lucky Few, a social awareness brand on a mission to make a more inclusive and loving world with an emphasis on shifting the Down syndrome narrative. The author of the new children’s book “
Different—A Great Thing to Be!” she runs
The Lucky Few's hit Instagram account and is the author of a book and co-host of the podcast by the same name. A former education specialist teaching high school students, Heather is a mother to three adopted children (two with Down Syndrome) and has been interviewed on numerous media outlets including
The Today Show, Focus on the Family, Hallmark’s
Home & Family, and written for
TIME. She lives in Southern California with her husband, Josh, and their three kids Truly, August and Macy, the inspiration for “
Different—A Great Thing to Be!” For more information, visit
www.HeatherAvis.com & @
TheLuckyFewOfficial (117k followers) & @different.a.great.thing.to.be
“
As a multi-ethnic, ability-diverse, adoptive family we know that this world is a place where everyone belongs, that we not only embrace our differences but we celebrate them and that life is better when we make room in our lives for those who have been missing.” –
Heather Avis Heather is available for interviews and to write articles/blog posts on:· How her daughter, Macy, inspired her to write “
Different” and what she has learned from being her mom.
· Why this message of valuing “the different” in each person is so significant and helpful for children (and adults) during this time.
· The extra challenges her two children with Down syndrome have faced during the pandemic.
· How Macy brought Heather and her husband incredible joy and beauty into their lives that they would not have seen otherwise. And how Macy radically changed how Heather views herself and those around her.
· Practical ways individuals and families can come along side with love and provide inclusive spaces and practices for those with Down syndrome and other disabilities.
· How parents, other caregivers, teachers and ministry leaders can use “
Different” as an educational and inspirational tool.
On-Sale: June 29, 2021Juvenile Fiction - Disabilities & Special Needs
ISBN 9780593232651 ● Hardcover ● 40 Pages ● $11.99 US ● $15.00 CAN
eBook ISBN 9780593232668 ● eBook $6.99 US ● $10.99 CAN
Contact Publicist
Brett Benson