I stumbled upon this book accidentally. I was on a lunch break with my teammates at Greenbelt 1 and we all went to the OMF Literature Book Shop to browse. I went to the section where there were children’s books to look for titles for David and Noah. My eyes wandered along the shelves until they stopped at a this one book whose cover had two boys. It was the older boy in the cover who caught my attention.
It was this face that I saw peeking from all the other book covers. My head and heart went wild and I kept thinking “could it be? Is it?” I snatched the book, turned the pages and scanned the story.
It was a Filipino Children’s Book about two brothers and the older brother has Down syndrome.
I tried to hold back the tears but they just fell. Ugly cry ako in the middle of the bookstore but in that moment my heart was beating so fast, I was so overwhelmed and I was blubbering to my officemates “It’s about DS!! Tungkol sa Down syndrome yung book o, ang galing! Ang galing!! Naiiyak ako ang galing!!”
I bought all the copies of that book in that store that day because I wanted to give copies of these book to friends and family, which I already did. I bought a lot more because I wanted to share this book to so many more people.
Writing about my Noah, our “new normal” and about Down syndrome in general are ways by which I create awareness about Ds. My real goal is to share our story so that Ds isn’t something to be afraid of. The fears and hesitations I felt when Noah was diagnosed was because I was in the dark about this genetic condition. And I hope that this blog would be a small source of light that could dispel a bit of the misinformation and myths about individuals with Ds.
But sometimes, something comes along that encapsulates everything I want to say into one pretty package. “Big Brother” is this package for me. A well-written beautifully illustrated children’s book by Grace D. Chong. Ms. Chong grew up with a cousin with Down syndrome and it is through this lens that she crafted the story of Bunsoy and his Kuya Tinuy.
Big Brother is tender and engaging. Grace also has an afterword that really brings the point home that individuals who rock the extra chromosome deserve to be seen, to be included and to be respected.
February is Down Syndrome Awareness Month and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by giving away Big Brother.
I encourage you to read it with your kids and to pass it on to other family and friends. I encourage you to celebrate the diversity of our communities and the inherent beauty that each of us posses. We are all unique and this is what the book celebrates. Even if it does focus on Down syndrome, what it really highlights is that we all have our own hobbies, goals, dreams, and personalities. What makes this more awesome is that it’s a children’s book. Talk about planting good seeds 🙂
I’ll make this giveaway super simple. No rafflecopter widget here hehe. I have 10 copies of this book. I will give 5 here at the blog and another 5 over at Instagram. If you want a copy, just leave a comment at the blog and tell me what you celebrate most about your kids or what makes you unique!
First 5 to comment will get the book 🙂 I will ship anywhere in the Philippines. If you’re comment number 6 onwards you can definitely still leave a comment, I would love to celebrate your uniqueness with you!
Thank you so much guys for all your support. I am so looking forward to your entries 🙂
Hannah says
November 25, 2015 at 9:54 amThank you for this blog! Such a wonderful feeling to know what you did!! You inspire me. Have a great day!! <3
Heart Calimlim says
June 4, 2015 at 11:35 amBeing a preemie mom and gave three adorable preemies in this world I think I am unique of 🙂 But it was such a nice blessing and I was able to know my children’s differences and two of my boys have special needs which makes me feel more blessed.
Thank you for sharing your books and surely my children would love this 🙂 I know Noah is blessed to have a mom like you. 🙂
neva says
June 6, 2015 at 12:38 amHi Heart! Thank you so much for dropping 😀 I would love to give you a copy of the book. Can you kindly email (manilamommy at gmail) with you shipping details? Happy weekend!!
Grace Chong says
June 2, 2015 at 5:31 pmDear Neva,
Thank you so much for taking the time to blog about “Big Brother.” I really appreciate it. Encouraging words like yours ignite authors like me to keep writing. You write really well yourself. Have you ever considered publishing some of your works?
I have bookmarked your blog and will keep coming back. I’d love to meet you and your family one day.
Blessings,
Grace
neva says
June 2, 2015 at 5:59 pmoh wow!!! thank you so much grace for visiting and leaving a comment!! i am floored haha 😀 thank you so much for writing the story of Tinoy. i really did cry when i saw your book at the bookstore. your words are a blessing and i am thrilled to share them! thanks again grace!!
Sharon says
February 19, 2015 at 4:04 pmHaving Syene and most especially Scarloe made me realized my purpose why I exist; that I am reminded each day that God loves me; i am indeed the most blessed mom in this lifetime and i could never have lived any other way.
God bless you more, Neva 🙂
neva says
February 20, 2015 at 3:53 pmHi Sharon!! Scarloe is such a bubbly, sassy little girl! You truly are blessed with your girls 😀 Can you email me your shipping address? I would love to send the book to you 😀 thanks again!
ceemee says
February 19, 2015 at 3:08 pmMy kids are amazing gifts from God! I want to celebrate how they laugh, how they learn, their different interests and personalities. Although it is hard since raising three different individuals is challenging and I feel like I need a degree in HR or Psychology, I celebrate how God made them unique.
neva says
February 20, 2015 at 3:54 pmCym! thank you for always following my stories! You are a blessing to me and to this blog! I would love to send you this book. Please email me your shipping address 🙂
Joan Macawili says
February 19, 2015 at 1:33 pmEvery time I don’t have class or one of my class gets cancelled and I tell my child, he would smile his big big smile and squeal with glee (yey!) because I get to stay at home with him. This is one of the things I celebrate most about my child – how happy he can be with simple things at the same time show me what really matters most, to spend time with the people we love.
neva says
February 20, 2015 at 3:56 pmaaaw yes same with us joan 🙂 david loves holidays and the few times we work from home too. i agree that spending time with them is one life’s blessings 🙂 Thank you so much for your comment! May I request that you email me your shipping address so that I can send you the book? thanks again!
Liz says
February 19, 2015 at 12:27 pmhaving Zaine in my life is already the best gift I could ever dream of. He has DS as well but every day it amazes me to find him having his own personality. Each time I spend time with him, he shows a different side that he’s never shown us before. He is unique in his own way but has the tendency to become hard-headed just like Mom 😛
neva says
February 20, 2015 at 3:57 pmHi Liz! Zaine is such a bugoy just like Noah. I know they’ll be good friends and sabay silang magiipon ng bukol haha 😀 Please email me Liz!! Would love to send you the book!!
apol says
February 18, 2015 at 11:21 pmPregnancy brought new fears to me. The fact that I had a healthy baby boy and he is developing well is what I celebrate the most… ah so in love with his laughs!
neva says
February 20, 2015 at 3:58 pmhi apol 🙂 i agree, we always take good health for granted. thanks for sharing and good luck with your baby boy. can you email me your address so that i can ship you the book? thanks again!