I Just Am
I Just Am
I Just Am - A Story of Down Syndrome Awareness and Tolerance
by Bryan and Tom Lambke
introduction by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
(Story Monsters Press)
“My name is Bryan. I have a disability. It's not my fault. I just am ... I do not look like normal. But what is normal?”
A gold medal winner in the 2003 Special Olympics Summer World Games in Ireland, Bryan Lambke, a young man with Down syndrome, loves his mom and dad and his sister, holds down two jobs, loves sports, and has girlfriends. He invites readers to look at his life and at theirs. Then he asks, “What is normal?”
The book also includes information about Down syndrome.
Book Details
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-58985-080-4
Trim Size: 9 in. x 6 in. / 112 pages/ black and white interior
Age Interest: 8 and up
The eBook is available to purchase from Amazon.
Special Offer
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Shipping
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Reviews
“I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved how it contained both Bryan's personal perspective (with great pictures to reinforce his thoughts) as well as very pertinent and reader friendly facts and information about Down's Syndrome. This will make a great addition to our Stettler Elementary school library but I will personally share with our teachers and students before putting it on the shelf.
As a former "Special Needs" Teacher, I really appreciate the outlook of this story. We must humanize all people who don't fit our society's "norm" and this is a great step towards doing just that.”
— Becky Baltimore, SES Teacher/Librarian. Stettler Alberta, Canada
“This engaging and helpful book updates older titles that might describe people as ‘suffering from’ or being ‘afflicted with’ mental retardation. Weed those and replace them with this one.”
— School Library Journal
“Bryan Lambke is a young man with Down Syndrome. Using pictures from the family album, Bryan shares what it is like to have Down Syndrome and what being normal and having a disability means to him. I Just Am offers a close up look at one young man with Down Syndrome sharing both the things that make him different and also the multitude of things that make him like other boys. In addition, it has information sections that parents can use to answer any questions their children have. This is a terrific introduction to Down Syndrome.”
—Beverly Krueger, ChildrensPictureBooks.info
“If your family includes someone with Down syndrome, you and your children probably know much of what this book has to share, but it's always heartwarming to know that you're not alone in your journey. If your family does not include someone with Down syndrome, you'll probably learn a lot you didn't know. It will help everyone understand and perhaps break barriers so that you can learn to be more accepting of people with disabilities.”
—Tammy Cardwell, Product Reviews, Eclectic Homeschool Online
“I Just Am is a poignant look into the life of someone living with Down syndrome. Throughout the book you can sense Lambke's confusion and frustration at being treated differently. Yet despite the obstacles, he is now twenty-three years old, works two jobs and has met two mayors and a governor as well as numerous celebrities. Readers will come away knowing more about Down syndrome as well as what day-to-day life is like for someone like Lambke.”
—Jill Hart, Blogcritics, May 10, 2007
“I, Janet Napolitano, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby salute I Just Am: Promoting Down Syndrome Awareness and Tolerance and Bryan Lambke and his family and friends, for providing all of us with an insight into his world and inspiring us with his life.”
—Janet Napolitano, former Governor of the State of Arizona
About the Authors
Tom and Bryan Lambke
