A Children’s Picture Book About “Glass Child Syndrome”
Penelope Panda’s Peculiar Family
“Penelope Panda's family is a little bit peculiar, but not in the way you’d expect…”
What is “Glass Child Syndrome”?
The Cleveland Clinic describes it as “[the] experience of having a sibling with special needs”. This isn’t a medical condition, but rather a “way of describing a family dynamic”. Children growing up with a sibling with special needs can feel transparent, as if made of glass. Characteristics may include:
Perfectionism
Rapid maturity beyond years
People-Pleasing
Difficulty setting healthy boundaries
Difficultly asking for help
Susceptibility to mental health problems
Learn more here
What Motivated You to Write This Book?
This book started as just a doodle during a class. At the time, my sister had been in and out of the ICU for roughly a year. I was reflecting on my life growing up alongside Kara, considering all the memories that made me different.
Each day was a struggle to maintain a good attitude on the outside while I carried such a weight on the inside. It was then that I first heard the term “Glass Child Syndrome” and realized that it applied to me.
This book is the result of that phase of my life.
What Is It About?
While the story is told from a metaphorical and fantastic point of view, each individual event is based on those that truly did happen around age five. It shows how a child might interpret a life constantly surrounded by the medical world.
Penelope the Panda wonders what makes her family so peculiar. After she fails to solve everything herself, she learns that it’s her sister, Mia, who’s peculiar! Watch as Penelope learns that she can depend on the loved ones around her.
What Do You Hope to Accomplish?
The first time I met someone with siblings like me wasn’t until college. The most formative years of my life passed without having another person to which I could relate! My hope is that by sharing my story, other children may be kept from feeling alone in similar circumstances.
This book also serves as a conversation starter for parents looking to teach their children about people with disabilities and the differences in other’s family lives.
Where Can I Purchase a Copy?
Penelope Panda’s Peculiar Family is now available on all major book retail websites including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Books can also be purchased directly from the printer here.
