Customer Reviews
SLP 
2008-07-06
We'll Paint the Octopus Red is a book about a little girl named Emma, who is going to become a big sister soon. Through the first half of the book Emma and her dad talk about all of the things, she is going to be able to do with her new little brother. She wants to kick the ball, go on safari in Africa, and paint the octopus. Then when her little brother is born, her dad tells her that he has Down Syndrome. She then thinks of all the things she wanted to do, and tells her dad she guesses he will not be able to do those things after all. Then her dad and her go through each thing and decide that if they are patient and take time with her new brother, he will be able to do all of those things in life. Therefore, Emma decides that Downs will not be that big of a deal, and goes to see her little brother at the hospital, and tells him that she will teach him to paint the octopus red when he is older. The end of the book also has questions and answers for children about Down Syndrome.
Wonderful book for siblings 
2008-03-13
A little girl eagerly anticipates the birth of her little sister and she pictures all the things they will do together. When her sister is born with Downs Syndrome, she must realize that they won't be able to do all of those things, but there are still fun things they can do together and be loving siblings.
This is a very positive book that is excellent for a child with a special need-learning to love your sibling no matter what and finding things to do with her has to be one of the hardest parts for any big sister, and this book lovingly shows how to do that. Excellent for read aloud and early readers, up through about 3rd grade.
Also good for siblings where the older one has Down syndrome 2007-09-04
I bought this book while pregnant because I'm sure that someday my daughter will have questions about her big brother who has Down syndrome. I'm hoping that this book will help both of them understand why when the day comes that she is able to do things that he hasn't learned yet. Being only 23 months apart, I felt the need to be prepared as soon as possible.
This is a beautiful book that very sweetly explains that delays don't mean that someone will never be able. I like the fact that this book doesn't dwell on the negatives of a Down syndrome diagnosis, but also includes the idea that Mom & Dad may be sad. I hope that my daughter someday cherishes the book and why I bought it for her.
Highly Recommend 2007-08-26
Great book. Like an earlier review, it also made me cry the first time I read it. It really captures the feelings associated with having a Down Syndrome child. Definitely a must buy for anyone who has a Down Syndrome child, with or without siblings.
We'll Paint The Octopus Red 2007-08-25
This book is wonderful for siblings and young children that are related to a child with down's sydrome. Very educational. I gave it as a gift to my nephews and neices to help them to understand how their cousin would be a little different than them but can do the same things in time.
helpful for siblings of children with special needs 2006-11-04
Six-year-old Emma has big dreams for her new baby brother. But when she learns that he has Down syndrome, she worries that he won't be able to do many of the fun things she's imagined they'd do together. This is a reassuring story for young children as well as parents adjusting to Down syndrome and what it means for their relationship with their sibling or child. It concludes with helpful questions and answers for children about Down syndrome.
Perfect for DS families 2006-07-01
I bought this book for my daughter, also named Emma, when her brother was unexpectedly born with Down syndrome a year ago. The book accuately describes the feelings my husband and I were feeling, and the concerns I'm sure Emma will have when Jake gets older. (She's only 3 now, but already knows there is something different about her best playmate) From the moment we first read it to her, it became her favorite book. She calls it her "special book" and asks us to read it to her often. I even have had mothers at church borrow it so they can read it to their children to explain to them what Down syndrome is, and how Jake will be affected.
I love this book, and its overall message - that Jake may not be able to do all the things other babies his age are doing at the time, but he will in his own time, and he just might need a little help.
Fun story, great content, but not a total winner with my daughter (she's a tough critic :^) 2006-02-28
We bought this story because our 5 year old daughter is a little jealous of the time we spend with our 17 month old daughtter who has DS. I read it to both of them and they really enjoyed it; nice colors, good story, good connection. However, the five year old never asks me to read it to her. Though she doesn't mind if I volunteer to read it, it is just never HER pick. Nice sotry though and good integration of two siblings. Helps the older sibling understand a little more about why their sibling has DS, where it comes from, and other good questions.
Best book for this age group 2002-11-22
Six year old Emma isn't very happy about the idea of having a new brother or sister but when Emma and her dad start thinking of all the things that they can do with the new baby, Emma becomes excited at the prospect of being a big sister. When her dad comes home and tells Emma that her new brother, Isaac, has Down syndrome, Emma worries that he won't be able to do any of the fun things that she has imagined. As Emma and her dad think back over all the things they wanted to do with the new baby, they realize together that as long as they are patient and helped him when he needed it, there wasn't anything he couldn't do. This is a reassuring story for young children bewildered by Down syndrome and what it means for their relationship with their new sibling. This is truly a wonderful story. Your child will ask you why you are crying after you read it to them. Of all the books for this age group, this book is by far the best.
MUCH better than Maria Shriver's story 2002-07-11
This is a great, simple, accurate, sweet book about a little girl who has a brother with Down syndrome. It explains that kids with Down syndrome need more time and patience, but they all can learn to do the things other kids do. I highly recommend this book to kids with Down syndrome and their siblings, friends, neighbors and relatives. It's good on its own and as an alternative to What's Wrong With Timmy?, a book that covers the same topic in a much less appealing manner.
