Book Review: Jana’s Brightly Coloured Socks by Sally Fetouh

I am so pleased to be welcoming Sally Fetouh to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Jana’s Brightly Coloured Socks.

Cheerful text and whimsical illustrations bring alive this heart-warming story of kindness and inclusion featuring a character with Down syndrome.

When young Jana receives heaps of beautiful socks from her parents after learning how to put on socks all by herself, she can’t wait to show her friends at school. They are always kind and patient with Jana when they play together. Jana decides to share a pair of her new socks with each and every friend. This calls for a school sock parade! All of the children had so much fun showing off their colourful socks together that they gave a very special and huge gift for their kind and generous friend, Jana, a box of more socks!

Author Sally Fetouh was inspired to write this touching story by her own daughter who has Down syndrome, feeling it was important for her and other children like her to be able to see themselves in literature. Two years ago, after reading a different story about a girl with Down syndrome to her daughter’s preschool class, Sally says, “The children were so engaged in the story and asked questions. They were very accepting and loving of their friend—my daughter. I left with a heart overflowing with emotion and that inspired me to write my story.”

*****

Jana loves her colourful socks and has just learnt to put them on by herself.

She wants to share this love with her school friends.

This book is so wonderful. I am honoured to be part of the Book Birthday Blitz.

Jana is such a sweet, loveable character and you can’t help but warm to her. Also, I want her sock collection.

The illustrations by Alexis Schnitger are absolutely beautiful and complement this adorable story.

Like Jana’s socks, this book is full of colour. I spent the whole time reading with a big grin on my face. It’s joyful, gentle and I feel would be perfect in keeping your child’s attention.

This book shines a light on the DSI’s #lotsofsocks campaign which happens every year on World Down Syndrome Day.

The overall message is strong and is an important one. It’s one of inclusivity, friendship, love, compassion, and acceptance.

With it being aimed at children between 4-8 years, I am most definitely not the target audience. However, I got something so positive from it. I think it’s a perfect addition to any child’s book collection.

Thank you for Rachel’s Random Resources for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Sally Fetouh –

Writing is very much a part of who author Sally Fetouh is as a human being. As a child, writing was a way for her to express herself and all of the stories and ideas she had in her head. Now, as an adult, she has been inspired to write a beautiful story of kindness and friendship, Jana’s Brightly Coloured Socks, a heart-warming picture book loosely based on her daughter who has Down syndrome.

It was important to Sally that her daughter and other children like her were able to see themselves represented in literature. The idea came to Sally when she visited her daughter’s preschool to read a story about a girl with Down syndrome. The loving, accepting, and inquisitive responses from her daughter’s classmates inspired her to write a story reflecting these caring friendships.

Sally believes a great book is one that has impactful characters and a story that provides a new experience or perspective to the reader that stays with them long after the book is closed. She hopes that her young readers with disabilities or those who are different in some way will be able to relate to the main character and see a little bit of themselves, while also aiming for other readers to gain insight into the world of Down syndrome and the importance and impact of kindness and friendship.

When she isn’t writing thought-provoking children’s books, Sally works as a lawyer and a photographer. She enjoys being in nature, hiking, and horse riding. She lives with her family in Sydney, Australia. Jana’s Brightly Coloured Socks is her debut picture book.

Say hello via Instagram, Facebook and Goodreads.

Say hello to Alexis Schnitger on Instagram. 

Click to buy Jana’s Brightly Coloured Socks on Amazon or via Sally’s website.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.