We treasure rare genetic variants in our pets – from multi-toed cats to white rabbits to
short-legged hounds. But genetic variants that cause disease – in people and pets – can be not only devastating, but isolating when no one has heard of them. That's particularly so for children.
Deborah Katz, a professor of nursing as well as a medical writer and editor and an artist, decided to do something to help children dealing with rare genetic diseases. She’s written a marvelous book, “Rare is Everywhere,” that taps into genetic quirks in beloved animals. A
kickstarter campaign to fund the first print run is underway now, ending November 22. All proceeds will go to the
Rare Disease Foundation a non-profit that funds research and programs for children with rare diseases.
Ms. Katz explains how she got the idea to write “Rare is Everywhere”:
“I’ve met so many kids in the last two decades-- personally and professionally - who feel like they are the only ones that are different. Even though I would tell them “you aren't the only one, there are so many others like you, and your difference can be a strength,” I felt like just saying it didn't really have an impact.
I've always had a passion for children's literature and its power to shape and inspire, and had written numerous stories for my own children over the years that I would tell to them at bedtime. So I started thinking about writing a children's book that showed kids that differences are common. One day, one of my children asked me what it means if something is rare. In trying to answer in a meaningful, scientific sort of way, I started to explain what a gene is and how we differ from one another in a way that my child could grasp.
I then had a Eureka! moment-- I could write a book that explains what rare is by showcasing animals with genetic changes that distinguish them from other members of their species, and that also shows kids how common differences are when you take a birds-eye view of the entire animal kingdom.”Sometimes it is better to be different. The book points out when rare variants are actually beneficial. The white spirit bear is superior at catching fish, the black penguin mother stands out to her babies, while the black jaguar fades into the backdrop of a dark forest floor. My favorite is the white alligator:
I put twigs on my head and leaves by the bunch
When birds land on me, I eat them for lunch!Ms. Katz avoids negative terms like “mutant” and “abnormal,” but doesn’t deny that being visibly different is to stand out – such as the brown panda, blue lobster, and pink grasshopper. “Children learn that differences are everywhere - and something to celebrate!”
Please support RARE IS EVERYWHERE by purchasing a book or making any donation. Thank you!
A version of this post appeared 10/31/16 at
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