About the Book

It’s time for young Prince Noah to go to school. The prince, who starred in the book The Prince Who Was Just Himself, may be a little slower than other students, but he has no less joy in learning. In his kingdom, children go to school on sailing ships. There is a ship for girls and one for boys. There is a ship for children with an eye patch, a ship for children with one leg, and a ship for children who are slower learners. No one knows why there are so many different ships, but it has always been that way.

Then a terrible storm drives the ships into the hands of pirates. The boys and girls realize that they will only escape if everyone does what he or she does best. Through their adventures, they learn that diversity makes us strong and that every person has something to teach us.

This delightfully illustrated fairy tale instills appreciation for children with Down syndrome and other developmental challenges, making it a valuable aid for teaching tolerance in the home or classroom.

About the author: Silke Schnee is a journalist and works as a television producer for a public broadcaster in Cologne, Germany. She is married and has three sons. Her youngest son Noah was born in July 2008 with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).

About the illustrator: Heike Sistig studied art and special education, and is also a trained art therapist. She works as an editor for children’s television programs. Ms. Sistig has illustrated several children’s books, and has independently exhibited her work as a freelance artist. She lives with her family in Cologne, Germany.

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Praise

A gentle fairy tale about a young prince with Down syndrome who saves his kingdom from a menacing knight…. [It] offers a special needs child in a positive, starring role and can be read simply as a satisfying fairy tale…. The author, herself the mother of a child with Down syndrome, and the illustrator ably introduce a difficult subject in a fictional context with a light, sure touch.

Kirkus Reviews, praise for the first Prince Noah book, The Prince Who Was Just Himself

This sequel to “The Prince Who Was Just Himself” approaches the issues of diversity and inclusion, beautifully illustrating that differences work better together rather than separately in an educational setting. This book is a must-read for children and a must-have for owners of the first book.

Saving Down Syndrome

A new children’s fairytale . . . demonstrates how great it is to live in a world where everyone looks and acts differently from one another. Though Noah doesn’t have the same abilities as his brothers, his parents soon realize how wonderful he is in his own way. And when the new prince defeats the kingdom’s worst enemy with a simple act of kindness, everyone else sees it too.

The Mighty, praise for the first Prince Noah book, The Prince Who Was Just Himself

Author Silke Schnee is the mother of a child with Down syndrome. It’s fitting that the hero of her book, Prince Noah and the School Pirates (Plough, 2016), has the same syndrome. The story affirms the value of all children and continues the adventures of Noah, introduced in a previous book as “the prince who was just himself.”

World Magazine

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Education
Family Corner
Culture of Life
Special Needs Children
Mother’s Day
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