'Drew is Just Like You' Local 5-year-old's book promotes inclusion, helps prevent bullying
MOUNT ORAB, Ohio (WKRC) - In an age when some kids experience bullying, a local teacher and her daughter are helping children embrace each other‘s differences. They wrote a book and gave each student and teacher in their district a free copy.
Drew Gill sits on her mother, Brandi’s, lap as Brandi reads to her 5-year-old. Brandi read, “I’m an active little girl and my name is Drew. You’re just like me and I’m just like you.“
Most parents read to their children, but Brandi is a teacher and she is reading her daughter the book that the two of them worked on together.
“We asked her the things she likes to do like riding her bike, playing soccer, playing softball, things like that,” Brandi said.
The book is called, “Drew is Just Like You." Drew is eager to show visitors the different illustrations of her pictured in the book.
“That’s me in my bedroom tying my shoes,” Drew said.
The Gill family wanted to hand out books to Drew's class when she was old enough for kindergarten.
Drew’s father, Andrew Gill, said, “We always knew when the day came for Drew to start kindergarten, it always worried us. We were nervous just how the other kids would accept Drew.“
Drew was born without part of her left arm, but it hasn’t stopped her from doing everything she loves to do, including playing with her friends and riding her bike with her father. The book is designed to introduce other children to physical differences and deter kids from bullying.
“We welcome kids to ask her questions and adults to ask her questions. We would rather that then, you know, the staring and the whispering,” Brandi said.
“It’s easier at a younger age to get kids to understand the differences in people than when they get older,” Andrew said.
Students and teachers are not the only ones in embracing Drew and her book. Drew was invited to throw out the first pitch at Cincinnati Reds baseball game Wednesday evening.
At an early age, Drew is teaching important life lessons and her classmates are learning to love people for their differences.
Brandi read to Drew from the book, “At times, you might feel like you just don’t fit, but believe in yourself. Don’t ever quit.“
