Frances wonders what’s so special about her cousin Catherine, a young girl who has a kind of epilepsy known as infantile spasms, or West Syndrome. Catherine’s father explains that she is special because her claps are so quiet no one has ever heard them, she can get around in special walking boots without falling, and she can listen really well when many people talk too much.
As Frances spends time with her cousin, she begins to understand Catherine’s uniqueness. Vivid, energetic illustrations positively portray a family in which a child with exceptional needs is loved and celebrated. This children’s picture book is based on the author’s experience of her niece, a child similar to Catherine. Ages 5 and up. (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)