Rating: 
Summary: Little People Learning to See the World Through My Daughter
Review: I love the book, I am still reading it. I love that Dan included his thoughts and his experiences. I also truly enjoy all of the history he included on dwarves in history. I am learning so much by reading this book. He covered many areas. I am reading it slowly just to catch all that he has said. I can read a page and then reread it and grasp so much more. I am very happy to add this to my collection of books on dwarfism and novels about little people. Thank you Dan! : )
Rating:
Summary: Little People Learning to See the World Through My Daughter
Review: I love the book, I am still reading it. I love that Dan included his thoughts and his experiences. I also truly enjoy all of the history he included on dwarves in history. I am learning so much by reading this book. He covered many areas. I am reading it slowly just to catch all that he has said. I can read a page and then reread it and grasp so much more. I am very happy to add this to my collection of books on dwarfism and novels about little people. Thank you Dan! : )
Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking
Review: In 1992 Dan and Barbara Kennedy felt they owned the world with the birth of their first daughter. However, that realm is rocked when the doctor informs the couple that their daughter Becky suffers from achondroplasia, the most commonly known form of dwarfism. The good news is that the child will have a normal life span and intelligence. Once the shock passes, the couple showered their beloved firstborn with love and encouragement.Besides the reaction and insight into how Becky sees the world, the author researched dwarfism past and present and explains quite succinctly the distinction between various types of dwarfism. In an ironic twist from what one would expect Mr. Kennedy also makes a poignant somewhat emotional argument against genetic cleansing eliminating many of these "differences" outside the acceptable mainstream of society. He feels diversity should be honored and included for the better good of all. Not everyone will agree with the author out of concern for the individual, but Mr. Jenkins fears homogeny may go too far for society as a whole. Parts warning, parts loving and nurturing, and parts historical, LITTLE PEOPLE: LEARNING TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH MY DAUGHTER'S EYES is a powerful angst-laden social treatise inside a tender family journal. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking
Review: In 1992 Dan and Barbara Kennedy felt they owned the world with the birth of their first daughter. However, that realm is rocked when the doctor informs the couple that their daughter Becky suffers from achondroplasia, the most commonly known form of dwarfism. The good news is that the child will have a normal life span and intelligence. Once the shock passes, the couple showered their beloved firstborn with love and encouragement. Besides the reaction and insight into how Becky sees the world, the author researched dwarfism past and present and explains quite succinctly the distinction between various types of dwarfism. In an ironic twist from what one would expect Mr. Kennedy also makes a poignant somewhat emotional argument against genetic cleansing eliminating many of these "differences" outside the acceptable mainstream of society. He feels diversity should be honored and included for the better good of all. Not everyone will agree with the author out of concern for the individual, but Mr. Jenkins fears homogeny may go too far for society as a whole. Parts warning, parts loving and nurturing, and parts historical, LITTLE PEOPLE: LEARNING TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH MY DAUGHTER'S EYES is a powerful angst-laden social treatise inside a tender family journal. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Little People: A review
Review: One month ago I bought this book here on Amazon and it was my intention to keep it on the bookshelf gathering dust until semester break when it would be my reading material for the flight home. I briefly cracked it open & thought I could peek at the opening paragraph just to get a sense of the book then put it down. WRONG! It sucked me in and for the next 2 days I ignored all my classwork in order to finish it. Without an ounce of hyperbole this is the best book about dwarfs & dwarfism, our community and our history I have read. It is well written, interesting, informative, and respectful but without ever inching towards the "Super-Crip" mentality so many books about people of difference tend to fall into.
This is a wonderful book and I encourage everyone to read it. When finished, I encourage people to pass it onto others who know nothing about dwarfism in order to teach people of our history. To those in school, pass it onto your office of students with disabilities and the professors who teach classes in multicultural issues. I hope that someday Becky will realize this is a love letter her father has written to and about her.
Rating:
Summary: A Little Person On 'Little People'
Review: Recently, I gave myself the title of being the first person in my county's entire library system to get their hands on a copy of Dan Kennedy's book, Little People. While to most this was no
extraordinary feat, but my anticipation of getting to read this was not unlike a child waiting for Christmas morning; this book was considered to me, and possibly the rest of the dwarf community, to might as well have been on the New York Times bestseller list.
As someone who has recently re-introduced herself to LPA, after a 13 year period of 'denial' (as some put it), I have since amassed a collection of every kind of informational resource there is on dwarfism, and LPA in general.
I can say, without a doubt, Dan Kennedy's book is by far the best, if not most brilliant work on the subject there is today, something cannot say about the typical 'medical textbook'-style writing on dwarfism I have become so used to.
While the dynamics of dwarfism are extremely broad, and profound
subjects each within it's own category, Dan has successfully been
able to wrap it all up in one single book, in a non-intimidating
language that can be understood by all, and brilliantly constructed on a foundation of Dan's own personal experiences and anecdotes on dwarfism, as the father of a dwarf, and as someone who is actively involved in LPA, from the perspective of an average sized person.
Not to forget it's immediate appeal, with a eye-catching, artistic and thought provoking cover photo, this book definitely deserves a space along bookshelves with other popular contemporary literature in bookstores today.
After reading this I was left with a deep satisfaction, that perhaps this book, along with the release of the film, The Station Agent, may be the beginning of a new revolution for dwarfism community, by introducing ourselves to mainstream America, in a practical, and meaniningful way
thus in effect squashing the old stereotypes and stigmatizms we are still subjected to everyday. I strongly recommend this book as a must-read for parents, family and friends of Little People and those interested in finding out what it's really all about.
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