Today autumn begins in the Northern Hemisphere. The temperature is slowly getting colder especially at night. Leaves are beginning to change color and football season is in full swing. Today we are sharing a sweet picture book with a theme around football but about overcoming disabilities. The book is Ginger's Courage by Lynsey Patterson and illustrated by Angela Perrini. There is a giveaway at the end of this post!
About the Book:
Ginger’s Courage Written by Lynsey Patterson and Illustrated by Angela PerriniAges: 4-6 | 18 Pages | Publisher: Little Steps Publishing (2025) | ISBN: 978-1915641366
Publisher’s Book Summary: When Ginger, a spirited dog, faces a life-changing injury, her world is turned upside down. But with the support of her friends and a heart full of resilience, she discovers a newfound positivity that helps her embrace life’s challenges.
Purchase Link:
Author’s Website: https://lynseypatterson.com/book/gingers-courage/
About the Author:
Lynsey Patterson grew up in the beautiful town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland, the birthplace of many notable writers and artists. Lynsey, like many children of her time, found solace in the local library. Her love for all things writing has led Lynsey to write portfolios of poetry and fiction, as well as numerous non-fiction articles, which have been published in various magazines. Lynsey’s first children’s book, Ginger’s Courage, was inspired by her four adopted fur babies, all with different levels of trauma and disability. Ginger’s Courage is based on true events and is due to be released later this year. Lynsey’s background is in education with a passion for wellbeing and counselling. Lynsey has lived in the Northern Territory, Australia, for the past 16 years and is now writing her second children’s book, which is the sequel to Ginger’s Courage.
For more information, visit lynseypatterson.com.
About the Illustrator:
Angelina Perrini is an artist who also teaches drawing. Her illustrations have been published in several children’s books. Angela loves working with both traditional and digital techniques. She has a degree in Art History and lives in Puglia, Italy.
For more information, visit angelaperrini.it.
From Me:
Ginger is a small dog who loves to play football. She spends her days kicking the ball and defending against her friends. She played in any weather, and it just made her so happy. Then one day the ball went into the street and Ginger ran after it. Sadly, Ginger gets hit by a car. She is rushed to the veterinarian's office, however when she returns home, she only has three legs. She feels like her world has ended and she will never play football again. She is glum and pouts. One day at the park she sees another dog who is happy running around and playing. When she realizes he only has three legs she begins to wonder if football is a possibility for her after all. She tries to play again and discovers it is just as fun with three legs. Her team grows to includes other dogs with various disabilities.
The book rhymes and is fun. It delves into overcoming a disability or setback. It shares about perseverance and resilience. Ginger takes time to grieve her leg and past life, but then she discovers it is not as bad as she originally thought. She can still play and have fun. She finds other dogs who overcome their own setbacks. This is a wonderful story for kids to read. It teaches that one bad thing doesn't have to be the end. It can just change and if we have courage and strength we can move past it. Ginger is a small dog with lots of courage and energy.
The story is fun with the rhyming lines. The illustrations are colorful and definitely very autumn themed. It is a wonderful story to talk about disabilities, overcoming setbacks, and resilience. I can see this book being read both at home and at school. At school it could be an example of how people (and animals) have different abilities, strengths and weaknesses and should be treated equally. I hope the story will inspire inclusiveness and welcoming environments for all kids. If you are using this book with kids, be sure to check out the free educational guide that goes with it.
Giveaway:
Enter for the chance to win a copy of Ginger’s Courage! Good luck!
