Yael Manor's Dana Deserves a Playground Too
Sometimes you just fall in love with a book, the illustrations, the characters and the story. And that is what has happened here.
Yael Manor has written a story for children that needs telling. Dana is a young girl with a loving family and friends. She goes to the playground where her friends are playing happily. Dana is in a wheelchair and there is nothing there that she can do. Not the swings, not the carousel, not the slide or the climbing equipment.
Yael’s point is that Dana is not alone. Most community or school playgrounds simply do not welcome children who are physically challenged. Children like Dana are excluded from playing with friends. She told me how she was inspired to write this story. “One day, I came across a story on Facebook about a woman who met a father and daughter at the playground. Due to a disability, the girl was confined to a wheelchair and unable to enjoy any of the playground facilities. All she could do was put her doll in the swing and push it, which caused great sorrow for her and her father. This story gave me the inspiration to write this book.”
Yael’s point is that Dana is not alone. Most community or school playgrounds simply do not welcome children who are physically challenged. Children like Dana are excluded from playing with friends. She told me how she was inspired to write this story. “One day, I came across a story on Facebook about a woman who met a father and daughter at the playground. Due to a disability, the girl was confined to a wheelchair and unable to enjoy any of the playground facilities. All she could do was put her doll in the swing and push it, which caused great sorrow for her and her father. This story gave me the inspiration to write this book.”
Other inspiration came from her own children, twins, and grandchildren, also twins, whose raising gave her many ideas for her writing. Her parents moved in with her to help her raise the twins, as Yael was a widow. Living with three generations must have taught her teamwork, which is a key in creating the playground for Dana.
Yael empowers the children in her story to bring about the changes for the playground. She explained that she had done so because “Values of caring, responsibility, and friendship are stronger and more meaningful when they come from children.”
I couldn’t agree more. In this season of redemption of Passover and Easter, the story of Dana getting a playground that she can play in is a heartwarming story that should inspire all of us to expand our world.
Here are ideas for few snacks to take to the playground, use for afterschool treats and of course are perfect for adults to put into their lunchboxes!