James Blackburn is an Irvine resident who works for the Irvine Adult Transition Program (IATP) — a community-based program designed for individuals ages 18-22 with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Inspired by his students, James has written a children’s book entitled Sky Dragon, with the goal of teaching young children that disabilities don’t have to hold you back.
Sky Dragon follows the story of Drake, an adorable orange dragon born with a lame wing and a knack for adventure. When he mistakenly tumbles off a ledge, Drake finds himself lost in a dark, spooky forest, far from the Land of Dragons in the sky. Not letting his lame wing stop him, Drake must do whatever it takes to find his way home.
With beautiful illustrations and a memorable rhyming story of a dragon’s journey home, Sky Dragon is sure to be a favorite for young readers.
When asked why James decided to write the book, he said “My students were the ones who inspired me to write Sky Dragon. I watch them working hard every day to achieve independence while facing challenges that most of us are unable to imagine. I feel very blessed to be able to teach such a wonderful group of students. The book is my way of making sure that young children understand that just because someone was born with a disability, they can still do great things. ”
The target age group for Sky Dragon is 5-6 years of age, but it is a tale everyone can relate to. We all have our vines to climb!
Sky Dragon is available at Barnes & Noble and Target. You can also order it through Amazon by clicking here.
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