Author Silke Schnee is the mother of a child with Down syndrome. It’s fitting that the hero of her book, Prince Noah and the School Pirates (Plough, 2016), has the same syndrome. The story affirms the value of all children and continues the adventures of Noah, introduced in a previous book as “the prince who was just himself.”

This sequel to “The Prince Who Was Just Himself” approaches the issues of diversity and inclusion, beautifully illustrating that differences work better together rather than separately in an educational setting. This book is a must-read for children and a must-have for owners of the first book.

The colorfully detailed illustrations make this a good book for reading aloud. Information about Down syndrome at the end adds useful content. Aspects of the plot fit in with conflict resolution techniques…. Good for classrooms, Sunday school classes, and children’s time in congregational worship to show that people with disabilities are more similar to others than they are different, and add important abilities to the community.

A new children’s fairytale . . . demonstrates how great it is to live in a world where everyone looks and acts differently from one another. Though Noah doesn’t have the same abilities as his brothers, his parents soon realize how wonderful he is in his own way. And when the new prince defeats the kingdom’s worst enemy with a simple act of kindness, everyone else sees it too.

A new children’s fairytale . . . demonstrates how great it is to live in a world where everyone looks and acts differently from one another. Though Noah doesn’t have the same abilities as his brothers, his parents soon realize how wonderful he is in his own way. And when the new prince defeats the kingdom’s worst enemy with a simple act of kindness, everyone else sees it too.

A fairy tale that doubles as a helpful introduction to teach young people about Down syndrome, including the important fact that people with Down syndrome are quite capable of living long, happy, and helpful lives.

A gentle fairy tale about a young prince with Down syndrome who saves his kingdom from a menacing knight…. [It] offers a special needs child in a positive, starring role and can be read simply as a satisfying fairy tale…. The author, herself the mother of a child with Down syndrome, and the illustrator ably introduce a difficult subject in a fictional context with a light, sure touch.

A gentle fairy tale about a young prince with Down syndrome who saves his kingdom from a menacing knight…. [It] offers a special needs child in a positive, starring role and can be read simply as a satisfying fairy tale…. The author, herself the mother of a child with Down syndrome, and the illustrator ably introduce a difficult subject in a fictional context with a light, sure touch.