My Extraordinary Face: A Celebration of Differences

by Samir Mardini M.D., Marissa Suchyta M.D., Ph.D., Violet Tobacco (Illustrator)

Overview

Celebrate all that makes you...you!  

My Extraordinary Face is a groundbreaking picture book that celebrates what makes us unique! Whether a child is living with a facial difference or struggling with bullying, this heartwarming story explores the ups and downs of growing up with a visible difference. Told through the lens of four children with a spectrum of facial differences, including vitiligo, port wine stain, Treacher Collins Syndrome, and cleft palate, this gentle story guides young readers to build a healthy relationship with their appearance and better understand the challenges faced by others.

Expertly crafted by the world-renowned facial surgeon Samir Mardini, MD, and Marissa Suchyta, MD, PhD, My Extraordinary Face is a must-read for any child struggling with self-acceptance. Filled with practical advice and reflective prompts, as well as impactful back matter, this indispensable tool teaches children to embrace their unique features and celebrates all that makes them who they are. Join along on a journey of self-love and acceptance gorgeous picture book!

Mayo Clinic Press Kids creates empowering health and wellness content in partnership with pediatric experts. Proceeds from the sale of every book go to benefit important medical research and education at Mayo Clinic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798887700113
Publisher:	Mayo Clinic Press
Publication date:	05/14/2024
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Marissa Suchyta, MD, PhD, is a dedicated physician-scientist with a passion for improving facial paralysis outcomes through innovative neurostimulation techniques. With degrees from Mayo Clinic and Harvard University, she brings a wealth of knowledge in biomedical sciences and human developmental biology. Inspired by the challenges faced by children with facial differences, Marissa aims to bridge the gap with accessible family resources, making a lasting impact on patient care and well-being. She's based in Rochester, MN.

Samir Mardini, MD, is a distinguished surgeon and Professor of Surgery at Mayo Clinic, specializing in craniofacial surgery and facial reconstruction in children and adults. With over 185 peer-reviewed articles and three books published, his expertise in craniomaxillofacial surgery is globally recognized. As Director of the Craniofacial Clinic and Facial Paralysis and Reanimation Clinic as well as Surgical Director of Face Transplantation, Samir's dedication to helping children with facial clefts and differences extends worldwide, creating lasting transformations and restoring optimal function and aesthetics. He's based in Rochester, MN.

Violet Tobacco is an illustrator based in Atlanta, Georgia. She studied theater in college but gravitated toward other mediums of art before graduating. Always a storyteller with an affinity for whimsy, humor, and a well-delivered moral, she is most fond of illustration as a means of expression. She enjoys working with other creative individuals to build stories that help us better understand who we are.

 

Editorial Reviews

“Mardini and Suchyta matter-of-factly acknowledge tough feelings such as loneliness while portraying differences in a positive light.  Practical and empowering.”-  Kirkus
 

From the Publisher

2024-02-12
Strategies to help kids with facial differences navigate others’ reactions.

“No one’s face is ordinary,” the authors, both medical doctors, declare, but “sometimes when you’re extraordinary, it isn’t easy to fit in.” Sometimes people stare, whisper, or ask questions “because there is no one else exactly like you.” To mitigate such challenges, the authors walk kids through a breathing exercise: blowing a huge bubble of “love and care and kindness” that stares can’t penetrate. Children are then invited to name three things they’re proud of; illustrated examples include playing sports, baking, and singing. Should anyone try to burst their bubbles, kids can exit an uncomfortable conversation and find a friend: “Your bubble will always follow.” As youngsters talk to trusted people, their confidence bubble “grows…and grows…and grows!” Racially diverse children with conditions including vitiligo and cleft palate demonstrate these strategies in bright cartoon illustrations. Questions such as “What is a mean comment that someone has said to you before? What would you say to them from inside your bubble?” invite readers to practice handling difficult interactions. Mardini and Suchyta matter-of-factly acknowledge tough feelings such as loneliness while portraying differences in a positive light: “Your face is one part of the amazing person you are.” The book’s reminder to readers that they are unique, powerful, and entitled to ignore rude comments emphasizes children’s agency—all crucial ingredients for confidence. An authors’ note offers tips for caregivers.

Practical and empowering. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews