Let's Go Swimming (Oversized) (Marianna, Wake Us Up!) Hardcover – Large Print, January 6, 2026

Marianna loves to go swimming with her dad. Together they enjoy a pleasant routine that builds strength and keeps her healthy. It was not always like that, and it takes a lot of work to keep a positive attitude.Marianna is an energetic girl with Down syndrome. She loves getting up every morning and enjoys many activities. Her positive outlook has a lot of challenges - both personal ones and ones created by her surroundings.The book series Marianna, Wake Us Up! provides real-life stories about activities she enjoys, and most people take for granted. They range from going swimming at the pool or the beach, going to the grocery store or on a trip, and going on a hike in the mountains or playing in the neighborhood park. She and her family persevere through her physical and intellectual disabilities, and the obstacles society puts in their way. Obstacles which are sometimes deliberate and other times unintentional. Marianna also runs into strangers who are kind and provide encouragement. She, much like most people with disabilities, deals with these challenges regularly. In overcoming these challenges, she raises the expectations of everyone she meets.Each book in the series has three parts:Part 1 is Marianna’s story as a graphic novel. (For children)Part 2 is the parents’ story presented in personal narrative format. (For grown-ups)Part 3 is an opportunity for the reader to engage with thoughtful questions. (For educators)The goal of this book series is to raise awareness of the challenges people with disabilities encounter daily. This series provides insight into how the family has managed their situation and turns what most people consider a negative into a positive experience. By reading these books, hopefully people will look at someone with a disability in a new way. One that does not place them on a pedestal nor in a locked room, but as a person with feelings and ambitions. An ordinary person with the same desires as others, but who faces far more barriers to achieving their goals. Read more