I Am Abel: And the Checker Tournament

By Sharon Balardo and Lori-Alyce Martin

Although he uses a wheelchair because he can’t walk, Abel proves time and time again that he can do the things other children can do. However, because of the cold and snow of winter, Abel chooses to go to the library during recess where he meets a new friend, Silencia. The two friends play checkers together, and Abel soon discovers that Silencia is a great checker player. Due to selective mutism, Silencia only speaks to her closest friends, until the day of the Board wide checker tournament. It is here where Abel’s opponent realizes to never underestimate the sounds of silence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781728359762

Sharon Balardo

Author Sharon Balardo writes the children's book, I Am Abel, with the intention of shifting the focus to children's "abilities". As Sharon completed her teacher certification at D'Youville College in 2007/2008, she was required to write two children's books as course assignments. Writing from the heart, Sharon mentally wrote the bulk of I Am Abel one evening as she was driving home from D'Youville College, Buffalo, New York to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Sharon Balardo regards herself as parent first, teacher/author second. She leaves her reader with the idea to never judge a book by its cover and never underestimate the abilities of a child as witnessed in her children's book, I Am Abel.

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