Down Syndrome Out Loud
By Melissa Hart, illustrated by Maria Perera
(Sourcebooks, 2025 – Learn more)
Reviewed by Steve Tetreault
When I saw Down Syndrome Out Loud, I was intrigued. I am always seeking engaging nonfiction, and I know this is an area of our library desperately in need of development. This book looked like it would be a great fit for our middle school library’s nonfiction section.
The book’s format and style lend itself well to a middle grades audience. I plan to add this title to our browsable nonfiction collection.
Featuring profiles of people from around the world (though mostly from the United States) with Down syndrome, the style is clearly intended for a middle grades audience. In addition to the individual profiles, readers who are not familiar with Down syndrome get a clear and accessible overview of the disorder and its effects.
Each profile starts with a full-page illustrated portrait of the individual. On the facing page, the profile begins with their name, home country, and year of birth. Three pages of text about each person include biographical information as well as noteworthy accomplishments – and each individual profiled is noteworthy! The text is broken up with illustrations related to the subject’s area of interest.
A focus on accomplishments
One of the things I appreciated about this book is the wide variety of accomplishments that are highlighted. This book makes it clear that people with Down syndrome can do anything and everything. As with any person, they can compete at high levels and achieve great things with supporting families and mentors.
That message is regularly repeated: People with Down syndrome are first and foremost people. As talk show host and profile subject Madison Tevlin says, “I have Down syndrome and it’s the least interesting thing about me.” Several of the individuals profiled point out that while they may appear different, their appearances are not indicative of who they are or what they are capable of.
I appreciated the tone of the book – positive without being saccharine, willing to point out difficulties people with Down syndrome often face but not overly fixated on the negative. I also like that the book wraps up with some short, accessible pages providing tidbits about Down syndrome and suggestions for further reading.
Introducing individuals living in today’s society
I also liked the book’s currency. It focuses on individuals who are out in the world today making their presence known. While there are references to individuals active in the Down syndrome community decades ago, they are mentioned in passing. This book is focused on the here and now!
The end materials include some short overview pieces about the origins of the National Down Syndrome Society, and two timelines: “Down Syndrome Discoveries and Developments” and “The Disability Movement in the US.”
One thing I noticed as I advanced through the book was that the structure of the profiles started to feel a bit repetitive. While each individual has their own specific story and accomplishments, the profiles tend to follow a few basic patterns. This is not a major draw-back; there is variety within the patterns, and each individual is truly interesting. Also, I don’t imagine middle grades readers would read this book from cover to cover in a single sitting. The short, individual profiles lend themselves to casual browsing. And the index at the end offers readers the ability to jump around easily to read about each person based on their main area of accomplishment.
While Perera’s illustration work is top-notch, as I made my way through the book, I found myself wishing for some photographs to add another layer of visual interest to the book. While the illustrations make for a visually cohesive motif, I think the book would be enhanced with some photographic elements.
Overall, I would definitely include Down Syndrome Out Loud in my middle grades collection. I think it will benefit my students to have this engaging title available to help them gain some perspective. And it will be an excellent mirror for students with Down syndrome or other developmental conditions. All our students need to see themselves on the shelves; and all our students should be able to read about lives different than their own to help them increase their empathy and their knowledge.
Steve Tetreault is a middle grades school librarian. After earning degrees in educational administration and supervision, he came to realize that the school library is the best place for students to learn. So he went back to school so he could get into the largest classroom in the school! Steve collaborates and connects with educators of all stripes on Bluesky @DrTLovesBooks and learns about great books from his guests on The School Librarian Learning Network (SLLN) Podcast – SLLNPodcast.libsyn.com.
