Down's Syndrome Child among Main Characters in New Children's Book Series "The Official Adventures"

"The Official Adventures" is a new chapter book series, by Jayne Jones Beehler and Katrina Dohm, that teaches children to embrace and respect their peers that have special needs.

The series tells the tale of two hockey loving brothers, Blaine and Cullen. On and off the ice, they have deep love for the game and also each other! Cullen is the all-star team captain and Blaine, who has Down's syndrome, is the team manager and clearly the "unsung hero" of the team. The brothers join Rylee and Rosee, America's favorite referees, in game day adventures that will have elementary and middle school aged readers laughing out loud, fist bumping the pages and cheering for more stories.

"This is a rarity in children's literature. We've seen characters with special needs on stage, film and other artistic expressions. But in books such a character is almost non-existent. It really is 'ice breaking,'" states Katrina Dohm, Illustrator and Co-Creator, The Official Adventures Series.

The storyline doesn't hide Blaine's challenges; instead the text proudly displays Blaine's heart-warming perseverance, his discipline and love for the game, his family and life.

Blaine's leadership and unselfish actions speak louder than any textual words. Through detailed illustration young readers are able to learn respect and a better understanding for the challenges individuals with special needs face on a daily basis.

The series has received the endorsement and support of NHL greats:

"This is a very worthwhile read that contains life lessons beyond the rink. It's a great pickup and I especially appreciate that it includes Blaine, a special needs character." –Mike Hickey, President, American Special Hockey Association.

"The Official Adventures Series books are terrific heart-warming stories that celebrate hockey, family and children with special needs! Our family loves these hockey tales that teach life lessons and encourages everyone to treat others with respect." –Bridget and Matt Cullen (Pittsburgh Penguins Center)

"This book teaches real life lessons through sport, through victory and losses, and emphasizes the importance of hard work regardless of the score." –Jocelyne Lamoureux, Team USA, Silver Olympic Medalist

"Playing hockey is awesome and reading about it can be just as fun. It's important to learn fundamentals on and off the ice!" –Claude Giroux, Captain, Philadelphia Flyers

To learn more, go to http://www.officialadventures.org/.