Rewriting The Rules: How Dr. Kathleen Friel Created New Possibilities for Brain Research and Disability + Interview with debut author Danna Zeiger + a GIVEAWAY!

I’m very excited to share with you all a wonderful picture book biography called REWRITING THE RULES: How Dr. Kathleen Friel Created New Possibilities for Brain Research and Disability, written by Danna Zeiger and illustrated by Josée Bisaillon. It comes out from Millbrook Press on September 9^th.  Here’s my review of this beautiful book:

This picture book biography of Dr. Kathleen Friel is absolutely enthralling. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Kathleen struggled as a child to walk, speak clearly, and get her muscles to do what she needed them to do, but her heart and mind were like any other child’s. She yearned to have friends and do the things that kids do. She had so many interesting ideas and yet people could only see her disability. As a result, she was often misunderstood and bullied by her peers. And yet. Kathleen persisted, eventually becoming an world-renowned scientist and researcher, and today helps kids with Cerebral Palsy strengthen their bodies and minds. This book chronicles Dr. Friel’s amazing accomplishments in a kid-friendly, accessible way and is accompanies by gorgeous, colorful illustrations. Extensive back matter includes more about Dr. Friel’s groundbreaking research, information about brain function, an explanation of Cerebral Palsy and its causes, and an Author’s Note detailing the author’s personal relationship with Dr. Friel. Perfect for little scientists who have their own big dreams for making the world a better place.

We are so lucky to have Danna with us to share some of the story behind the story. Welcome Danna!

RGL: Before we get too deep into the book, I’m so curious about YOU. I know that you are a scientist, but that you no longer work in that capacity. What made you want to take the leap from science to children’s book writing?

DZ: Yes! I’m no longer currently working as a scientist or professor. The first two years after I resigned, my kind colleagues (who were flabbergasted that I had resigned!) kept sending me job announcements! I’m not “definitely” never going back, but if I do, it will absolutely be in conjunction with my writing. I want to make this into a career!

I’ve always been a writer—as a kid, I kept an exploding tin of poems I wrote in various languages (I’m tri-lingual) and later, I served as poetry editor on my high school magazine. Growing up in an immigrant household from the USSR, we were only allowed to study math and science. I found my home and passion in neuroscience, and then molecular biology. I minored in math. However, I’ve always found ways to write creatively and express myself. One dream I had for some abstract day in the future was to become a children’s book author, like many of my own favorites, who carried me through tough times as a kid.

When I resigned from my professorship and started homeschooling, I was reading my kids dozens of books a week, and hundreds of books a month. While running an activity related to a Chris Van Dusen book (love him!) I had an idea and told my husband that “someone” should write it. He looked at me, and he said, “yes, you should.” And that is how I dove into a million classes, craft books, and online writing groups to make this dream a reality!

RGL: Your Author’s note describes how you had the opportunity to be mentored by Dr. Friel in college. What an amazing experience that must have been for a young scientist! Did having a personal connection to the subject of your book make writing it easier or more difficult?

DZ: I got really, really lucky to be in the lab I was in (love Dr. Martin) and then on top of that, to get Kathleen as a mentor. She is super patient and clearly explains and breaks down complicated science concepts—which is certainly not a given for all scientists!

But definitely, the fact that I know Kathleen and love her made the stakes very high for me. I was incredibly anxious about doing her story justice and getting her story right. It was personal.

The other challenge in knowing someone and writing about them is that there are so many facets to a person—how do you bottle that up, ignore fascinating and exciting threads that don’t have to do with your main thread, and prune it all down to one story? That was quite daunting.

RGL: How much or little was Dr. Friel involved with the creation of the book? Did you run any of the text or illustrations by her along the way? What was her reaction to having a book written about her?

DZ: I asked Kathleen for permission before I even started, of course. I think she was excited but… possibly unsure of what I really meant? I can imagine she wondered whether I intended to self-publish, for example. She was just excited and grateful, and I think touched – which just goes to show how humble and amazing she is 😊. I asked her a few questions here and there through writing, but for the large part, I relied on my own knowledge, memories, anecdotes, published interviews and materials, and Kathleen’s social media, haha! I did not run anything by her until the text manuscript edits were totally finalized with my editor and they approved my sharing it. To which Kathleen sent me capital letters and excited emojis—and I think we all breathed a huge sigh of relief!! Through the illustration process, Kathleen was certainly involved in that she sent us photos from her childhood and family, and kindly helped with any specific questions. For example, she took a picture of her hands so that we could make sure to authentically represent CP, and she explained in detail, with links, about adaptive silverware.

Thankfully, very thankfully, I think Kathleen has been really excited and honored that a book is being birthed about her. I had the privilege and honor to host Kathleen and her parents for lunch, where we projected the digital copy of the book onto our TV screen, and I read it to them. I’ll never forget this memory, and the tears, laughs, and multiple times they clapped in reaction. I think I can say this for the whole team of people working together on this book: we badly wanted to get it right, and we have been so thrilled that Kathleen feels so happy with it!

RGL: Did you have any say in the illustrator choice and/or how much input did you have into the illustrations over all? Did you have a lot of illustration notes? 

DZ: Working with my editor, Carol Hinz, and a fellow freelance editor, Leila Sales, was really an incredible debut experience. They offered me SO much input from illustrator choice to thumbnail, from sketches to full color. I loved Josée’s illustrations immediately, and I let the team know that it was particularly important to me for any selected illustrator to really capture the nuance of CP physical aspects with authenticity and compassion. Often, children’s books illustrations have simpler facial characteristics, for example, and I felt it was important to make sure to capture Kathleen and represent her as accurately as possible. Josée and the entire team did a phenomenal job of ensuring exactly this.

I did have a lot of illustration notes and they took most of these notes. We dabbled with quotes I had originally included, and for a while, thought we would include them… and ended up cutting them! I also included a suggestion for a dandelion motif and the whole team (including Josée and the art director) took this idea and flew with it beyond my wildest imagination!

RGL: What do you hope children most take away from your book after reading this book?

DZ: Oh boy, this is a hard question—but an excellent one! It’s hard because there are so many things I hope kids take away.

What I hope they take away most, though, is how to approach people with disabilities in their future—as people. Our world is rife with ableism, stereotyping, hurtful assumptions—that can cause physical pain, even, as Kathleen experiences when well-meaning strangers try to grab her, thinking she needs help. She has needed to go to the ER from these well-meaning strangers!

Kids are the keys to our future world. Kids are the future. I believe that the best way to fix our world is by reaching kids and building our stronger future, today. Kids need to know that people with disabilities are people.

I’ll let Kathleen speak for herself here: “Don’t dismiss us or view us as burdens or liabilities. Listen to us, engage with us as equals. We will do the same for you… People with CP—and other disabilities—want to be known as people. We have rich social lives, hobbies, favorite sports teams… We’re more than the way we move or talk.”

But if I can add to this top #1 thing I hope kids most take away, with additional messages I hope they take away: I hope kids know that prescribed futures, careers, abilities, are not always accurate… even by doctors. Even by scientists. That we all have the ability to rewrite rules for ourselves.

And, too, that it doesn’t always (or even, usually) come easily. It takes hard work. I really worry when I see kids expecting immediate success, especially in today’s world of instant gratification. Kathleen has never been afraid of hard work, and none of her accomplishments have come easily.

RGL: And now, my favorite question to ask my guests: What is one question no one has yet to ask you about the making of this book that you would love to answer? (And what’s the answer?!)

DZ: What a fun question! I would love to answer this question:

Was there anything different about writing a book about disability and featuring a (real!!) main character who has a disability?

Why, thank you for asking! (Hehe.)

I felt I had to approach this book and this subject with immense sensitivity, compassion, and also, accuracy. This was true in every part of the process: when approaching Kathleen or asking questions, as well as carefully choosing an illustrator who could do this justice. I myself actually had a sensitivity reader read my manuscript before I submitted it. The day after my agent submitted this manuscript to my editor, my editor immediately responded with a few questions. One of them was: has Danna had any sensitivity readers, and would she be open to more sensitivity readers reading this manuscript? My answers were an immediate yes, and yes. I really love that my editor took this so seriously, as well, as hired an additional two sensitivity readers.

Even when I answer questions and write about my experiences, I try and think about how my words could be misinterpreted and how to be clear about my message. My editor has even helped me there, when thinking about answers for my publisher’s blog. I feel that it has truly taken each member of this amazing team to get this amazing, inspiring, influential—but complex—story just right.

Thank you so much for sharing all this with us, Danna!

And yes, dear readers, there IS a giveaway! Danna has generously offered to giveaway a PB critique (non-rhyming, under 800 words) OR a 20-minute AMA. To enter, sign up for Danna’s newsletter on her website (https://www.dannazeiger.com/), then comment below to let her know that you did. I will announce the winner on my next post, scheduled for Sept. 16th!

And the winner of last month’s giveaway, either a signed copy of FINDING FORGIVENESS or a 30-min Zoom Ask Me Anything call with me, is….

***Alicia Guide!!!***

Congrats, Alicia! Please email me at RebeccaWrites4Kids@gmail.com for your prize!

Danna’s Bio: 

DANNA ZEIGER, Ph.D. is a former biology professor and researcher who enjoys finding ways to make STEM accessible. After rewriting her own rules, Danna is now a homeschooling mama and passionate children’s book author. As a young scientist, she was lucky to be mentored by the master rule-rewriter and subject of this book, Dr. Kathleen Friel. Danna lives in Massachusetts with her husband, three curious children, two pet chickens, and a bookcase always filled with the maximum number of checked-out library books. Rewriting the Rules is her debut book. She is also a 2025 PJ Library Sephardic Stories Initiative Fellow. Learn more about Danna, her books, and her love of all things science at www.dannazeiger.com.