Katrina and Winter: Partners in Courage by Nancy Stewart

Katrina and Winter:  Partners in Courage, by Nancy Stewart, is the true story of a girl born with a birth defect that could have limited her life activities, but hasn’t. 

Katrina, fitted with a prosthetic leg, learns to walk with a limp.  She is self-conscious about walking in front of people.  On a vacation trip, she meets Winter, a rescued dolphin with a stump of a tail.  Like Katrina and her ”helper” leg, Winter wears a prosthetic tail and learns to swim with therapy.  Katrina is drawn to this fellow disabled creature and takes away a life-changing lesson from Winter’s example.  Katrina vows to be strong and courageous like Winter, and live her life as fully as possible.

Throughout the story, whenever Katrina falters or doubts herself, she remembers that Winter never quits and she mustn’t either.  Katrina sets and achieves goals that are difficult for kids with two natural legs.  She joins the Jump Rope Club, and masters “Double-Dutch.”  She overcomes her fear of public viewing to make an educational video with Winter.  Katrina joins the 4-H Club.  Her accomplishments mount ever higher:  gymnastics group, modeling school, horseback riding, voice lessons, song writing.  She realizes that she can accomplish whatever challenge she sets for herself. 

Katrina is an inspiration to anyone with disabilities.  She is a role model for special needs kids and anyone who needs to see that problems and handicaps can be overcome.  She vows to help other people as she has been helped.  She volunteers at local charities and rides in Shriner’s Benefit Horse Shows.  Wherever she goes, whatever she does, Katrina never forgets Winter, the special dolphin who inspired her to be strong and courageous.

This wonderful true story is sure to be appreciated by anyone with seen and unseen handicaps and disabilities.  It is a perfect book for teachers and parents to show kids what hard work and dedication can achieve.  The personal photos present Katrina and Winter in real life scenes.  When we see them, we are reminded that if “we think we can,” we are on the way to success and can make our own dreams come true.  Thank you to Nancy Stewart for bringing us this inspirational story of love, courage, and determination in the face of adversity.

Available through Guardian Angel Publishing:   www.guardianangelpublishing.com.