A Blue Rose in a Bouquet of Flowers

The Blue Rose, authored by Gerda Klein and published in 1974, is a beautiful children's book about Jenny, a young intellectually disabled girl. Because it is an older book, Jenny is described as mentally retarded, and the pictures appear outdated. Still, it is a vivid description of the world of a child with an intellectual disability. At the end of the story, Gerda Klein compares Jenny to a blue rose, "Delicate and lovely. And because there are so few blue roses, we don't know much about them. We only know that they must be tended more carefully and loved more."

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Tricia has multiple disabilities. She is like a blue rose. She is dependent on others for her care and safety. She requires specially designed instruction to learn new skills. Like a gardener who specializes in growing blue roses, Tricia feels most comfortable around people who understand her disability.

What truly describes Tricia is a bouquet. There are blue roses in her bouquet, but there are other beautiful flowers too. Her bouquet has the baby's breath for her innocence and purity of heart. Yellow tulips and Gerbera daisies show her positive thoughts and her beautiful smile. Bundled with the blue roses are red roses for love, yellow roses for joy and warmth, and pink roses for her innocence, sweetness, joy, and gratitude. Filling out Tricia's bouquet are delphiniums for her big-heartedness and fun, snapdragons for her strength and endurance, and zinnias for her goodness and lasting affection. The blue rose defines Tricia's disability, while the bouquet shows her strengths and personality.

People are like a bouquet. No one is the same. If someone is disabled, their bouquet contains rare flowers like the blue rose. Show care for the rare flowers, but enjoy and respect the entire bouquet.

Author Credentials: Kathleen M. Cleaver holds a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and the education of children whose primary disability is a visual impairment (TVI). During her thirty-year career as a teacher, Kathleen received the Penn-Del AER Elinor Long Award and the AER Membership Award for her service and contributions to the education of children with visual impairments. She also received the Elizabeth Nolan O’Donnell Achievement Award for years of dedicated service to St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments. Explore Kathleen's complete biography for comprehensive insights into her background, expertise, and accomplishments.