Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

In the Land of Giants is a children’s book written by Christine E. Schulze and illustrated by Karla Ortega. When a young boy named Matt visits the Land of Giants inside the big forest, he is afraid because the giants are so different. Some make scary noises and talk with their hands, while others use sticks or frames to help them move around. A few of the giants do not walk at all and use a chair with wheels to take them where they need to go. It is all very scary because Matt had never seen anything like it before. He runs and hides, hoping that the giants will not hurt him. When one of the giants finds Matt, he is surprised to discover that the giant, Cory, is friendly after he introduces himself to Matt. Cory takes Matt back to meet the rest of the giants. After singing, dancing, painting and cooking, Matt was truly enjoying himself. That night, as Matt was snuggled up in his own bed, he was no longer afraid. These people were not scary giants. They were his friends.

I cannot help but be impressed by the way Christine E. Schulze has discussed the issue of young children first encountering folks with disabilities. Being profoundly Deaf and legally blind, I know first-hand how intimidated and afraid children can be when they first see me signing with my husband. In the Land of Giants shows how fear can grow from misunderstanding and lack of exposure to those of us who are disabled. Looking at it from a child’s viewpoint, it can easily be misconstrued as savagery when a blind person is waving their cane about or when a Deaf person moves their hands to communicate instead of moving their lips. I salute Christine’s efforts in bringing awareness to the younger generations that different does not necessarily mean scary, and that even those of us who cannot hear, see or walk can be as much of a treasured friend as people who can. I enjoyed In the Land of Giants and recommend it to all young readers, in order to remove the stigma from what it is to be Deaf or disabled.