“Michelangelo the Diver” is an inspirational bedtime story for children of all ages. An under-the-sea world comes alive through beautiful watercolor illustrations as Michelangelo dreams of becoming a scuba diver. In his dream, Michelangelo plays with hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, an octopus and a sea turtle. He is thrilled that he gets to dive in his dreams but is even happier when he realizes that he can grow up to be a diver for real.
REVIEWS AND PRESS
Salon.com "I Am Not a Puzzle, I Am a Person" by Elizabeth Svboda
"ABA and Neurodiveristy: Not So Strange Bedfellows" by Kristina Chew
Radio Interview for SarahPalinRadio.com. Click here to listen. NEW!
FoxBusiness.com column by Nancy Colasurdo. Click here. NEW!
"Michelangelo the Diver" reviewed by highly respected autism-blogger, Dora Raymaker. And Meg Evans of The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, SW Ohio.
The Progress talks about Dana Commandatore and "Michelangelo the Diver"
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Dedication
When my son, Michelangelo, was diagnosed with autism I was worried that all my dreams would disappear. I was wrong. He constantly inspires and challenges me to help him realize his dreams. He wants to be a scuba diver when he grows up. This story is dedicated to all the parents who need to remind themselves to keep dreaming and to “Andy the Diver” for giving Michelangelo something to dream about.
Dana Commandatore, author
Dana always wanted to be a writer. It wasn’t until she gave birth to her only child, Michelangelo, that she found her inspiration. In 2003, she and her husband Michael realized something was very different about their son. After quitting her job in advertising, they moved from New York City to Los Angeles where it was discovered that Michelangelo was autistic. Since then they have been working with him to better understand the way his brain works.
In May of 2005, Michelangelo’s grandparents took him to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California for the first time. After watching one presentation by “Andy the Diver,” Michelangelo became focused on returning to the aquarium just to watch Andy speak about the ocean and the virtues of preserving its creatures. If you ask Michelangelo what he wants to be when he grows up, his answer is simple: “A diver, just like Andy.”
"Andy the Diver" wrote this moving blog about Michelangelo. To learn more, please click here:
For more information, please contact Dana Commandatore by clicking here.
Damian Elwes, illustrator
Damian Elwes was born in London, England in 1960. As a child, he spent his summers scuba diving in Majorca with his great uncle. He attended Harvard University and graduated in 1983. He and his family lived in the rain forest, in South America from 1993 to 2000. He believes that protecting the natural world is the most important challenge that faces humankind today.
He has exhibited his artwork in London, New York, California, and all over the world. His paintings explore three major themes: regeneration, human creativity, and the balance between male and female energy. He currently resides with his wife and two children in Santa Monica, California.
For more information about Damian and his work, please visit: http://www.damianelwes.com