We recently met a young lady named Izzi, who reminded all of us about the impact a book can have on a life. On an entire family, in this case.
Izzi is 10, and uses a wheelchair to get around. She’s also a travel enthusiast who fell in love with the book, “Let’s Explore with Cor Cor.” It’s co-authored by Sandy Gilbreath and her son Cory Lee, who is also a wheelchair user. Cory has visited all seven continents and is founder of the award-winning accessible travel blog “Curb Free with Cory Lee,” which Izzi faithfully follows.
The picture book shows that, with enough determination, there is no limit to what children can do, regardless of their abilities. In the process, readers learn about exciting destinations around the world as Cor Cor explores them from his wheelchair, from the northern lights in Iceland to kangaroos in Australia.
Izzi and her family have taken several of his suggestions for wheelchair-accessible destinations.
“We want Izzi to never feel intimidated by travel,” says her mom, Rebecca Uccello.
Izzi is so excited about “Let’s Explore With Cor Cor,” in fact, that she wanted library patrons to read it, too. The library did not yet have a copy of the summer 2020 release, so Izzi’s family made a donation of $25 to purchase a copy of the book for the library, and it will be added to the collection with a personalized bookplate in the Cor book honoring Izzi.
One book made all the difference for Izzi and her family – inspiring their daughter and taking them on great adventures. And now their gift can do the same for many more families.
The Library Foundation’s Bookplates program made it possible. Anyone can honor or remember a special person or occasion – a new grandbaby, a health care worker; a new job, retirement – for a $25 gift and help the library add to its collection at the same time. Or if you’re like Izzi and just itching to share a great book with others, let Development Director Melissa Adler know at foundation@thelibrary.org, or (417) 616-0586.
