One crisp winter night, beneath a full moon, whispers of sisters drift up from their room...

About the Book

Worldwide, an estimated 1.3 billion people live with vision loss. Roughly 36 million of those are blind. Little sister is one. Tonight, she doesn't feel well so her big sister steps up to care for her all night while they believe mom is sleeping.

For Librarians and Teachers

While Mommy Was Fast Asleep is a beautifully illustrated children's picture book about strong family bonds and a message that visionless doesn't mean hopeless.

• Illustrations, not text, reveal little sister is blind.
• Themed emphasis on sound and touch.
• Lilting rhyme and soothing meter.
• Available in hardback, paperback, and ebook editions.

Author's Note

In our research on books that feature characters with vision loss, we discovered that it was typical for the blindness to be central to the plot. Ms. Eaton (illustrator) and I (Lisa Cole, Author) longed to create an inclusive story where the character was loved simply for who they were rather than singled out for any specific difference. Unless it is pointed out, younger children experiencing this story for the first time may not even realize little sister is blind.

Supplemental Materials

While Mommy Was Fast Asleep includes thought-provoking homework questions at the back of the book. The teacher's guide, created by a professional educator, is also available for free by download (Jan 2020) and for a nominal print price. A website devoted to the book provides links and resources to help families find nonprofits devoted to vision loss.

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