Dante is a German Shepherd dog who believes that even though he’s in a wheelchair, he can do anything he wants. His best human friend, Freddy, who is also in a wheelchair, wants to play basketball like his little sister but he thinks it’s a challenge for him. Dante convinces him he can be and do anything he wants as long as he believes it.
The story is an inspirational message for both children and adults, that to achieve anything in life you must believe you can.
Dante is a German Shepherd dog who believes that even though he’s in a wheelchair, he can do anything he wants. His best human friend, Freddy, who is also in a wheelchair, wants to play basketball like his little sister but he thinks it’s a challenge for him. Dante convinces him he can be and do anything he wants as long as he believes it.
The story is an inspirational message for both children and adults, that to achieve anything in life you must believe you can.
Animals can be born with a disability (e.g., missing a limb), just like humans. They can also develop a disability over time due to illness or an injury. Like humans, they might require an apparatus to help them move. When Dante was young, something happened to his spine, which caused his back legs to stop moving. The illustration of the German Shepherd dragging his hind legs as he looked up with sad eyes will touch your heart.
Dante's human mom tried everything to give her sweet German Shepherd a chance to walk again. Despite all their efforts, reality set in: Dante's back legs would never move again, so they had to find another solution. Dante loved his new wheels; it allowed him to run and play again. However, his smile soon vanished when he went to the park. His friends didn't recognize him, didn't understand why he had wheels, and, therefore, refused to play with him. In a short time, Dante lost mobility and friendships.
Animals can experience basic emotions; when they do, it's our job to lift their spirits. Dante's human parents gave him lots of pets and reassured him that one day he would meet people and canines who saw past the chair and would like him because he was a good dog with a big heart. And they were right!
After moving to a new home, Dante met a young boy (Freddy) with a set of cool wheels. Freddy confessed he longed to play basketball and didn't believe it was possible because of his wheelchair. Dante remembered his parents' advice and recited their words of encouragement: You can do anything you want to do; you just have to believe you can!
I would love to say every kid welcomed Freddy to play with them; however, fiction came to resemble reality when a group of boys said mean things to Freddy and shooed him away. Anyone who has ever been bullied or been on the receiving end of harsh words or actions will empathize with Freddy. The sad truth of life is there are hateful people in the world who like to hurt others, especially those who look different from them. On the flip side, there are many nice people in the world, too!
Dante's Cool Wheels is an inspirational story that reminds children of the importance of treating others with kindness. It also shows the power of believing in yourself and never giving up on your goals or dreams.
I recommend sharing the story with children three years and up.