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AUTHOR
Nancy Lambert Davenport wrote Donovan and the Big Hole with a mission. She wanted young readers to find out through fiction that people with Down syndrome can be interesting, fun, adventurous good friends.
Her son, Austin, was born in 1978 with Down syndrome. At first she considered the different chromosome count a tragedy. It did not take long though before she realized what a wonderful blessing he was—just as he was—to her, to his family and to anyone else he met.
Austin loved books more than most children did, but was thrilled when the television show “Life Goes On” aired with a character, Corky, who had Down syndrome. He watched them all. He loved seeing Corky argue with his sister, get into messes at school, and generally live a great life.
After seeing his reaction to the character Corky, Nancy realized that Austin would benefit tremendously from books that portrayed characters with Down syndrome who were exciting and fun like Corky.
She noticed there are few children's books that have characters with Down syndrome that are positively portrayed. She set out to eliminate that problem beginning with Donovan and the Big Hole.
Donovan and the Big Hole is complete fiction but Austin is the model for the title character. Austin’s greatest gift is the fact that he accepts people unconditionally, so Nancy built that in as a strong character trait of Donovan. In addition, Austin’s thinking process is more advanced than his ability to express himself. Donovan, the narrator of the story, relates the story to the reader in clear fluid sentences, yet when Donovan speaks, his expression is limited.
Nancy’s greatest hope for her book is that children who read it who don’t have Down syndrome will want to have a friend just like Donovan.
Donovan and the Big Hole is Nancy’s first work of fiction.
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