Dallas author aims to introduce kids to people with Down syndrome Jordan Burk creates character based on his late uncle, who had the genetic disorder

Dallas author Jordan Burk, right, will be in Midland Thursday to sign copies of his book, "Kelly & the Great Pinewood Derby." The main character – who has Down syndrome -- is based on Burk's late uncle, Kelly Burk, left, who had the genetic disorder. less Dallas author Jordan Burk, right, will be in Midland Thursday to sign copies of his book, "Kelly & the Great Pinewood Derby." The main character – who has Down syndrome -- is based on Burk's late uncle, ... more Photo: Courtesy Of Jordan Burk Photo: Courtesy Of Jordan Burk Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Dallas author aims to introduce kids to people with Down syndrome 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

A 29-year-old children's book author and illustrator is bringing to Midland the first book in a series about Down syndrome, hoping his message will teach readers that being different is more than OK.

Jordan Burk, of Dallas, will be signing copies of "Kelly & the Great Pinewood Derby" from 1-3 p.m. Thursday -- World Down Syndrome Day -- at the George W. Bush Childhood Home, followed by a reading program at 4:30 p.m. He also will sign books from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Whataburger, 800 Andrews Highway. Whataburger was the favorite restaurant of Burk's late uncle, Kelly Owen Burk, who the main character is based on.

Burk also will be visiting students at Bynum School — a nonprofit school for students with special needs.

He said he was a caretaker for his uncle for 14 years and remembers being asked by children why his uncle Kelly was different.

"It really opened my eyes," Burk said in a phone interview. "In schools, they don't really touch on different disabilities. They have places for kids (with special needs), but the typical child does not know about autism, Down syndrome, etc."

Want to know more? To read a biography about Kelly Burk visit kellyandkelso.com.

"Kelly & the Great Pinewood Derby" is available at kellyandkelso.com and Amazon.

He said when he started writing "Kelly & the Great Pinewood Derby," he ordered the top 10 books on Down syndrome awareness from Amazon, but the books focused mainly on preparation for siblings who have a brother or sister with the genetic disorder.

"There was nothing to introduce the typical child to Down syndrome," Burk said.

A year ago, he began to illustrate what he thought a children's book about Down syndrome should look like. Burk said he wanted Kelly to look different from the other characters so readers would be able to recognize the individuals in real life who may have Down syndrome and reach out to them.

The book's other characters include a Dalmatian named Tex, Professor Kelso -- a stuffed animal koala that teaches children about friendship (the real Kelly always carried a stuffed animal) -- and Aaron, Kelly's friend -- someone that Burk said he hopes the reader will want to be.

"I want boys and girls to wish they could be more like Aaron," Burk said.

The author said he wants children to be able to relate to the character and see what they have in common with individuals like Kelly.

For instance, in the story, Kelly loses a shoe while on a walk. When reading the book to children, Burk will ask if any of them have ever lost a shoe. And like most children, Kelly loves recess, and he said the children always get excited when they hear they have that in common with the character. He also loves cheeseburgers — and most children also love cheeseburgers, Burk said. The character loved them so much that every time he celebrated, he went to Whataburger.

"I want to break the barriers and tear down the walls and show them what they have in common with people like Kelly," Burk said. "But I also want to show them the things that make Kelly, Kelly."

Burk said he plans to create a series based on his uncle, who died in 2016 at the age of 64. He will also introduce a new character named Shannon, who is a girl with Down syndrome.

"It's hard for kids to embrace what they don't understand," Burk said.