Dwarfs Don't Live In Doll Houses
A unique opportunity to see personal, family, school and public life through the eyes of a dwarf from the point of view of a single person, a perspective which makes the account informative, instructive, moving, authentic, and revealing.
Used paperback books and a Kindle e-book are currently available on Amazon.com.
What Others Are Saying About This Book
“This is a wonderful manuscript that surely will be a must for all who have interest, personal or professional, in Little People. A wealth of experience and wisdom are made animatedly realistic, personal, revealing and at times humorous. Parents of Little People as well as Little People themselves will discover that it is remarkable, insightful, as well as practical. ‘When your Down and Out,’ as the song goes, read this book for a lift.”
Charles I. Scott, Jr., M.D.
Director, Department of Genetics,
Alfred I. DuPont Institute
Chairman,
Medical Advisory Board,
Little People of America, Inc.
“I loved this manuscript and consider it a privilege to have shared so much of Angela’s personal life. I enjoyed her wonderful wit and wept over some of the sadness and thoughtfulness she has experienced. This book has certainly heightened my awareness! I thought I knew a great deal about what it was like to be a short-statured person but like so many others, I was not realistically seeing life as a Little Person experiences it. I am much better informed as a result of this wonderful experience.”
Elizabeth R. Elder, M.S.
Parent of short-statured adult.
“Angela Muir Van Etten’s remarkably detailed, poignant yet humorous, and instructive autobiographical account provides a rare window into the life experiences of a dwarf child, teenager, and young adult growing up in New Zealand. Ms. Van Etten’s autobiographical account is complemented by wide-ranging discussions of contemporary issues such as mobility and access, education, employment and prejudices that dwarfs confront more vulnerably and problematically than do others in our society. This book is a unique and valuable resource for those who wish to better understand the life experiences and concerns of Little People and others with conditions of physical difference.”
Joan Ablon, Ph.D.
“Little People in America: the Social Dimensions of Dwarfism,”
Praeger Publishers (1984).
“The author describes the real struggle for acceptance that a dwarf faces daily; however, the positive approach to life, emphasizing ability rather than disability serves as a model for all persons of short stature. Such a positive outlook should help other dwarfs come to terms with his/her own identity. I recommend this honest, realistic reflection by Angela to all dwarfs, their parents, educators and interested persons. The book handles issues in a forthright manner that presents information, sparks interest and includes a refreshing bit of humor.”
R. Helen Ference, PH.D., RN
National Parent Coordinator,
Little People of America, Inc
Mother of adult dwarf
“Every human is born a dwarf. Perhaps this is why most of us find the topic so intriguing. Because Van Etten’s style encourages empathy without sympathy, it provides a keen insight into the dwarf experience while holding up a mirror to the ‘little person’ we each carry inside. You may learn more than you bargained for. I did.”
Leonard P. Sawisch, Ph.D.,
dwarf and parent of a dwarf.