ROUND ROCK, Texas -- A Round Rock ISD student is getting some national recognition for a book she wrote about being friends with another student with disabilities.
Canyon Vista Middle School 6th grader Aanyah Abdullah wrote a book with her mom titled "My Friend Suhana.". For 6 months, the pair worked on the tale every night. They wrote the words and created the illustrations together.
The book is about Aanyah's friendship with another Round Rock ISD student, Suhana, who has cerebral palsy.
"This message of friendship and hope and love really needed to be told," said Aanyah's mother, Shaila Abdullah.
Aanyah won the Dolly Gray Children's literature award. The award is for books for children that portray individuals with disabilities.
"I was very honored and I was excited. I thought Suhana's family would be very proud," said Aanyah. Now, the mother-daughter duo wants others to realize friendships don't have to have limits.
"You can too be friends with people with disabilities, even though they might not be able to respond in the way that you're used to. they can still be your friend," Aanyah said.
The two girls have now been friends for about four years.
"Our friendship is a bit different than most people's," Aanyah said.
Aanyah remembers the day they met.
"She was laughing. I thought maybe she could be my friend, I thought maybe we should be more accepting to kid with disabilities," Aanyah said.
Aanyah told KVUE Suhana can't walk or talk, but said they have a strong bond.
"Every person is different," Aanyah said. "If they don't respond the way you want them to, then be receptive to it because they might be showing you their friendship that they like you too in a way that you never expected."
Shaila thinks Aanyah and Suhana are great friends.
"They have this beautiful friendship that is based on love, sometimes friendship doesn't need words," said Shaila.
The book is available at Book People, Barnes and Noble, Amazon and on Kindle.
