"I am also a huge supporter of the Kelly and Kelso franchise. Jordan is moving huge mountains and I have had the pleasure of being a cheering mom figure for him as he opens new doors. "
-Heather Avis of The Lucky Few Podcast
Kelly is a little boy with Down syndrome, but he doesn't let that stop him! He's on a mission to help kids show and live by the Fruit of the Spirit. With the help of God, his family and his stuffed koala, Kelso (that comes to life), he shows all kids that true friendship isn’t about being the same,
it’s about loving, accepting, and supporting each other for who they are.
Based on the award winning book series, Kelly and Kelso
The Kelly and Kelso book series received an incredible response from schools and families worldwide—from Poland and Australia to Pennsylvania and Texas. Educators and parents alike expressed their gratitude, saying, “Thank you!” for a resource that beautifully teaches what it means to love someone with Down syndrome.
Even the mayor of Dallas joined in, proclaiming Kelly’s birthday as “Down Right Perfect Day,” encouraging education about Down syndrome.
Inspired by this overwhelming support, creator Jordan Burk is expanding the series to bring representation, awareness and love to kids with different, physical, mental and economic statuses.
Through the show, we continue this mission, celebrating children with diverse differences and showing the world what it means to love unconditionally.
"Anyone, regardless of age, can benefit from learning more about people with Down syndrome and the importance of love, acceptance and kindness!”
-Charlotte Woodward
Education Program Associate at the National Down Syndrome Society
In the U.S. today, one in four people (26%) have a disability and yet only 3.1% of characters on-screen are disabled. In children's television representation is even worse -
less than 1%.
© 2023 Center for Scholars & Storytellers
Let's change that!
Meet the Cast!
Meet the Crew!
Meet the "real" Kelly!
Kelly Burk, a little background about the show’s namesake. He was born in 1952. His parents received a lot of criticism from family and peers saying things like, ‘He should be institutionalized!’ Something which was very common in that day and age. But, they chose to raise Kelly alongside his older and younger siblings; this decision caused him to flourish and develop quickly.
After many years of being raised in a small country town, things changed when the health of his parents declined and he moved in with his older brother in Dallas. One of things Kelly loved most about Dallas was his nephew, Jordan. They shared a special bond and many fun-filled adventures.
Kelly’s life was an inspiration to all he met and is continuing to impact others through his message of love, joy and acceptance. Kelly’s life was not restricted by the opinions and limitations set by others. Remember you had purpose before anyone had an opinion.
Meet the Creator!
“I believe representation is HUGE! In the years I spent as a caregiver to my Uncle Kelly, who had Down syndrome, the children would always approach curiously and ask questions about Kelly. I always loved to answer their questions, and as I looked to find what kind of resources were out there about people with Down syndrome, I realized there wasn't much that showed what it's like to truly love someone with Down syndrome. That inspired me to start writing children's books that help kids understand that even though some people may not look or act as they do, that doesn't mean they don't need friends, too.
- Jordan Burk
Meet the Lead Writer!
Cory Edwards is an American director, screenwriter, and comedian, best known for Hoodwinked! With over 30 years in the industry, he has worked as a writer, director, producer, animator, and more. He developed projects for industry leaders like John Davis, Paul Schiff, and The Jim Henson Company, contributing to properties like Muppets and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Cory co-created Hoodwinked! with his brother Todd, producing it outside the studio system. He later worked on Hoodwinked Too!, Escape from Planet Earth, and collaborated with Big Idea on VeggieTales until 2015. His recent works include Fearless and Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp.
Meet the Producer
Jordyn Curley has been both an artist and producer. Beginning her career in 3D Visualization she honed her ability to work with clients before moving on to Production Assistant at Blue Sky Studios where she worked on Ice Age, Peanuts and Ferdinand. In 2015 she began her career in the marketing industry, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola, AT&T, and GE to create immersive and engaging client experiences. Her expertise in developing impactful campaigns provided a strong foundation for her transition into the animation industry.
In 2021, Jordyn shifted her focus to becoming an Animation Television Producer. Since Season 1, she has led the award-winning Tuttle Twins TV series, growing its global audience to over 250 million views in three languages. Her dedication to producing meaningful, high-quality content has left a lasting impact on viewers worldwide.
Jordyn is also passionate about advocating for underrepresented children in the disabled community. As the producer of Kelly and Friends, she is celebrating inclusivity and empowers families by promoting kindness, acceptance, and understanding.
Additionally, Jordyn founded Sketch2Screen, supporting animation professionals. By creating events and networking opportunities across the United States.
Meet the Drew Crew!
This is just one of many testimonies we received from schools and families about how the books impacted their lives.
The Drew Crew is a group of classmates that formed from reading and incorporating the
Kelly and Kelso book series into their curriculum.
Every day on World Down Syndrome Day, the 1st and 2nd grade classes read a book from the series
and do an activity or field trip that coordinates with the book topic.
In Partnership with
