2.  In the United States, one child in 700 is born with an
orofacial cleft and one in 1,600 is born with a facial
deformity. To support these children, myFace (formerly the
National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction) works
closely with families to ensure that they receive the
medical attention they deserve, as well as treatment from
highly skilled plastic surgeons. In addition to providing
resources for medical treatment, myFace has undertaken
several programs to increase awareness and
understanding of facial deformities through initiatives like
the Wonder Project.
Wonder is a book written by R. J. Palacio that tells the story
of Auggie, a boy who enters public school for the first time
when he begins fifth grade.

3.  Auggie has undergone 27 surgeries, but his face still
appears deformed, earning him nicknames like
“Lizard Face.” Despite these challenges, Auggie is a
smart, engaging, and kind child. The book, which tells
his story through the first-person narrative, also looks
at the situation from the eyes of his family and
classmates. The book shows how his arrival at the
school affects the entire community, and not just him.
Palacio based Wonder on the story of an actual child
born with Treacher Collins Syndrome. myFace
envisions books like Wonder at the heart of its
language arts curricula that emphasizes compassion.
Soon, myFace will combine Wonder with its empathy
education program at schools around the nation.