A detailed, valuable introduction to one family’s experience of autism.
A mother explores autism in this illustrated alphabet book.
Using each letter of the alphabet as a starting point for multiple themes, Haendiges depicts her family’s experiences with her son Ollie’s autism and how it makes him special. As she travels through the alphabet, one core theme resonates: “It is important to know that our neurodiverse kids are not sick; they are just wired differently.” Starting with apple (Ollie only likes green apples because of the way he processes the world) and ASL, which the boy uses to communicate more smoothly, the author immerses readers in a detailed journey. She discusses big topics like sensory processing, sensory dysregulation, proprioceptive sense, vestibular sense, and neurodiversity. Haendiges fully explains each of these subjects, making big ideas approachable for young listeners and readers. The text on each page is quite dense, often with multiple words associated with the letter on each two-page spread. Some, like checklist for X—because Ollie and his sister, Rosie, mark off tasks from their daily lists with an X—offer insight into techniques that help the family members manage their days. Haendiges delves into the complexity of transitioning and how Ollie’s unique way of experiencing the world has changed her strategies as a parent. She also doesn’t shy away from discussing Rosie’s struggles as a big sister. Rosie is Ollie’s champion, but she can sometimes feel left out when he is the center of attention. The author strives for inclusion in the text, using Ollie and Rosie as her touchstones while focusing on how everyone has an individual experience. Haendiges’ vibrant illustrations feature one image associated with the letter, which is also spelled out in ASL. The detailed, colorful hands (sometimes with painted or decorated nails) are wrinkly to emphasize their shapes; the forms of the ASL letters are clear and easy to mimic. While this text is too complex for most young readers despite the author’s efforts to use simple sentences, families wishing to understand neurodiversity can take this worthwhile journey together.
A detailed, valuable introduction to one family’s experience of autism.Pub Date: June 16, 2022
ISBN: 9781647045326
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Bublish, Incorporated
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
PERSPECTIVES
Entertaining and informative.
Why do humans make blood, if not for thirsty vampires?
McAnulty teams up with illustrator Tenney to follow up her Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack (2021) with a closer look at blood—specifically, human blood. Two movie-style vampires (pointy ears, widow’s peaks, and prominent canine teeth) engage in a funny yet edifying discussion about this essential liquid. The taller, older, purplish vampire, amusingly dressed in a pinstripe suit, really just wants to drink someone’s blood. They’ve walked from their spooky hilltop castle and bellied up to the bar at the “I Don’t Vant To Suck Your Blood Smoothie Shop,” having misread what’s on offer. To the older vampire’s dismay, the younger, shorter, rounder, blue-skinned one states that blood is more important to humans and belongs “in the cardiovascular systems” rather than in smoothie blenders. The little vampire clearly describes why blood is essential for human bodies; how it moves around the body via arteries, arterioles, and capillaries; what’s in it (white and red blood cells, plasma, and platelets); and what these components do (white blood cells fight disease). The tall vampire’s increasing disappointment is hilarious, but by the time the lively explanation is complete, they seem fairly sanguine about choosing a delicious, nonblood, chocolate milkshake. An author’s note emphasizes the importance of donating blood, and backmatter offers several intriguing facts about blood. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Entertaining and informative. (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-30405-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
Words and pictures really worth sharing.
A reflection on the power of words.
Flying in the face of the old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me,” the text acknowledges the harm that hateful, cruel words can cause. It also affirms the power of kind and loving words to heal and uplift. These messages aren’t delivered in a story but in clear, rhymed verses. Accompanying illustrations are boldly colored with sketchy depictions of people interacting with each other in positive and negative scenarios, using a style that is somewhat reminiscent of Ed Emberley’s or Oliver Jeffers’ picture-book illustrations. While the book focuses on the power of language, art paradoxically does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to communicating the emotions of a scene. In what some may regard as a narrative misstep, a key spread highlights the potential for words to help or harm a plant’s growth, perhaps distracting from the centrality of humans to this book’s aims. Nevertheless, this will be an eminently useful title for sparking conversations with children about how positive self-talk can transform one’s perspective and how kind words can empower others. It will also invite reflections on the need for sensitivity and kindness in communicating with others. Characters vary in skin tone (most are depicted in intense blues, reds, or yellows, like the rest of the art) and ability. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Words and pictures really worth sharing. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1980-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
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