OUR AMAZING MINDS

Jackson and his friends, who are all neurodivergent, go on a field trip to a children’s museum in Jeffery and Laura May’s picture book.

Jackson, a young white boy, introduces himself as a child who likes soccer and having fun with his friends. He and his racially diverse pals are autistic. Lily “loves feeling squishy paint on her fingers” and wears headphones because loud noises can bother her. Martin communicates with a tablet that has symbols and pictures; he loves to dance and has the best laugh. Sofia likes science and doesn’t like interruptions. At the museum, Jackson gets so excited, he flaps his hands, which is called stimming. The other kids stim too: Lily hops or spins, Martin squeals and grunts, and Sofia taps her fingers. At the end, Jackson advises readers to “be kind to others,” offering the encouragement, “you can do this!” Jackson narrates the book, which makes the explanations of autism feel more friendly and authentic. The kids are generally depicted as being smiley and upbeat, indicating that children with autism can lead happy lives. Halionka’s colorful illustrations, which appear to be digital paintings, often show all four friends together, emphasizing their bonds; the wide, horizontal compositions also allow for interesting details at the museum, such as hanging terrariums, a dinosaur skeleton, and an ant colony display.

A solid introduction to autism for children.