WHEN OLIVER SPEAKS

A story of a young boy’s struggle to accept his dysfluency and himself.

Seven-year-old Oliver stutters and hates it, but like many other children his age, he likes playing basketball, reading, watching TV, and using his imagination. He must present an “All About Me” project to his class, as is common in many early grades. But Oliver’s stuttering causes him to become anxious about his presentation and spurs him to use avoidance tactics, such as unnecessarily going to the restroom or visiting the nurse. When he gets home from school, the teacher has already called his mom to let her know her concerns about the situation. In a thoughtful conversation, Oliver reveals his fear and his mother suggests he “try to accept” his stutter, as it’s “as much a part of you as your eyes, your ears, your nose, and your heart.” The story deftly addresses one child’s struggle with disfluency, which is nicely definedin the text. The teacher and mother’s kindnesses demonstrate clear understanding of Oliver’s worries. Howard’s illustrations of the various scenes use soft, muted colors that add additional warmth to the tale.

A delightful and worthwhile book that engages young readers while teaching them about the notion of acceptance.