A IS FOR 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.