BRODY THE LION

An autistic lion embarks on a journey to the grocery store with his mother in this third picture book in Wegner’s series.

Brody’s mom usually shops alone, but today Dad is fixing his truck, so the youngster and his mother make a plan to manage the sights, sounds, and occasional upsets of a trip to the store. Brody brings toys to play with, and he’s rehearsed social scripts at a school for autistic children, so he’s prepared to sometimes hear “no” and to shop for a specific set of items. However, Mom takes an alternate route to the store, which upsets Brody; a toy-dispensing machine doesn’t let him get a toy; and a cart tips over, making him spill juice on a stuffed animal—each event a source of sensory overload and distress. Brody is shown successfully using self-soothing techniques, such as taking deep breaths. The book also models how Mom offers sympathy and expresses that she knows why he feels uncomfortable; she pointedly doesn’t scold or yell (although her highlighted worry about a gathering crowd strikes a less positive note). Stayer’s simple, cartoonish art with minimal linework makes the story’s particulars easy to follow. Informative aftermatter discusses what situations may distress autistic children and offers tips for how parents and others can accommodate neurodiversity.

An accessible work that effectively recognizes the needs of autistic kids.