An important, accessible take on understanding autism spectrum disorder.
In this debut children’s book, a young bunny and his parents deal with his diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
Floppy Lop-Ears is just an average young bunny—every day, he puts on his favorite outfit and eats Hunny Bunny cereal before school. He likes all of his school subjects and he eats green gelatin every day at lunch. But when his Hunny Bunny cereal, favorite outfit and green gelatin aren’t available, Floppy feels his tummy harden, and he starts to get upset and throw fits—for which he is frequently teased at school. When Floppy’s parents take him to a special doctor, they learn he has autism spectrum disorder. The doctor explains to Floppy and his parents that Floppy’s brain just works a little differently than others and that it’s just fine to be different. But Floppy doesn’t want to stand out from the kids in his class, so he tries to find ways to get “off the spectrum.” Through conversations with his parents and his classmates, Floppy learns that his atypical characteristics make him unique. Flynn’s exceptional viewpoint as both doctor (she is a board-certified pediatrician) and patient (she was diagnosed with ASD) makes this book even more important. Instead of talking at the child or parent reader, Flynn speaks from a place of deep knowledge and experience. She recognizes that there are many parts to ASD, and while some aspects may be perceived to be negative, Flynn notes, through Floppy’s doctor, some positive qualities: Children and adults with ASD are “good at noticing little details” and memorizing information. This work shows children that it’s OK to be nervous or afraid about their diagnoses—their parents and doctors will be there every step of the way. And for parents, Flynn goes so far as to include a description of her own experiences with ASD. She provides notes on suggestions and ways to talk about ASD, along with resources. It’s also worth mentioning that illustrator Allen’s sharply drawn images are a bright, fun addition to a work with rather serious subject matter. For recently diagnosed children, along with their friends and parents, this book is a great resource.
An important, accessible take on understanding autism spectrum disorder.Pub Date: April 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-1496903846
Page Count: 78
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Review Posted Online: Oct. 2, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers.
Animal parents declare their love for their offspring through rhymed puns and sentimental art.
The title sets the scene for what’s to come: The owl asks the owlet as they fly together, “WHOO loves you?”; the kangaroo and joey make each other “very HOPPY”; and the lioness and cub are a “PURRRFECT pair.” Most of the puns are both unimaginative and groanworthy, and they are likely to go over the heads of toddlers, who are not know for their wordplay abilities. The text is set in abcb quatrains split over two double-page spreads. On each spread, one couplet appears on the verso within a lightly decorated border on pastel pages. On the recto, a full-bleed portrait of the animal and baby appears in softly colored and cozy images. Hearts are prominent on every page, floating between the parent and baby as if it is necessary to show the love between each pair. Although these critters are depicted in mistily conceived natural habitats and are unclothed, they are human stand-ins through and through.
The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers. (Board book. 6 mos-2)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-1374-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
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