Engaging, heartfelt, and authentically inclusive.
Jeffery May and Laura May offer a candid, heartfelt glimpse into the day four Autistic friends explore a children’s museum for the first time in their engaging debut picture book. Through Jackson’s voice, readers step into his inner world—feeling his nerves about unfamiliar places, his rush of excitement, and the comfort he finds in routine—turning the story into both an emotional journey and an informative guide.
Carefully depicted, Lily, Martin, and Sofia are distinguished by their sensory sensitivities, modes of expression, and small daily habits rather than simplified traits. Stimming is seamlessly integrated—Jackson’s flapping hands, Lily’s hopping, Martin’s joyful squeals, Sofia’s tapping fingers—serving to normalize these behaviors for some readers and validate them for others. “It’s called stimming. It helps me feel calm and more comfortable,” Jackson notes, offering insight without losing his personal voice. Whether it’s rejecting a turkey sandwich or Sofia’s difficult moment at the reptile show, the authors approach each sensitivity with genuine empathy, highlighting coping strategies as strengths. The arc—anticipation, challenge, resolution—lands on a joyful recognition of every child’s talents. Anastasiya Halionka’s illustrations burst with color and expression, rendering feelings and sensory details in a way that welcomes both individual reading and group sharing.
A standout for families and educators seeking compassionate depictions of autism, and a strong addition to inclusive library shelves.
Illustrated by Anastasiya Halionka
Our Amazing Minds
ISBN 9798998821110
Coming soon