Language During Mealtime

I have known Noreen for many years and loved her first children's book, I'll Tell You Why...I Can't Wear Those Clothes! To read my review and short online interview with Noreen, click here. Do you want to focus on mindfulness and acceptance with your children? For anyone not familiar with EFT tapping, check out this website here.  I learned about tapping a few years ago and have found it helpful as an easy and accessible way to reduce anxiety.  Look, Listen, Love written by Noreen O'Sullivan is a parent and children's guide to emotional freedom tapping. A softcover interactive children's book, helping children love and accept themselves just the way they are. This book uses animals to teach children the self-awareness and self-acceptance tool EFT Tapping. Included in the book are different animals to help children interact and learn about tapping in a fun and playful way.  For each animal, the author gives examples to learn how to use Look Listen Love. For many children, having examples, especially of animals can help them relate to specific strategies. After each animal, the book gives space for children to add their own Look Listen Love sentences to the book. This strategy helps make both children and adults aware of how you are feeling and giving yourself time to feel the feeling and then accept yourself. Listen to the podcast to learn more!  To learn more about Noreen, visit my website here.

Living with Viola written and illustrated by the talented Rosena Fung is a wonderful graphic novel about a young name Livy who is having trouble fitting into her new school. She also has a lot of anxiety, which is represented as a shadowy twin named Viola. When visiting Toronto, I found a beautiful and unique bookstore called Type Books. After browsing for a few minutes, I discovered this book, Living with Viola. I love middle grade books, especially ones that are based on memoirs. Listen to our podcast to learn more! In this middle-grade graphic novel, Livy navigates friendships, insecurity, family relationships, and how to navigate anxiety. As a tween and/or teen, anxiety can be overwhelming. I found the representation of anxiety of a shadowy twin, Viola, to be really interesting and helpful when trying to understand anxiety. It can also lead to productive conversations about self-talk. Often we talk worse to ourselves than anyone else! Living with Viola can be an excellent book for a classroom, home library, or book club.  When reading this book with your tween/teen, here are some discussion questions to start with: Tell me about Livy feels when she first begins school. Did you ever feel like Livy? What do you think Viola represents in the story? Do you think Viola is mean or supportive of Livy? Why is Livy embarrassed to bring her friend to her house?  Are you similar or different from Livy? If so, how?  To learn more about Rosena and her work, visit my website here.

The Way I Say It written by Nancy Tandon is a middle grade book that sixth grader, Rory who can't say  his r's. How can Rory get through sixth grade not even saying his name clearly? Rory struggles with an articulation disorder which affects his confidence and makes him prone to teasing. How does Rory get through this? What does he learn from this experience? I really love this book because it helps gives readers the perspective of what it's like for children who have articulation disorders and struggle with their speech. The book also embeds other stories into it that focuses on perspective taking, friendships, brain injury, and dealing with confrontation. I also love how the author (and SLP!) gives readers a peek into a school speech language pathologist. To learn more about Nancy and check out her newest book, visit here website here! 

Knock, Knock Pair of Books Project Would you like to teach your child about humanizing homelessness? Check out these two wonderful children's books, Knock Knock Give a Sock and Knock Knock, Where's My Sock? written by Adina Lichtman, founder of Knock Knock Give a Sock.  These two books are part of the Pair of Books Project, which helps to "turn transactions into interactions." Knock Knock, Give a Sock is about a young girl named Crystal who moves into a shelter with her family. She loses a lucky sock during the move. Will she lose her luck without the sock? Throughout this book, the reader learns about Crystal and others who live in the shelter, such as her friend, Faith, whose apartment got destroyed by a fire. Knock Knock, Where My Sock? is about a young girl named Didi who meets her neighbor on the street and learns that he needs socks. How will Didi help her neighbor, Diego? To learn more about Adina and watch her pair of books project video, click here.

Do you have a child with a disability? Have you had trouble finding the right book for your child or student? Check out My Heart Books, which is a business that began with one mom's idea to help her family and teach others about her child with multiple disabilities. After meeting Erica, I immediately wanted to share her story about her son Brandon.  My Heart Books began with one book, My Brother Brandon, and grew into a business that can help others. After Erica created this book with her daughter, Skyler, she realized that other families should have access to making their own books. This is what began My Heart Books. With My Heart Books, you can create and personalize your own books with personal photographs, avatars, and assistive technology tools (e.g., wheelchairs, etc.).  When making the book, Erica includes a detailed questionnaire to personalize the story the way that you want, which helps to make the book even more individual. Listen to our podcast above to learn more! To check out how Erica creates these books, watch the video on the website here.

Adventure Girl, Dabi Digs in Israel, written and illustrated by Janice Hechter, is a picture book about a young girl's love for exploring nature. While on a special family visit to her grandparents in Israel, Dabi goes on a special archeology dig with her family. While on the dig in this national park, she discovers a beautiful gold ring! What else will she find? Adventure Girl is a story that celebrates a child's love of nature and provides a glimmer into the field of archaeology. The book also gives us an introduction to the setting of Belt Guvrin National Park in Israel and some new vocabulary words in Hebrew. Guvrin National Park Do you want to learn more about Guvrin National Park? Check out the website here. Part of why I love sharing children's books is because I learn so much! Without reading this book, I never would have known about reserving your own archaeology dig in this national park. Check out Janice below on her own dig in this national park. To learn more about Janice and visit my website, click here.

I am excited to present this podcast with Yehudi Mercado, author of Chunky and Chunky Goes to Camp. Both of his books are also memoir graphic novels, which make the books even more unique. Chunky Chunky is based on the experiences of the author/illustrator, Yehudi Mercado, who is a Mexican Jewish boy growing up in Texas.  The book begins with a trip to the doctor when Chunky is told again that he has to lose weight. What will he do? When he arrives home, he meets an imaginary friend who represents a positive mindset for Chunky throughout the book. Chunky decides to try various sports throughout the book to appease his parents, most specifically his father who is an excellent athlete. However, he just always ends up at the hospital, getting hurt. In the end, Chunky discovers his true talent and the place he feels like he truly belongs. To read more about this book, check out my review here. Chunky Goes to Camp is another excellent graphic novel written and illustrated by Yehudi Mercado. The book begins with Yehudi constantly getting in trouble at school for his humourous and mischievous personality. His parents decide to send him to a sleepaway camp. This Jewish sleepaway camp seems like a nightmare at first until he meets his friend, Pepe who changes everything for Yehudi. They have so much in common, including being Hispanic and Jewish. Chunky Goes To Camp is a perfect read for anyone going to camp this summer. To learn more about this book, listen to our podcast together. The book releases June 14th, so pre-order now to get your copy! To read more, visit my website here.

Most Perfect You written by Jazmyn Simon and illustrated by Tamisha Anthony is a beautiful book about a girl named Irie who rediscovers what it means to be perfect. Jazmyn Simon redefines what it means to be perfect in this book. The whimsical and bold illustrations bring this story together as a work of art.  Irie hates her hair and all she wants is to have hair like everyone else. Her mom tells her a story that can warm the heart of any reader! I love this book because it celebrates being unique and self-love. It's hard to not compare yourself to others and this is not just specific to children. Even as an adult, we often compare ourselves to others whether in person, on social media, or through other media sources. This book is a reminder for both children and adults alike that we need to stop and be grateful for our own unique qualities. This book is wonderful to read aloud and discuss after! To check out examples of discussion questions and learn more about Jazmyn, visit my website here!

I discovered this picture book, Regina Persisted when recently reading the Hadassah magazine. Regina Persisted, An Untold Story written by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and illustrated by Margeaux Lucas is a wonderful book that tells the heroic story of Regina Jonas. The story begins when Regina was a child and dreamed of being a rabbi. She had many obstacles that held her back. In one part of the book, one of her professors told her "Stop trying to be a rabbi. You won't be-not now, not ever."  Regina's dream came true in 1935 when she passed the test and became a rabbi. She officially was hired as a rabbi in 1937. In 1944, Regina was taken to a concentration camp and killed and her story was not told till now. This is why I wanted to share this story on my website so other children and adults can know all about Regina Jonas and how she helped pave the way for other women to become rabbis.  She is important in Jewish history.  To learn more about Rabbi Sandy, visit my website here.

I am excited to share this wonderful podcast with Roz MacLean. Part of what I love about podcasting is getting the opportunity to talk with interesting people who are helping to change the world. Roz is one of these people! Her projects reflect a passion for diversity, inclusion, and telling a story. I learned about Roz when writing a review and interviewing the author of I am Odd, I am New. To check out that podcast, click here. Roz MacLean is a visual artist, children's book author/illustrator, and educator living and working in Comox Valley, British Columbia.  Roz believes the opportunity to engage in art-making should be accessible to all regardless of socioeconomic status, background, or ability. In her work, she investigates ideas of human nature and relationship, community, mental health, interconnection, and the natural world through an anti-oppressive and LGBTQI + inclusive feminist lens. Roz also develops and facilitates art workshops and projects for children, youth, and community members. Past workshops have centered around themes of inclusion, emotional well-being, skill development and material exploration, beautification of public space, storytelling, and bookmaking. To learn more, visit my website here!

Terrance The Hothead written by Lisa Cloherty and illustrated by Alex Lopez is a story about big feelings and emotional regulation. Terrance the Hothead has big feelings and feels overwhelmed with big emotions each time a problem arises. He starts with a simmer, steam, and then explodes! How can he regulate his emotions better so he can begin to develop friendships with others? Terrance learns some key strategies from Coach Ice and Lady Grey throughout the book to help keep him more regulated. This picture book helps give children the language to talk about big feelings and how to cope with them. I love the illustrations in the book and how the main character navigates his feelings throughout the story. I also love the language of simmer, steam, and boil. Giving children some concrete ways of talking about their emotions help them learn to talk and regulate their big feelings. Listen to our podcast above to learn more about emotional regulation! To learn more about Lisa and her book, visit my website here. 

Forget Me Not begins as Calliope moves to a new town with her mother. Calliope moves often with her unstable mother, which makes her feel displaced and unsure of how long she will be living in one place. On the first day that she moves, she meets her neighbor, Jinsong, who also is in 7th grade at her new school. Calliope immediately feels connected to Jinsong. Will he be a true friend to her?  Calliope has always felt different because of her tics and "quirks" as her mom would call it. She would hum, tense her arms and yank her hair. Her mother, who doesn't understand the disorder, takes some extreme measures to help reduce symptoms, which includes cutting Calliope's beautiful hair at the beginning of the book to reduce the "yanking and pulling". When Calliope is diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at a young age, her doctor advises Calliope to hide and control her tics. For someone with Tourette's, trying to hide these tics makes symptoms even worse.  The story progresses as Calliope navigates her new school, tries to make new friends, and struggles with her Tourette's Syndrome. However, it's difficult because she gets bullied and teased, which makes her symptoms even worse. She also feels alone with her mother constantly with a new boyfriend. How will Calliope find true friends and take control of her own life?  To learn more about Ellie and her books, check out my website here.  

Come On, Calm! is a wonderful, interactive book that is not just a story, it's a therapeutic experience when reading it with your child. I love supporting other speech-language pathologists in their journey in writing children's books since we have such a unique perspective with regard to neurodiversity. Come On, Calm! written by Kelsey Brown and illustrated by Joseph Wrightson is a picture book published by Mascot Books that embeds calming strategies for young children. The book was originally written as a poem by the author. It focuses on specific vocabulary and action words with step-by-step ideas for self or co-regulation. Come On, Calm! embeds language such as emotional vocabulary (e.g. nervous, excited) with strategies such as "sniffing", "squeezing", "zipping", "brushing" and much more. The book is beautifully illustrated and bursts with energy!  I love how the book naturally embeds movement and a multi-sensory experience. When reading this book, practice the different movements with your child and/or student. Work on print awareness by pointing to the words in the book and doing consistent check-ins with feelings. This book also helps children understand what "calm" means. Listen to our podcast above to learn more about tips from Kelsey! To learn more about Kelsey, visit my website here. 

Mindful Mondays: Transforming the Everyday to Claim Calm and Reduce Stress written by Kim Dwyer, Ph.D. is divided into four sections. These sections include General Mindfulness Strategies, Mindful and Thoughts, Mindfulness Values and Intentionality, and Mindfulness and the Art of Living. This book gives valuable strategies for both the beginner and expert in mindfulness. One of the most challenging aspects of daily living is being mindful. I have to remind myself all of the time to "slow down and be in the moment". In our podcast, we discuss different ways to be more mindful in our busy and stressful world!  Kim is also the children's book author of Rocky's Christmas Journey. This picture book is about an owl that was discovered in the tree at Rockefeller Center in 2020. The story follows this owl from the treetops of a forest to the tree in NYC.  The book is beautifully illustrated by Moran Roudor and includes a caregiver guide at the end with discussion questions. To read more and learn about Kim Dwyer, click here. 

I Am Odd I Am New written by Benjamin Giroux and illustrated by Roz MacLean is a picture book based on a poem that the author wrote when he was 10 years old. The poem, which is pictured below describes Ben's feelings about feeling "out of place", "like a castaway", and how he tries "to fit in". Benjamin, who is autistic wrote this poem as part of a school assignment. The poem is beautifully written and unique but the feelings he expresses through the poem are felt by many others. This was evident after his parents shared the poem on social media and it became viral inspiring many others to discuss similar feelings. Whether your child is neurodiverse or neurotypical, this book can be an excellent tool to be read at home or in the classroom.  To learn more about Benjamin and read this poem, click here.

Do you have a child with selective mutism? Does your child's voice get stuck in school or with certain people? All three books below written by Lucy Nathanson are excellent resources for both school and home alike.  Why Doesn't Alice Talk at School? This picture book is a story that is intended to be read to friends and the class about selective mutism. This book begins with a section for adults and the story for children follows. The book is a wonderful tool to help explain to children why Alice doesn't talk at school. He talks about different things that other children are scared of and then relates it to Alice and her fear of talking at school. The teacher also gives some tips for the children to help support Alice. Why Doesn't Alice Talk at School is ideal for the classroom or school library! My Name is Ben and I don't talk sometimes This picture book includes both a children's story and guidelines for parents and professionals. The story begins with Ben explaining that he is a chatterbox at home, but at school he has trouble talking. He also gets nervous when he has other people over at his house and is scared to talk to his Aunty Sarah. I loved how the author embedded different tips in the storybook such as Ben being relieved that his Aunty Sarah doesn't ask him a lot of questions, which makes him nervous. The book also incorporates the brave chart and how Ben begins to feel brave to talk with his Aunty Sarah in the room. My Name is Eliza and I don't talk at school My Name is Eliza and I don't talk at school is another wonderful storybook about a young girl named Eliza. The book begins with a section of "How to Read this Book" and then includes a section of therapeutic strategies such as stimulus fading, reassuring your child, graded exposure in the community, and brave charts. Eliza describes her "big worry feeling" when her voice gets stuck. This third book written by Lucy Nathanson can be an excellent tool for parents, friends and educators. To learn more and check out additional resources about selective mutism, click here. 

Be The Dragon 9 Keys to Unlocking Your Inner Magic written by Catherine J. Manning and illustrated by Melanie Demmer is a beautiful workbook to stimulate your child's creativity and imagination. The book begins with a Know Yourself Quiz to determine "What type of dragon are you?" From there, you can determine what type of dragon you are! Are you a water dragon, air dragon, ground dragon, fire dragon, or moon dragon?  In this book, you will find hands-on activities, quests and quizzes, exciting stories, and vibrant illustrations. Through these activities, your child can reflect on overcoming fears, increasing confidence, social skills, and stimulating problem-solving situations. To learn more about this book, visit my website here!

When Things Get Too Loud written and illustrated by Anne Alcott is an excellent book to help children who are sensitive to loud noises. This story about sensory overload is visual in nature with the integration of the Feel-O-Meter, which helps children understand the intensity of their sensitivity. This book, written in rhyme takes children from low intensity (#1- feeling great) all the way through the high intensity with tips on strategies to help calm down.  When Things Get Too Loud includes a section on strategies for when things get too loud such as headphones, a weighted blanket, music, or rocking motion. There is also a section that each child can individualize by drawing what helps them. As a speech-language pathologist for over 20 years, I have had many students who are overwhelmed by loud noises. When this sensitivity isn't addressed, children can become distressed which can manifest into negative behaviors or withdrawal. Recognizing and validating the sensitivity is key. Additionally, providing effective strategies to help a child is extremely important.  To read more and connect with Anne, visit my website here.

Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick 2nd edition written by Elizabeth Sautter is a wonderful book full of practical activities for parents. This book is designed and organized to be used "in the moment" and targets helping your child manage different emotions, social situations and reduce anxiety. The book is organized into different categories including; At Home, In the Community, Holidays and Special Events, and Bridging Home and School. Strategies and other parent tips are also included! Elizabeth A. Sautter, MA, CCC- is a licensed speech and language pathologist and co-director and co-owner of Communication Works (CW), a private practice providing speech, language, and social therapy in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has worked with preschool to adult clients and their families since 1996 in private practice, schools, and hospitals. Currently, Elizabeth provides training, consultation, supervision, and program development in schools and organizations as well as presentations on social regulation in the US and Canada. She works closely with Leah Kuypers, who developed the Zones of Regulation curriculum®, and she is a collaborative trainer on the Zones. To learn more about Elizabeth and see reviews of her other books, visit my website here. 

Stitches: A Memoir is written and illustrated by David Small. This graphic novel begins when David was six years old growing up in Detroit, Michigan. After a couple of pages in, I could immediately sense the world that this book lives in. It's dark, dramatic, and lonely. From the beginning of this story, I felt empathy for this boy, who doesn't know anything different since this is the only childhood he knows and has experienced. As the memoir continues and reveals more trauma, I immediately felt compassion for when he became voiceless because of extensive surgery. How do you have a voice one day and function the next day without your voice? As a speech-language pathologist who specializes in working with individuals that have communication disorders, this novel hit home for me. The story continues and David begins to find hope and closure in all of the events in his life as he gets older.  There are no words to describe how well David portrays his life and the characters in it. The nonverbal communication he draws and expresses throughout this book is profound and explains the dramatic childhood he experienced and how he began to heal. Stitches is for a more mature audience and younger children (middle grade) may find the material too difficult to read. However, this should be a decision made on an individual basis. From my perspective, a high school student and older would be an ideal audience.  To learn more about David and see scenes from the book, visit my website here. 

Therese Van Ryne is Global Director of PR, Thought Leadership, and Advocacy for Zebra Technologies. She joined Zebra as part of the acquisition of Motorola Solutions Enterprise business in October 2014. Her accomplishments include leading Zebra events with Harvard University and TED. She also recently published a children's book titled, “Zippy's Special Gift” which reflects the inclusive culture at Zebra. All profits from its sales are being donated to Bernie's Book Bank. Zippy's Special Gift, written by Therese Van Ryne and illustrated by Walter Policelli is a story about embracing the special gifts that make us unique. The story begins with Zippy telling her mother how she doesn't like her stripes. Her mother tells Zippy that the stripes are her special gift. She then encourages Zippy to ask her friends about each of their special gifts such as Frog's leaping gift and Duck's webbed feet.  Zippy's Special Gift is written to help represent the diverse culture of Zebra Technologies. Therese is the Global Director of Public Relations at Zebra Technologies. Listen to our podcast to learn more about Therese and how Zippy, Zebra Technologies Mascot helps children embrace diversity and inclusion. To learn more about Zebra Technologies, visit their website here. In addition, this book is dedicated to Bernie's Book Bank. This non-profit organization is committed to transforming the educational journey of children by giving them the tools they need to be successful readers. All of the profits from the sales of Zippy's Special Gift are donated to this organization.  To learn more, visit my website here.

MUFFLED written by Jennifer Gennari is a middle-grade novel about a young girl named Amelia who has a high sensitivity to noise and certain sounds. How has Amelia worked through this sensitivity? For the past few years, she has worn noise-canceling headphones. Amelia is starting fifth grade and her parents don't want her to wear the headphones anymore. Her father, who is empathetic to Amelia's struggle with noise gives her a pair of earmuffs. Amelia loves these earmuffs. They are soft and protect her from the sounds that make her anxious. On the contrary, the earmuffs also make it difficult to interact with peers and make her stand out. How can Amelia navigate friendships and learn to have the courage to take off her earmuffs? This book is a wonderful novel about friendship, courage, and learning to navigate different relationships at home and in school. It's also an excellent book to teach others about sensory processing disorders, overall sound sensitivity, and neurodiversity. When reading this book, I could feel the emotions of Amelia and really empathize with her noise sensitivity. As a speech-language pathologist who works with neurodiverse children and adults with a variety of sensory processing disorders, I understand and see this struggle on a regular basis. For these children, certain sounds can be painful and extremely uncomfortable. To us, these sounds may just be loud or sometimes not even noticeable. The most important part of working with someone that has sound sensitivity is giving them the language to talk about it. For example, when I work with children that have sound sensitivity, I pay attention to their nonverbal cues and teach them the words "uncomfortable", "loud", "I don't like it" and then provide them a way to access a tool that will help them feel better such as a quiet space, headphones or a walk in the hallway. To access free discussion questions and listen to the first chapter in her book read by the author, visit my website here.

"Kindness is an open door to welcome others through" Michelle Schaub, Kindness is a Kite String Kindness is a Kite String...The Uplifting Power of Empathy written by Michelle Schaub and illustrated by Claire LaForte is a beautiful book to help teach children about the power of kindness. This poetic book is full of literacy and language opportunities. Kindness is a Kite String can help teach children about the power of being kind to others on a daily basis. Sometimes we discuss kindness being this grand gesture but it can be as simple as holding the door open for someone or giving a friend a hug. Kindness can also be about taking care of our earth and living creatures. When reading this book to your child, stop and pause on each page and discuss the various actions in the book. Take it a step further and discuss why that particular action is kind. In the back of the book is a short guide for parents and teachers about similes and metaphors, which are immersed into the book. I love this book because it can serve as a valuable reminder of the simple act of kindness. With the hecticness of each day and the stress of the pandemic, it can be often difficult to be mindful and reflect on how we can be kind to others. It's such an important gesture and helps build empathy, which we all need!  To download the free reading guide and learn more about the author and book, visit my website.

CalmConnect is a patented system containing dozens of short (2 – 5 minute) digital sequences designed to quickly and effectively calm the nervous system and build a bridge to the social world. The program is used around the world in thousands of schools and therapy centers, as well as in hospitals, behavioral health centers, cognitive care centers, and homes. CalmConnect is a program that I have been using with my students since 2010, which was a long time ago! Back then, the program was called MeMoves. Each morning, every classroom in the school that I working in would be doing MeMoves. The program brought a feeling of calmness, reflection, and mindfulness for all of us including both students and adults. After leaving that particular school, I lost touch with the program for many years until recently. One of my students who is Autistic and has complex communication needs, would often request breaks and needed movement, but each time we would go for a walk, he wouldn't ever come back to the task. I thought about this particular program and longed to introduce my student to it. I knew that this is what he needed to feel calm and focused for our sessions. When I found CalmConnect, I immediately got in touch with Chris Bye about starting the program again and scheduling an interview so we could talk further about the journey of CalmConnect. I began using this program with my student and he immediately responded to it by being able to focus during our sessions and was visibly calm and relaxed. To learn more and enter the giveaway, visit my website for more details! 

As a speech-language pathologist, I love discovering books about various topics. Mickey on the Move is a picture book written by Michelle Wagner and illustrated by Jenny Phelps about a young boy named Mickey who has bilateral cochlear implants. The story takes the reader through a typical day for Mickey and his journey as he becomes mainstreamed into a local public school. In the beginning, the author explains the long rides to his other schools, the intensive speech and language sessions, learning sign language, and seeing various doctors determine the best course of action for Mickey. What are cochlear implants? The author explains what cochlear implants are and how they work, which is very helpful for the reader who may not know what they are or how they work. The story continues with how his mother advocates for Mickey as he overcomes some obstacles in the classroom (e.g. noisy environments). I enjoyed this book because the author explained the basics of cochlear implants and the process of obtaining them. Also, she discussed the importance of sign language, which is still essential given that Mickey is completely deaf when he takes off the implants. To read more about the book and learn about Michelle, visit my website here. 

Does Grandma Remember Me? written by Evita Sherman and illustrated by Chayla Bolden is a wonderful book about the connection and love between a granddaughter and her grandmother who has dementia. The story, which is written from the young girl's perspective takes the reader through how her grandmother has changed because of dementia. For example, she doesn't smile in the same way, constantly looks for something she is unable to find and often forgets what time it is.  At first the young girl is very sad about her grandma and wishes she can fix her dementia. However, in the end she realizes that dementia can't take away the love she has for her grandmother and how she makes her feel. That becomes the true common denominator.  To learn more about Evita nd her book, visit my website here.

Thill Seekers..15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports written by Ann McCallum Staats is a book full of adventure and fascinating stories! For myself, the topic of extreme sports has always been very interesting for me to learn about. This collection of stories introduces readers to diverse and passionate women who are passionate about sports such as wingsuit flying, skateboarding, cave diving and race car driving.  The book is organized into five sections which include Maximum Sky, Extreme Ocean, Radical Rides, Epic Ice and Snow and Adrenaline Earth. Within each story include a short biography of the featured person, facts about the specific sports and ways to learn more (e.g. social media accounts including youtube).  This book is ideal for both home and the classroom. This non-fiction book is perfect for older elementary and middle grade students. I also think that older students and adults would love this book.  Ann McCallum Staats didn't just learn about the sports, she also experienced them herself! She wanted to get a taste of what it's like be a sky diver like Melanie Curtis. Check out Ann below!

The Butterfly Who Flew in the Rain written by Ori Gutin and illustrated by Winny Kwong-Sito is a story about Cody, a little caterpillar who is born in the middle of a terrible thunderstorm. He feels sad and alone and wonders if he will ever find any happiness until one afternoon he starts to change! He becomes a butterfly, the sky becomes bright and warm and all of the animals in the forest come out. When a storm returns, Cody worries he will feel sad again. He then realizes that he doesn't have to feel that way because he can persevere and work through his feelings. I really enjoyed this book because it talks about going through hardships and working through different feelings of isolation and sadness. Many children may go through these feelings throughout our pandemic with remote learning, lack of socialization, etc. What do we do when we feel like this? The author takes the reader through overcoming obstacles and working through difficult feelings. To read more and learn about Ori and his book, click here.

Beyond Words "Not being able to speak is not the same as having nothing to say" Dana Hall (Beyond Words) Beyond Words written by Dana Hall and illustrated by Shruti Prabhu is a beautifully illustrated story that will take the reader on a journey that emphasizes the power of friendship, connection and imagination.  How do we get to know someone when they don't have verbal speech or limited verbal speech? This beautiful book about apraxia of speech can teach both children and adults that we can go "beyond words" to connect with children with complex communication needs. I loved this book for so many reasons. As a speech language pathologist that works with children that have complex communication needs, I felt very connected with the story. My students have so much to communicate and it can be expressed in so many ways. The term "total communication" is what I refer to when we use all modalities to communicate (body language, facial expression, sign language, gestures, AAC device, etc.) For any parent that has a child diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, this book can be a powerful tool for both the home and school environment. To read more and learn about Dana Hall and her valuable resources, click here.

Four Paws, Two Feet, One Team written by Connor Quinn and Mary Cortani and illustrated by Susan Szecsi is a picture book about a rescue puppy named Dakota that grows up to a service dog. After being found in a field, she is rescued by Mary Cortani, who runs an organization called Operation Freedom Paws. Dakota trains to be a service dog throughout the book and then gets matched with his forever person, a veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Both Dakota and his owner learn from each other and provide support for each other through difficult situations.  This picture book teaches the reader many important lessons. When reading this stop your child will learn about service dogs, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and celebrating the achievements of both veterans and their service dogs. Throughout the book, the reader learns the etiquette of how to approach a service dog, their uniform and much more. Additionally, Four Paws, Two Feet, contains valuable information about the types of service dogs, requirements of service dogs and what tasks a service dog provides for their owner. To learn more about the authors and visit my website click here.

Roll With It Roll With It is a middle grade novel about a strong character named Ellie. Ellie tells it like it is and surprises many people with her strong opinions and no nonsense attitude. Ellie has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound, which makes people judge her right away as needing help and being judged as less independent. She has big dreams and craves independence and long lasting friendships. Where will she find this?  When she moves with her mom to help take care of her grandpa, she finds discovers strength, independence and friendships. Roll With It is a story of friendship, strength, family relationships and working through challenges. It's also a story of learning about misconceptions and being less judgmental. Roll With It builds character and empathy with the reader.  Tune It Out Tune It Out is about a young girl named Lou, who has the voice of an angel. In the beginning of story, she lives with her mom and struggles with her sensory processing disorder and finances. After being moved to a new home with her aunt and uncle, Lou discovers things about herself and the importance of family and friendships. She deals with the discovery and treatment of her Sensory Processing Disorder and how to work through the challenges to be the best version of herself. This is a book that should be on all library shelves as well as home libraries!  To learn more about Jamie and her books for parenting children with special needs, click here.

Are you looking to help your child learn about different careers? Check out this book, Dream It and Do It written by Holly Sharp that takes the reader through all types of careers. In the book include the following: Artistic Writers, Artistic Performers, Artistic Designers, Helpers: Service, Helpers: Medical, Helpers: Growth, Helpers: Nature, Lemonade Stand (Business), Product Developers and Discovers. Holly Sharp is a new mom who realized that there weren’t enough career-focused books out there for her daughter. So she wrote Dream It & Do It, a collection of 100 short stories based on real people who have followed their dreams. The book begins with a short introduction by Holly Sharp which explains the importance of each person making their mark in the world as well as the constant changes in technology. Her question to the reader is, "What will be your role in this change?" I love this book because it has so many wonderful stories about different people who made the world a better place. Some of the people featured include; Maya Penn, Ocean Ramsey, Sal Khan and many others! To learn more about the book and author, visit my website here.

About Kristi and Becca from Communication Community Today I will be interviewing SLP (Speech Language Pathologists) Kristi and Becca from Communication Community (please disregard mistake in podcast introduction. Their website is communication community, not communications community) I have worked with this SLP team on a guest post about AAC during Food Prep during cooking. Check out the post here! Becca is currently living in Denver, Colorado. She works primarily with adults using AAC but has experience in schools and hospitals. Kristi lives in Florida and spends most of her professional time working for programs treating pediatric and young adult populations with autism. To check out their website, click here. To access free resources on their TPT store, click here. To learn more about adapting books and access more free resources, visit my website here!

Speaking of Apraxia, A Parent's Guide to Childhood Apraxia of Speech Do you have a child with apraxia of speech? As a speech language pathologist for twenty years, I have worked with many children diagnosed with apraxia of speech. Working in the field of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), I have worked with the most severe cases of apraxia where speech is not available for functional communication on a consistent basis. I am thrilled to have Leslie Lindsay on my podcast to talk about the second edition of her book, Speaking of Apraxia, A Parent's Guide to Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Now available in an updated, second edition, Speaking of Apraxia (Woodbine House, November 2020), is an award-winning resource on Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Eight years ago, when Leslie Lindsay, former Child & Adolescent Psychiatric R.N., and mother to a daughter with CAS—now resolved—couldn’t find any parent-friendly books to help her child and family with CAS, she wrote one. This updated, well-researched, and comprehensive work provides readers the benefit of her experience and perspective. To read more about the book and learn about Leslie, click here.

My Hair Went on Vacation written by Paula Quinn and illustrated by Chiara Civati is a wonderful story about a young girl who loses her hair due to the autoimmune disorder, Alopecia. This book, which is written in the first perspective takes the reader through the journey from Rosie losing her hair and feeling like an outcast to embracing her uniqueness and educating others about Alopecia. Through art, Rosie feels connected and in touch with her feelings. Her parents take her art creations and turn them into head scarves. Rosie wears this beautiful scarf with pride and takes the opportunity to share this love and help others struggling with Alopecia or another condition that causes lost or thinning hair. To read the full review and learn about Coming Up Rosies, click here.

Fox and Rabbit Graphic Novel Series written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Gergely Dudás Fox & Rabbit Meet Fox, who likes trying new things and is scared of heights. Meet Rabbit, who likes being prepared and is scared of everything! Together in this book, the readers learns about how these two characters develop a special friendship together and overcome their fears. This book is divided into five chapters and readers will love reading the adventures of these two lovable, funny and amusing characters. Fox and Rabbit Make Believe Fox & Rabbit Make Believe is the second graphic novel written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Gergely Dudás. This vibrant and beautifully illustrated book is a wonderful graphic novel about friendship, make believe, and every day adventures.  In this book, Fox and Rabbit will learn about making new friendships with other characters and watch their friend's imagination go wild!  To read the full review and learn more about Beth Ferry, click here.

Raja's Pet Camel The Magic of Hope written by author Anita Nahta Amin and illustrated by Parwinder Singh is a wonderful story about a young boys journey finding his forever pet, Kamal. It's also a story that is educational and helps children learn more about Indian culture. The story begins with Raja walking home from school and finding "a lone baby camel crying". What does he do? Raja moves cautiously towards the baby camel, who is at first scared until she spots Raja's shiny lunchbox. The pair immediately hit it off by playing tag and hide and seek. Raja decides to bring his pet camel home and hopes that his father will accept Kamal as their new pet. His father, Bapu is skeptical but decides to let his son keep Kamal until someone claims her. Raja is overjoyed and has hope that Kamal can stay. However, as time goes on, Kamal becomes quite a handful! He becomes a trouble maker around the house and Raja's father decides to sell him at the local fair. What will Raja do to keep Kamal? Read the book to find out! To read the full review, learn about Anita and access the free educator guide click here.

Kelly Goes Back to School Is your child returning to school this Fall in person? Kelly Goes Back to School More Science on Coronavirus is the second book written by authors and couple Lauren and Adam Block. I originally saw their first children's book, Kelly Stays Home in Newsday  on May 2020 and was immediately impressed with their mission of helping to educate children about the pandemic.  Kelly Goes Back to School is a well written and beautifully illustrated book about a young girl named Kelly who is returning to school after being home and learning remotely. The book begins with Kelly feeling anxious about returning to school and discussing her feelings with her family. Although Kelly is excited to see her friends and return to school, she doesn't know what to expect. How many kids will be in the class? Will everyone be spaced apart? Do I wear my mask all day? These are common questions that parents face and although we can answer them with our best knowledge, explaining the reasons behind everything is not always simple. Lauren Block, a primary physician and Adam Block, a health economist, tackle a variety of complicated topics. They explain these topics and terminology in a way that children can understand and relate to them. The authors also review complex vocabulary such as cohorting, convalescent plasma, viral transmission and fomites. Many children may have heard these words before, but may not fully understand them. After reading this book with your child, there will be a better understanding of these words and how they relate to the pandemic and the transmission of COVID-19. The illustrator, Alex Brissenden perfectly illustrates these complex topics throughout the book.  To learn more about the authors and access their free books downloads online, visit my review here.

Tomboy The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare To Be Different "I think it's important for parents, and kids, to understand how sex, gender, and sexuality have been understood in different eras, to see that the way we are experiencing and understanding them is part of the evolution, and that we've still got so much more to learn." Lisa Selin Davis (Tomboy, 2020). Tomboy, written by essayist, novelist, and journalist Lisa Selin Davis "explores the evolution of tomboyism from a Victorian ideal to a twenty first century fashion statement, honoring girls and women-and those who identify otherwise." Tomboy is a fascinating and comprehensive book that combines research, Lisa's personal life and other girl's experiences and stories. This book helps readers to better appreciate those who defy gender norms and boundaries and the "incredible people they become." Before reading this book, I didn't think that much about the word "tomboy" and used it within conversation without a thought. My history of the word tomboy included the iconic character Jo from Facts of Life and found it to be a positive term based on my own experiences. I never thought about how this word has been used in history and what it means today. After reading Tomboy, I became more educated in the topic of gender and understanding the history of the word, "tomboy" after reading this book. I was also able to self reflect on my own childhood and the gender norms of today. As a parent, I am always learning and then never stops! I highly recommend this book for parents who want to learn more about this fascinating topic and celebrate girls "who dare to be different." To read the full review and watch the trailer, click here.

Are you looking for a picture book to help your child with self-regulation and impulsivity? Hunter and His Amazing Remote Control by Lori Ann Copeland is a fantastic book for all children, but specifically helpful for those with attention and impulsivity difficulties. The book is about a young boy named Hunter begins the story using a remote control while watching television. He suddenly gets the best idea! What is he invented a remote control that can control his brain?  Hunter is creative, enthusiastic and full of energy. However, it's sometimes hard to focus and pay attention when needs to. This need for movement and a feeling of not being understood leads to frustration. That's why he has his remote control to help him! Throughout the book, Hunter explains all of the different buttons a remote control such as "pause", "rewind", "slow motion", and "fast forward". Do you ever wish you can hit "pause" and give yourself some time to think about something before doing it? That's what the pause button is for! Other buttons on the remote control include "way to go", which reminds children of their own hard work and success. I love the button "zap" , which helps children stay positive and not turn their negative thoughts into reality.  Hunter and His Amazing Control is a wonderful book for both home and in the classroom setting. In our podcast, Lori and I also discuss how to use it virtually for remote learning. A book such as this one is timeless and very important specifically, especially during this pandemic. It's so easy to become distracted during both remote learning and in person learning. To learn more about Lori and see the full review of her book and other products, click here.

Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism written by author and autism advocate, Jen Malia and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff is a wonderful book about a young autistic girl who struggles with sensory issues and overcomes her fears. An excellent book for both neurodiverse and neurotypical children to help build awareness and provide a peek into the struggles of everyday sensory issues and anxiety. Jen Malia, Autistic Author and Advocate Her debut children’s picture book, Too Sticky!: Sensory Issues with Autism (Albert Whitman, April 2020), is about a girl who has to overcome her fear of sticky hands to participate in a slime experiment.  The main character is based on her own and her daughter’s experiences living with autism and sensory issues.   To read the full review of the book and learn more about Jen, visit my website here.  

Mother Daughter Team, Brigitte and Alyssa Brulz Would you like to write and illustrate a book with your child? Check out this amazing mother-daughter team, Brigitte and Alyssa Brulz.   Brigitte Brulz is a homeschooling mom, author, journal creator, freelance writer, and SCBWI regional social chair. Aah! Blown Away, Crash! An Alphabet Misadventure, which she had the pleasure of creating with her daughter, is her third published picture book. All three of her picture books have received a Readers' Favorite Five Stars review, and her book Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles was chosen for the 2019 Read Across Connecticut program. Other writings of hers have been published in various places in print and online. She offers free coloring pages, teacher's guides, activity ideas, and more information on her website at www.brigittebrulz.com.   Brigitte's writings have been published in The Practical Homeschooling magazine, in The Old Schoolhouse magazine, on Money Saving Mom, on A Fine Parent, on AMA Feed, and on Hands On As We Grow, where I am currently a monthly contributor. I have also been mentioned or quoted on Moneyish, Inc., Hello Giggles, The Epoch Times, and U.S. News. I have also created courses as a lesson designer for SchoolhouseTeachers.com.   Alyssa Brulz is a 12-year-old homeschooled student who knows the alphabet in English and French. She used a computer program to create all of the illustrations for Aah! Blown Away, Crash! An Alphabet Misadventure, which is her first published picture book.   Would you like to learn more about the book and get language and literacy tips? Click here to visit my website!

Lori Melnitsky, MA CCC-SLP, has been an ASHA certified and NYS/NJ licensed speech/language pathologist for over 25 years and has helped hundreds of children, teens and adults in her diverse professional lifetime. She has witnessed preschoolers eliminate stuttering as well as older students and adults transform from stuttering to fluent and confident speakers. Lori is one of the only speech pathologists dually certified in stuttering, cluttering, and Prompt Therapy. She is also a published author in fluency journals. To learn more about Lori, Jason's Secret and access other stuttering resources, click here.

Claire Noland is the author of easy readers, board books, and picture books for young children. She knows that everyone who reads is a winner and as a children’s librarian, reading specialist, and author, her life’s goal is to excite kids about books and reading. Claire Annette Noland is a children’s writer born and raised in California. When she was a girl her father handed her his old binoculars (which she still uses) and her mother gave her a journal. It was only natural that she became an explorer and writer. Claire’s second home was the library where her mother took the five siblings to weekly story hour. She still remembers the librarian reading “if you were a bee and a bull sat on you, what would you do?” from her favorite book, The Story of Ferdinand. Claire attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she studied geography and comparative literature combining her love of travel with the stories of the places and people she visited. Claire went on to earn her master’s degree in library and information science and became a children’s librarian. She earned her classroom and reading specialist credentials and taught for many years while she and her husband Michael raised their four children. Now that the kids are grown and off on their own adventures, Claire promotes literacy by making sure that children have access to books and information through her work with REFORMA as well as developing library collections for children in Nicaragua and in a local women’s shelter. When not writing, you can find Claire stocking her Little Free Library and taking field trips using kidlit as her travel guide. Check out her website here! To read the full review of the book and watch a video of Claire reading the book, click here.  

Dr. Lisa Peña is the author of Waiting for the Light Bulb The Ramblings of a Crazy, Gritty Mom. Dr. Lisa Peña is a proud wife, a clinical pharmacist, passionate public speaker and busy mom of three children, one of which has a unique subset of autism and pathological demand avoidance. She is the founder and president of the non-profit organization MoCHA (moms of children who have Autism). Lisa doesn't just share her story. She shares other families stories as well. To learn more about The Diaries, click here. Lisa also records audio clips as well. Through these audio clips, Lisa continues to share her story and journey. Check these audio clips out here. She is the blogger behind the MoCha Tribe Diaries, a website/blog devoted to squashing the idea that Autism has a single story. Dr. Lisa Peña is a Today Show Parenting Team Contributor and her writing has been featured on national blogs like Scary mommy and Love What Matters, She is also director of The Ultimate MoChA session and the Labeled and Loved Retreat, both retreats for moms with special needs children. To learn more about her book and Lisa's mission to help others, check out my website here.

Angel Grandma is Heather Lean’s first book. Heather and her children talk about their angel grandmas all the time. While her own children might not have many specific memories of them, Heather felt it was important to always keep the memories of these women alive by telling stories about them. Angel Grandma was written to convey the message to both children and adults that those we love are always with us even if we physically cannot see them. Angel Grandma was created to help parents talk about this sensitive topic with their children in a way that is both beautiful and comforting.  A portion of the net proceeds of Heather’s books will be donated to Hearts to be Heard. Their mission is to give a voice to heart-felt creativity for those who otherwise would not be heard. Learn more about Heather Lean here. To read the full review of Heather's book and learn more, check out my website here.

Today I will be interviewing Dr. Tabatha Chansard, author of the Conquer Anxiety Workbook for Teens which provides anxiety relief strategies for today’s teens. She is a licensed psychologist who specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for a variety of emotional and behavioral difficulties. She treats childhood disorders and is passionate about her work with kids, adolescents and young adults. She is also co-founder of Dallas Emotional Health located in Dallas, Texas. To learn more about Dr. Tabatha Chansard, read my review and get links for various resources for mental health, click here.

Amanda Morin is an author, former classroom teacher, education writer, and special education advocate. She serves as an in-house adviser for Understood.org, where she teaches about using empathy as a tool to embrace inclusion. She has been an expert resource for NPREd, Education Week, Associated Press (AP), The Atlantic, Washington Post, The Hechinger Report, Education World, USA Today, and more. Amanda is also the winner of the 2017 SmartBrief Education Editor's Choice content Award. Amanda is the author of four books. Titles include the Everything Parent's Guide to Special Education: A Complete Step by Step Guide to Advocating for Your Child with Special Needs,  The Everything Kids' Learning Activities Book: 145 Entertaining Activities and Learning Games for Kids, On-the-Go Fun for Kids!: More than 250 Activities to Keep Little Ones Busy and Happy-Anytime, Anywhere! and her most recent children's book, What is Empathy? A Bullying Storybook for Kids.  In this podcast, Amanda will be discussing her most recent children's book, What is Empathy? and helpful tips for parents about empathy during this pandemic.  To read the full review of this book with language and learning tips, visit my website here.      

Today I will be interviewing Megan Alexander, author of the book, One More Hug. Megan Alexander is an Emmy nominated national news correspondent, author, speaker and actress. She can be seen every evening as a correspondent on the longest-running, top rated syndicated national news magazine television show INSIDE EDITION. An actress and producer, her film credits include roles in the movies Space Warriors, Redeemed, Heartbeats, and in the television dramas “Nashville” on ABC and “Still the King” on CMT. She is Executive Producer of the feature film “HEARTBEATS”. Megan hosts the nationally televised Inspirational Country Music Awards each year from Nashville, TN. Her first book, “Faith in the Spotlight – Thriving in Your Career While Staying True to Your Beliefs,” was released by Simon & Schuster on October 4, 2016. Today we will be talking about her picture book, One More Hug, which was released in November 2019. Megan splits time between NYC and Nashville, TN. She and her husband have 3 children. Learn more about Megan via her website at MeganAlexander.com To read the full review of her book, learn more about Megan and listen to her song "One More", click here.

Caron Levis (MFA; LMSW) is the author of the award winning children's picture book, Ida, Always (Atheneum) illustrated by Charles Santosos, which the New York Times Book Review calls, "an example of children's books at their best." Caron's other picture book titles include: This Way, Charlie (Abrams 2020), Stop That Yawn! (Atheneum); May I Have A Word? (FSG), and Mama's Work Shoes (Abrams.) She has an LMSW from Hunter College and an MFA in creative writing for children and young adults from The New School, where she now teaches and advises. She is the author of a number of picture books, including Ida, Always; Stop That Yawn! and Mama’s Work Shoes. Visit Caron's website at https://www.caronlevis.com/ To read the full review of her book, access activities for this way, Charlie and see Caron read this book aloud, go to my website here.

Today I will be interviewing Dr. Anthony Manna, award-winning children's author. Dr. Anthony Manna is also a retired professor of children's and adult literature, literacy education, and drama from Kent State University,  Through his many experiences and through his passion as an award-winning educator of 50 years, Dr. Manna has inspired kids and teens around the world to become confident, skilled, and happily-motivated readers and writers.  He has taught in schools and universities in Turkey, Greece, Albania, and the United States, where he immersed kids, teens, and young adults in powerful multicultural books and entertaining, action-packed activities, to help them enjoy the discoveries about themselves and others that great books and their own writing can encourage them to explore.  Dr. Manna's newest release, Loukas And The Game Of Chance (published by Mascot Books) is a reimagined Greek folktale, illuminated with dramatic and evocative pen and ink drawings that provide an ideal backdrop for the intrigue that fills this  touching story of human struggle, courage, and resilience. He divides his time between Ohio and Arizona.  Official Website: www.AnthonyMannaBooks.com Facebook: @Anthony.L.Manna Twitter: @DrTony42 Instagram: @DrTony42 To learn more about Anthony and read my full review, check out my website here.