Book Spotlight in Partnership with Muzna Kazim
The Children’s Book Review
Around The World with Moby: My First Trip
Author: Muzna Kazim
Illustrator: Rabindra. N. Barman
Publisher: Amazon | ISBN-13: 979-8-88862-880-5
About the Author and the Book
San Diego-based author Muzna Kazim created the character Moby, a jovial eight-year-old boy with autism who has travel anxiety. In her first story, Around the World with Moby: My First Trip, Moby’s parents take him out on a journey that includes a 3-hour flight, a hotel stay, and exploring the city of Minneapolis.
Travel anxiety can be very challenging for kids on the spectrum. Lights, sounds, people, changes in the schedule, and unpredictability can all be overwhelming for them. Moby dislikes changes in his daily routine and finds comfort in repeating the same activities at his home day in and day out. His parents were concerned that Moby was missing out on many new learning opportunities since he was not exploring the World outside his home. The parents decide to take him out on a short vacation to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The parents prepared him for the trip by implementing helpful strategies to cope with his fear and anxiety.
The story is inspired by Muzna’s own personal experience with her son on the spectrum who had travel anxiety. Implementing strategies discussed in the story has helped him manage his fear and become an avid traveler.
Muzna completed her Master’s in Public Health from National University in 2016. She majored in Health Promotion with a comprehensive research study on Autism. She is an autism mom and worked as a Behavior Interventionist for kids on the Spectrum. She advocates inclusivity and equal opportunities for all Neurodiverse children.
Muzna believes that anxiety arises from the fear of unpredictability. Traveling for the first time and to a new place can be taxing and overwhelming for children on the spectrum. The book talks about how the parents made Moby’s journey more predictable and structured, ensured a smooth transition, and set him up for a successful trip.
Although focused on kids on the autism spectrum, this book can be beneficial to both Neurodiverse or Neurotypical children who suffer from travel anxiety. Muzna believes that by tailoring our way of teaching according to their individual needs, we can help children Learn, Leap, and Grow.
For more information: www.mobysbookclub.com
Facebook: Moby’s Book Club | Facebook
Reedsy: Muzna Kazim | Reedsy Discovery
Goodreads: Muzna Kazim – San Diego, CA (3 books) | Goodreads
Read our exclusive interview: Muzna Kazim Discusses Around The World with Moby: My First Trip