Book Review of Ian’s Show and Tell Surprise: A Story About Autism Spectrum Disorder
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The Children’s Book Review
Ian’s Show and Tell Surprise: A Story About Autism Spectrum Disorder
Written by Vicenta Montgomery
Illustrated by Christopher-James Bolognese-Warrington
Ages: 4-8 | 18 Pages
Publisher: Ruby Dolphin Books | ISBN-13: 9781667891293
What to Expect: Autism, Difference, Friendship, and School
Ian’s Show and Tell Surprise: A Story About Autism Spectrum Disorder is a clever picture book that works on multiple levels to educate young readers about autism.
Ian is a little bit different from the other kids at school. Because he has trouble understanding body language and coping with too much noise and gets sticky things on his hands, they find him difficult to understand, and he finds it challenging to connect with them. Then, the show-and-tell event gives Ian the opportunity he needs: Ian can show them himself and tell them all about Autism! Using sunglasses, hula-hoops, a raincoat, and other useful visual props, Ian tells everyone all about what it’s like to be neuro-divergent—and how they can help him. With the help of his Autism superpower, Ian is soon having a great time at school!
Not only will readers learn what autism is and how it presents, but they’ll also learn strategies for including and connecting with autistic individuals. At the same time, Autistic readers will see themselves represented on the page with positivity and empathy, helping them reframe their divergence as a “superpower.” Fun, cartoon-like illustrations help emphasize Ian’s energy and positivity while changing levels of color subtly show his increasing acceptance by the other children. At the end of the book, an informational page offers more facts about autism and further reading resources.
Ian’s Show and Tell Surprise is a fantastic resource both for teaching about autism and supporting autistic readers to see and love themselves.
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About the Author
Vicenta Montgomery has been a physician assistant with a passion for education for many years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Education and Industry Training from the University of Central Florida in 2002 and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant studies from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 2008. She has worked in both academic and clinical settings. She did spend some time working with children on the autism spectrum while working in pediatric neurology, but her inspiration for writing came from her own experiences.
As the mother of a child on the autism spectrum, she wondered if it might help to write a little book for her son to read to his class in early 2020. It turns out that starting a conversation with the students about autism led to a better understanding of her son’s differences. The beautiful growth in acceptance that followed was so touching that she knew she had to find a way to create a broader version of the book for other children to share in school or with youth groups everywhere. So, Ian’s Show And Tell Surprise was born! She currently lives in the northeast and enjoys spending time with her son, daughter, husband, and a couple of fur kids!
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will help purchase a copy of the book for other elementary school libraries. To see the list of locations of donated books or to find out more, you can visit her author website: https://vicenta-montgomery.com/
Additionally, she has created a website in the hopes of building a place to help parents and caregivers of children on the autism spectrum find resources: https://autismlilypad.com/
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Ian’s Show and Tell Surprise: A Story About Autism Spectrum Disorder. Learn more about getting a book review …
2 Comments
What a beautiful and important book! It’s great to see children’s literature addressing ASD in a thoughtful and positive way. This book can help promote understanding and acceptance of differences among young readers. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights in this review!
I must say it’s a heartwarming and insightful story that tackles the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a compassionate and relatable way. Your description of how the book helps children understand and empathize with their peers on the spectrum is spot-on. I appreciate how the author skillfully weaves together a meaningful narrative while incorporating educational elements about ASD. The beautiful illustrations also enhance the story and make it engaging for young readers. Your review effectively captures the essence of the book and highlights its value in promoting inclusivity and understanding. Well done!