This Beach Is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill

The Little Senses Series by Samantha CotterillĬotterill has written and illustrated several picture books, including the “Little Senses” series. The following list of picture books is a great place to start: While there aren’t quite as many autistic authors in the picture book market - compared to the middle grade and young adult sides of the industry - there are still some amazing books out there that are definitely worth reading.

Because stories move us in ways that facts and statistics alone sometimes can't.”Īt these conferences, one of the most frequently asked questions is, 'What books should I use with little ones?' As a result, I've made it a personal goal to seek out great picture books about autism. “That's why stories are an essential part of autism advocacy. Stories show that the world needs all kinds of minds, and every kind of brain has its unique strengths and challenges. Most significantly, well-written stories about autism let our autistic kids know that they are not alone - that they are not broken. Stories can help explain autistic traits that may be confusing to non-autistic (or neurotypical) people. I talk about how they can promote empathy and understanding in non-autistic students and staff. I talk about how stories can be powerful tools for introducing autism to students. And beyond the library walls, I speak at conferences about the importance of sharing stories about neurodiversity and mental health. Being autistic, I also try to include books by autistic authors, whenever possible. Samantha is represented by Kirsten Hall of Catbird, and works out of her studio in Upstate New York.On in Recreation 10 Picture Books for Starting a Conversation About AutismĪs a school librarian, I work hard to create a diverse collection of middle grade and young adult books. Over 1,000,000 copies have been distributed nationwide through this program. She has recently launched a book series for kids on the Autism spectrum and/or with sensory issues entitled Little Senses, with This Beach Is Loud! chosen for Dolly Parton's 2020, 20 book list for The Imagination Library. Samantha has been featured in The New York Times (as illustrator for Just Add Glitter, written by Angela Diterlizzi and A Grand Day, written by Jean Reidy) and The Wall Street Journal for her art in The Jinx and The Doom Fight Crime! (written by Lisa Mantchev). Samantha Cotterill is an award winning picture book author and illustrator of many books for children.

This Beach Is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill