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.

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.

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! 

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

To learn more about Benjamin and read this poem, click here.

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 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. 

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 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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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 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 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! 

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. 

To learn more about Evita nd her book, visit my website here.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 & 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.

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 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, 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.

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.

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.

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!

To learn more about Lori, Jason's Secret and access other stuttering resources, click here.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Jeanne has written plays, screenplays and now a children’s book Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue, that she hopes to expand into a series.  Jeanne has taught acting, voice, speech and movement at several universities including Middlebury College, UC Irvine, the New York Film Academy and Marymount Manhattan College.  Jeanne is also working to help women in business find their true, connected voices with her Voices at Work seminars.  As an actress, Jeanne has been seen in off-Broadway plays and musicals, as well as on TV and in independent films. Jeanne was also the original Artistic Director and a founding member of Coyote REP Theatre Company which produced plays in Manhattan and “sound plays” for iTunes.  She just narrated her first audiobook for Audible; Dancing with Shiva by Lynette Brice. She is an avid New York Yankees fan and is incredibly proud to have graduated from the University of Virginia (BA English) and UC Irvine (MFA Acting). 

To read the full post about Just Bunny the Great Fire Rescue and learn language and literacy tips for your child, visit my website here.

In addition to being a frequent contributor to children's magazines such as FACES Magazine for kids, Todd is the picture book author of Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop! (Abrams Appleseed). He is a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines, and literacy and parenting blogs. His favorite writing is for children and young adults.

​Along with writing for kids, he loves teaching at writers' and educators' conferences and as an instructor of Children's Literature at the University of Denver's University College.

​​Todd is a literacy advocate and strongly believes that literacy skills in children can be improved by simultaneously incorporating physical motion and as many senses as possible.

To read my review and learn more about how to facilitate language and learning with your child, visit my website with a full review here.

In addition to writing picture books, Valerie writes a Monthly Memo for teachers that she publishes on Twitter, and she has been published in The National Writing Project’s Quarterly (“The Family Writing Project Builds a Learning Community in Connecticut”) and NESCBWI News (“Microaggressions Don’t Feel ‘Micro’”). Recently, she had a poem accepted for publication by Cricket Media. 

http://valeriebolling.com

https://twitter.com/valerie_bolling

https://www.instagram.com/valeriebollingauthor

https://www.instagram.com/letsdancebook

She believes that every child has a voice that should be heard, and that it begins by empowering a child to tap into their imagination and skillful mind.

Jo Ann feels her philosophy of making learning fun brings out the best in our children and helps them to explore their own creative abilities during their early years and going forward.

She currently lives in Buffalo, New York, where she continues her writing, educating, speaking, and creative endeavors.

Official Website: www.TalkPlayAndRead.com

To learn more about Jo Ann and read my review of her book, click here.

 Lauren specializes in helping children, teens, and their families navigate issues related to anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief/loss, trauma, social skill difficulties, and low self-esteem. In counseling, Lauren helps cultivate a strong sense of self-worth in her clients, instilling in them the value of kindness toward self and others. Lauren helps her clients identify and build on their unique strengths while equipping them with useful tools to help address their individual areas of need. 

Lauren wrote My Sister's Super Skills to introduce children to healthy social-emotional skills in a fun way! This interactive story teaches emotional awareness and shares various empowering skills with children by linking each skill with an animal behavior, which children can easily remember and act out. As a counselor for children, Lauren knows the importance of learning these invaluable tools at an early age to manage stress, grow self-esteem and assist in navigating today's world! To learn more about Lauren, check out her website here.

To watch Lauren read her book and read my #kidlit review, visit my website here.

Phyllis is the author of “Middle School Matters” and a journalist. She’s a frequent contributor to the Washington Post, focusing on counseling, parenting and education, writes the Career Confidential weekly advice column for PDK, Intl. for educators, and “The Meaningful Middle” column for AMLE (Association of Middle Level Educators). She also has written for Psychology Today, Working Mother, Time, U.S. News & World Report, and Your Teen, and her ideas have been shared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, The Boston Globe, and The Chicago Tribune, among many other outlets.

To learn more about Phyllis, visit her website here. 

For additional resources suggested by Phyllis for online learning for your middle schooler, visit my website here. 

Patrick resides in Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada, where he continues to develop Tools of the Heart and its different projects, while also working as a Reiki Master, a counselor, and a school educator.

To learn more about Patrick and how to incorporate language and learning tips, go to my website here.

The Paper Kingdom is based on her childhood, and has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, who called the book "Enchanting and powerful." The book is also the list of Most Anticipated Children's Books of 2020 by BookPage. You can visit Helena on her website for more information about her writing journey (helenakrhee.com).

To learn more about Helena, read my review of The Paper Kingdom and learning tips, click here.

She graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2005 and received her masters in 2007 from Adelphi University.  Since then, she has worked with children from preschool to high school, in both schools and home-based agencies. 

Check out her website at: https://speechtimefun.com/

To learn more about Hallie and learn some language and learning tips, click here.

Buck is one half of the founding team of Share Your Wish, which also includes his wife, Rebecca. He is a dedicated father to his three children. He is a full time proprietary trader for a hedge fund in Westchester, NY, and spends a lot of his free time pursuing his passion, which is Share Your Wish.

He believes that “things” do not create happiness is what drives Buck to fight the impulse to give his kids everything they want, and was the main catalyst for creating Share Your Wish

 Rebecca makes up the other half of the founding team of Share Your Wish. Rebecca was a Special Education teacher for ten years. She left her position in 2008 to take on the most important role of all, motherhood.

Rebecca hopes to utilize her experience with young children and how to teach them effectively, by offering parents ways in which to teach their youngsters the virtues of being charitable.

Rebecca and her husband created Share Your Wish in hopes that families will begin teaching their young children about what is truly important in life. She believes that people must always come before things. She hopes to inspire families to celebrate their children’s birthdays with presents that have special meaning, and create a way to make their child’s day even more special by sharing with others. Rebecca’s goal is to continue to “teach, share, and inspire” others.

To learn more about Share Your Wish and to get your discount code for your next event, go to my website here.

Arwen Evans is a PR executive. Her mission is to raise strong girls, which is important as she has three of them. She spends her commute embroidering elaborate gifts while dreaming up her next story.

We Toot! Is both Ashley and Arwen’s debut picture book.

To read my review, hear the We Toot! song and help your child improve their language and learning with this picture book, click here.

Antonia, better known as “Tonina”, has been a practicing occupational therapist for over 21 years, specializing in Pediatrics. Tonina, holds a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Rollins College.  In her career’s journey, she has founded/directed a multidisciplinary, pediatric rehab clinic and a private school for students with special needs in Orlando, FL; and has been part of a rehabilitation medicine department’s management team at a top rated hospital in Manhattan. Tonina continues to treat children and work with families while also building educational programming for parents and professionals.  She loves discovering, sharing, and collaborating with her community to maximize growth, learning, and creativity in children of all ages and skill levels.

She recently founded MPowerMe, LLC and https://mpowermetoys.com/ in her efforts to share her experience with the use of toys, games, gadgets, literature, and sensory accessories to build children’s social skills, physical performance, ability to respond adaptively to their environment, and foster their continued journey as life-long learners. She offers consultation, workshops, and telehealth services – mpowerme.therapies@gmail.com.

To learn more about Tonina with tips for parents, go to my website here.

When she’s not working with her children or website, you can find her at church or curled up with a good book.

She is also the author of an e-book, titled Autism, A Parenting Journey. Listen to our podcast to learn more about Alicia plus tips for parenting a child with Autism.

To learn more about Alicia and download her free e-book, go to my website here.

Since the release of the first book of the Alycat series, Alysson has sold over 10,000 Alycat books. Her award winning books include:

Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day

Alycat and the Monday Blues

Alycat and the Friendship Friday

Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday (3/17/20)

Check out her website, www.alycatseries.com

To learn more about Alysson and her books, click here.

Adventures with Bodie the English Bulldog is a children’s storybook series that is aimed to teach children about each state in the United States of America. As Trevor and Katie travel full time in their RV across the country they are transforming their adventures in each state into a fun engaging educational children’s book written through the eyes of Bodie the English Bulldog. They have been traveling since February 2019, which is almost 1 year!

Bodie is a 5 year-old English Bulldog with a hilarious personality. The books stem from their desire to cherish life adventures and to share them with others.

They share their travels through various social media accounts:

Facebook: @adventureswithbodie

Instagram: @bodietheenglishbulldog

Website: www.bodietheenglishbulldog.com

To learn more about this series of books with language and learning tips click here.

Caroline has been a reading teacher and classroom teacher. As an author and consultant she has presented readings, speeches and seminars in several states across the country. She has also visited and presented in Ghana, West Africa to more than 25,000 teachers, children, tutors, parents and librarians. She has a background as an award-winning newspaper journalist and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

Learn more about Caroline on her website here.

 To learn more about Caroline and how to implement language and literacy when reading aloud Daurius Daniels: Game On!, check out my post here.

Check out Karin’s website at darcyanddaisy.com. Also follow her on Instagram at darcyanddaisy.

To learn more about Darcy and Daisy and how to incorporate language and literacy tips, click here. 

As a puppy, Samson spent time on the streets and in shelters when all he ever wanted was a forever family. His life changes in a big way when he enters a prison dog training program and meets his handler, Trevor. Will Trevor help Samson find the love he has always wanted? Listen to the podcast to learn more how Mercy's experience inspired her to write this book! 

Do you want to learn more about the DAWGS prison program?  Read my review and get language and learning tips with Samson's Tail by clicking here.

This podcast can help life your spirits and also provide some wonderful parenting tips. 

Misti will be talking about her new book, Misti Moments, which was released in November 2019. Check out Misti’s website, http://mistirains.com/

Learn more about Misti Rains by visiting my website here.

 Jennifer’s love and appreciation for “aha”moments in her life has inspired her to write children’s stories that celebrate growth and enlightenment. Whether she is on her farm, at home, or exploring nature, teachable moments find their way to her. Young and old, teachable moments help us thrive and flourish, whether they come from our children, parents, friends, or even our pets.

Jennifer has written two pictures books titled, A Buck and a Puck and Hawk Eyes. Check out her website at jlwauthor.com. To learn more about Jennifer, read her interview here.

Watch Jennifer's interview on the local news and learn more by visiting my website here.

As a grandmother, she enjoys reading and spinning tales for children. Each book in the series encourages positive attributes, acceptance, critical thinking, and inner strength.  

To learn more about Donna, her books and the Superhero School Series, visit my website here.

Check out Adam’s website at punktaco.com

To learn more about Adam and his son writing books together, check out my review and post on my website here. 

John was awarded the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Illustration for Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans (written by Phil Binder, Chronicle Books); Pura Belpré Honor for Green Is a Chile Pepper (written by Roseanne G. Thong, Chronicle); The Christopher Award for Waiting for the Biblioburro (written by Monica Brown, Random House); and Hey, Wall (written by Susan Verde, Simon & Schuster, 2018) which received a School Library Journal starred review.

New picture books in 2019 include Little Libraries, Big Heroes (written by Miranda Paul, HMH, Sept 2019) and One Is a Piñata: A Book of Numbers (written by Roseanne G. Thong, Chronicle). John also illustrates for commercial clients including United Airlines, Hitachi, PBS, National Geographic, Virgin Records, Boston Children’s Hospital, El Museo del Barrio, and many others. In 2015, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York presented his books and artwork. John graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

 Visit John Parra’s website or follow him on twitter @johnparraart

To learn more about John and read my review with language and learning tips, click here.

To learn more about Jaina, check out her website here.

Do you want learn language and learning tips when reading aloud to your child, click here.

Her debut novel, FINDING PERFECT (FSG 2016) is about 12-year-old Molly, friendship, family, OCD, and a slam poetry competition that will determine everything. In her second book, SMART COOKIE (Scholastic, 2018), you meet the spunky and big-hearted Frankie. Frankie’s all about family with a dash of mischief and mystery! Then in October, 2019, say hello to Maggie in GIVE AND TAKE (FSG). With the help of a foster baby named Izzie and Bert the turtle, Maggie learns that sometimes love means letting go.

Check out her website with tons of resources at ellyswartz.com, on Twitter @ellyswartz, on Instagram @ellyswartzbooks or on her webseries #BooksintheKitchen with author Victoria J. Coe.

To check out my review of Finding Perfect, click here.

After reading her book, The Last Boys Picked, I wanted to talk more with Janet about this important topic of bullying, sports and boys.

Janet Sasson Edgette is a clinical psychologist with 30 years of experience offering evaluation, counseling, and psychotherapy to children, preteens, teenagers, young adults, and their parents. She has spent her career thinking about how to provide services to kids and teenagers that they actually value and respect, and therefore want to participate in, eliminating the miserable and degrading tug of war and other power struggles that many clinicians endure when working with this population. Janet has served on faculty at Delaware Valley University, Immaculata University, and Villanova University in their graduate psychology and counseling programs and has conducted training workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada, and abroad.

Besides speaking to professional audiences, Janet often speaks to groups of parents about how they can stay connected to their kids as they enter adolescence and become young adults. Respect and accountability are cornerstone values in both her therapy and parenting approaches.

Janet has written six books and dozens of articles in the areas of parenting, counseling, boys, masculinity and gender norms, and sport psychology. They include the popular parenting paperback, Stop Negotiating with Your Teen: Strategies for Parenting Your Angry, Manipulative, Moody, or Depressed Adolescent, and a critically acclaimed book for mental health professionals entitled, Adolescent Therapy That Works: Helping Kids Who Never Asked for Help in the First Place. Her most recent book, The Last Boys Picked: Helping Boys Who Don’t Play Sports Survive Bullies and Boyhood, has been labeled by Parent magazine a “must read.”

To learn more about Janet, visit her website here!

Are you looking for more resources? Check out my post here!

To learn more about Tali, go to her website here.

Do you want to learn more about Tali and how to help your child improve their speech and language abilities? Read my post here.

 From the time she was a child, Marci created voices for nearly everything she saw, including cars, clothes, and spices. The repertoire of characters inside her eventually needed to find a way out, so she recorded a demo and obtained representation with the William Morris Agency. These days, Marci works from her own recording studio and has clients around the country and worldwide. Her voice can be heard on video games, children’s television, commercials, greeting cards, training videos, websites, infomercials, telephone systems, and much, much more. 

 Marci was involved with a puppet show program for several years. That experience inspired her to start her own company to develop her own material and client projects. It’s Real Entertainment LLC is an animation production studio, which creates and develops original animated content for all areas of media and for all ages. Marci voices many of the characters. 

To read my review of these fabulous products from QD Foodie, click here.

 Check out her website here! 

To learn more about Erin visit her book website, Sam the Soldier.

To read my review of Who is Sam the Soldier with language and learning tips, click here.

Her next picture book, Cookie & Milk with Cardinal Rule Press, releases October 1. Cookie & Milk was selected as a Top Shelf Title with IPG.

Check out her website at michelemcavoy.com. Don’t miss her podcast and educational activities free for download that accompany her children’s books.

To read my review, learn more about Michele and Cardinal Rule Press, check out my website here.

In addition to her engineering background, she also has experience in communications,  writing for multiple Fortune 500 Companies. L.A. is also an alumnus of The Edit Center in Manhattan and served as assistant editor of Red Doors, which won Best Narrative Feature Award in NY Competition at the Tribeca Film Festival, 2005. L.A. has edited several trailers and has used her editing skills to do sound effects in her own animations.

L.A. Kefalos is no stranger to writing stories to entertain little folks. A. Blob on a Bus is her second picture book in The Blob Series, which chronicles school life with a bully. It is the continuation of This is A. Blob, which follows a bully named A. Blob as it makes it away around the playground.  In addition to her picture books, she has also created several animated shorts, including Who's That Knocking; Chug; and Crocs, Pots, and Wildebeests, which screened at the 2010 Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival and was nominated for Best Independent Short Short in the ages 5-8 category at the 2009 Kid's First Film Festival.

Publisher: https://www.laughingleopardpress.com/

L.A.'s website: https://www.atlastinteractive.com/

To read my review of this book and learn more about L.A. Kefalos, visit my website here.

For nearly two decades, Jonathan Masiulionis has been helping authors, speakers, coaches, entertainers, and entrepreneurs from across the country promote their talents and expand their audiences.

His ability to highlight the best of what an artist brings to the table is uniquely exceptional. With the power of enthusiasm and determination, Jonathan is a seasoned professional at taking ideas and turning them into realities.

As a publicist for inspirational and children’s authors at Empowered Publicity, Jonathan understands the challenges that aspiring and rising artists face, as they step out in faith and follow their own paths of service.

He uses his networking savvy, well-developed organizational skills, and heartfelt, positive energy to promote and establish name recognition for all of his clients.

A true partner in promotion, Jonathan empowers his clients with the personal attention and dedicated support they need to fulfill their dreams and expand the reach of their work.

Official Website: https://empoweredpublicity.com/

To learn more about Jonathan, Empowered Publicity and to watch my interview with Jonathan, click here! 

 Visit Andrew’s website at https://www.kolbisneat.com/

Check out my review of Andrew's book All Aboard! The Airport train with tips for language and learning, here.

Stephanie Sorkin has appeared in the New York Times Style Section and written numerous articles for national publications.

As a food allergy advocate, she spends her time visiting schools in the tri-state area, discussing the inspiration behind her books and the importance of creativity.  For more information or to inquire about a school visit, please visit www.stephaniesorkin.com 

You can find her on social media @stephsorkin

To learn more about Stephanie, read reviews of her books and learn tips for reading aloud with your child, visit my website here.

Check out my post here to learn more about Kari and enter the giveaway!

Speech Class Rules was created with the vision of educating everyone about speech therapy. This book can be used to introduce the concept of therapy to children recently diagnosed, and provide a story and characters that children already in speech can relate to. It can also help parents, educators, and children understand what speech and language disorders are all about.

This story lends insight into the semantic, syntactic, phonological, pragmatic, fluency and voice disorders that affect approximately 10% of all children in the United States.

Check out my review with language and learning tips for your child here! 

Being Small is a picture book about a little girl who is scared to go to school because she's the shortest kid in the class. She talks about all of the reasons that being short is a challenge, but her mother presents to her funny and unique advantages that only she has because of her height, instilling self-confidence in her. 

Don't miss my review of Being Small with tips for parents here! 

On her website, Jennifer has links to articles and also tips on self-awareness, recognizing strengths and identifying emotions.

Visit her website at selwithbuster.com/

To read my review of Buster the Delicate Poodle and learn about social emotional learning, visit my website here.

To learn more about Susan Love with links to her books and resources, visit my website here.

 Outside of writing, Nicole is a Lifetime Member of the VFW Auxiliary and National Home for Children, a godmother of several, and on the Board at her favorite community theatre. 

 I am excited to be interviewing Nicole about her debut middle novel, Planet Earth is Blue.

It’s January 1986, and Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger--it's the first time a teacher is going into space, and kids across America will watch the event on live TV in their classrooms. Nova and her big sister, Bridget, share a love of astronomy and the space program. They planned to watch the launch together. But Bridget has disappeared, and Nova is in a new foster home. While foster families and teachers dismiss Nova as being severely autistic and nonverbal, Bridget understands how intelligent and special Nova is. As the liftoff draws closer, Nova's new foster family and teachers begin to see her potential, and for the first time, she is making friends without Bridget. But every day, she's counting down to the launch, and to the moment when she'll see Bridget again.

To learn more about Nicole, visit her website at nicolepanteleakos.com.

Check out my review of Planet Earth is Blue and learn more about speech and communication, click here! 

Nina G. was the only woman who stuttered in the stand-up comedy world when she started nine years ago. She co-produced the Comedians with Disabilities Act, a national touring comedy show featuring exclusively comedians with disabilities. She also produced the first compilation album to feature Disabled Comedy Only. Nina’s brand of comedy reflects the experiences of many with disabilities. She tours the country as a conference keynote speaker including at a TEDx talk at San Jose State University. She has a doctorate in psychology and teaches at a Bay Area Community College. She also author of the book, Once Upon an Accommodation.

 For more information, visit her website at ninagcomedian.com.

To learn more about Nina G and to read the review of her book, Once Upon An Accommodation, click here.

As a result of the video blog, Julie became the go-to mom for helping parents with a new autism diagnosis and was honored to accept a position on the board of the National Autism Association of North Texas. She was also asked to blog for AutismSpot. Blogging regularly enabled her to encourage and help thousands across the globe through humorous, heartfelt stories about Lizzie and videos showing the therapies she was using to help her daughter progress.

Through AutismSpot, Julie discovered her love for writing. She has published short stories in multiple Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and her work has also appeared in Scary Mommy, Parenting Special Needs Magazine, Autism Parenting Magazine, The Mighty, That’s Inappropriate and many more. Her first book, United in Autism: Finding Strength Inside the Spectrum released in October 2018.

In this podcast, Julie discusses her own journey of her daughter's diagnosis with Autism and shares her experience of writing the book. Don't miss this special podcast! 

 For more information about Julie, visit her website at Juliehornok.com. 

To read my review of Julie's book, United in Autism, click here. Also visit my website for more recommendations of books and resources about Autism. 

Don’t miss sample discussion questions and my review with the book here!

Don’t forget to check out Maria’s website at mariadismondy.com

Alexis Glaze is not only an author of Koning the Lion, she is also a children's pastor that is a wonderful storyteller. During our podcast, Alexis gives me and a sneak peak into various tips in how she developed her storytelling craft and how she modifies it in various ways for children with autism. She also talks about what inspired her to write this book and how she got it published.

Read the review here.

Don't miss it!

To read more about Toni and her books, go to her website here.

Toni is here today talking about her new book, When Sue Found Sue.

WHEN SUE FOUND SUE tells the story of Sue, a shy, yet curious child who was born to find things. In 1990, Sue made the biggest discovery of her life: the largest (42 feet long!) and most complete T. rex skeleton ever found. Her story is especially timely as Sue the T. rex debuted in a brand-new gallery at the Field Museum of Natural History.

Check out the Bluebee Pals website here. 

Check out my app reviews here.