Stockport-based author to publish short story book especially for autistic children
A Stockport-based author is publishing a collection of short stories especially for autistic children.
Debby Elley's Strange Sayings and Confusing Conversations is a collection of humorous tales designed to help children between the ages of 8-13 navigate non-autistic social conventions, while teaching early self-advocacy skills.
The book is due to be released on 21 May, and will have a private launch at Bramhall's award-winning bookshop, Simply Books.
As well as captivating stories, the collection also includes witty cartoons by autistic illustrator Tim Stringer.
A parent of autistic twins herself, Debby emphasised the importance of helping young readers understand why others behave the way they do.
"Years ago, the emphasis was on teaching autistic children how to behave in what was considered the 'normal' way", she said.
"Thankfully, times have changed and the neurodiversity movement has ensured that there's more acceptance of people whose brains work differently.
"The aim of this book isn't to change anyone's behaviour. It's to give them a better grasp of why other people behave in the way they do, and help them in the first steps towards self-advocacy".
"It was important to me that these stories, which validate a youngster's own experiences, were illustrated by somebody who has grown up negotiating the same kinds of confusion as our little heroes do.
"Tim's also a really great role model for the children reading this book."
Niamh Garvey, author of Being Autistic (and What That Actually Means), praised the book: 'I was delighted to see that this book uses stories to explore how sayings, sarcasm and metaphors can be very confusing for literal-minded kids", she said.
"Many children will identify with the feelings of confusion that the story characters experience, and how they figure out their confusion'.
Debby has published a wide range of other books, including The Ice-Cream Sundae Guide to Autism: An Interactive Kids' Book for Understanding Autism, which she co-authored with Tori Houghton. This book boasts more than 100 positive reviews on Amazon.
Strange Sayings and Confusing Conversations, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, is out on 21 May.
It's available to pre-order online through Amazon or at www.jkp.com.
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