02 Sep / I’m here by Peter H. Reynolds
From the creator of some of my favorite kiddie books ever comes another ‘free-to-be-me’ invitation. Peter H. Reynolds has an uncanny ability to capture children both visually and literally … and imbue each with such unique expressions of wonder and discovery. We adults, of course, could always take a few lessons …
On the book’s back flap, Reynolds’ bio explains that he wrote “I’m Here to help us all reach out, embrace, and appreciate children in the autism spectrum, as well as anyone who is different from ourselves.” Click here to watch an adorable video that inspired the book, created by Reynolds to honor the work of the Phoenix-based non-profit organization, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SAARC).
“Can you hear it?” a little boy asks off the page, “Voices. Splashes upon splashes of sound,” about the playground filled with dozens of children. But what he actually hears, seated at a considerable distance away – and alone – is “… like one big noise. Boom, BOOM.” From where he observes, “They are there. I am here.”
He creates an exciting adventure out of an errant piece of paper he folds into a plane … which takes him aloft through skies and stars. As he glides back to earth, a young girl greets his return, “‘I’m here,’ says the girl’s smile.” To which the boy replies, “Me too. I’m here.” And so a friendship begins …
All you need is that smile and a willingness to reach out … and as Reynolds reminds us all, yes, friendship can really be that easy.
For more of Reynolds’ inspiring titles on BookDragon, click here.
Readers: Children
Published: 2011