A look at "In My Mind: The World Through The Eyes of Autism"

In My Mind....
video trailer

Direct Link to Video Trailer for In My Mind: here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxji0E0i-qs

I received my copy of Adonya Wong's book In My Mind...The World through the Eyes of Autism in the mail today. The timing couldn't have been better. A rainy day, one child inside running on a sugar high from back to back holiday parties at dance class & preschool. The other, my son Alex, was due home in about another hour so I had a few minutes to breathe before his bus pulled up to my curb. A grabbed a drink and sat down with my new book, anxious to check it out.

The 28 page book, In My Mind... is billed juvenile non-fiction & described as follows:

“In my mind, I see many colors, bright like a rainbow, shooting about like
comets in a night sky.” Take a closer look… What do you see? In My Mind, by
Adonya Wong, explores the inner world of an autistic child—the world that no one
else can see. From exciting adventures to silly games and conversations with
friends, look closely and see how a child with autism sees the world…and how the
world sees him.

A child's book under 30 pages attempting to show what goes on inside a child with autism's mind? My curiousity was seriously piqued for good reason, but instead of being Susie Skeptic (ok, maybe I was a little bit) I was fairly confident that in my hands I held something pretty special. You see, like me, Adonya is a mother of a child with Autism. So, if anyone "knows" autism - she would. Her own son was the muse of In My Mind... and the illustrations bear his likeness - though they could easily be any boy, or child, with autism.

The book takes things that a child with autism may do - like hand flapping, 'odd' speech, solitary nature - and puts a story behind it. i.e.

In my mind I'm having the greatest conversations
(illustration shows a young boy in outer space talking to a an alien).. [turn
page]

What you hear is a child making odd noises or speaking gibberish (picture
of a child talking to a green balloon).

As I flipped the pages of In My Mind... I felt that cold somewhat painful lump growing in my throat and tears came into my eyes. "Wow", I said to my husband. "Wow" (again). And then I gave him the book. He agreed. Indeed, this book is special. It accomplishes greatness in just 28 pages and is in a word, relevant.

Appropriate for children and adults a like. In My Mind... is not "just another children's book" nor is it "yet another book about autism".

I believe this book absolutely holds a place both in the autism and special-ed classrooms and on the shelves of every school library. What a valuable tool this book will be for children who may come in contact with children with autism on a daily basis. I know my own 3 year old daughter (who is neurotypical) is beginning to notice and ask questions about her big brother's autism - and I plan on reading this with her. I also plan on reading it with him, or rather having him read it himself. I love that it portrays autism merely as a difference and in a positive manner, I would not hesitate at all to share this with a child on the autism spectrum.

And though In My Mind... has the look and feel of a childrens book, it is absolutely for more than the kids. I believe that Wong has created a book that is along the lines of Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew. You'll want to give copies of this book to anyone in your life who meets with your child - teachers, therapists, professionals, friends and family members.

A few words I'd use to describe it:
eye-opening, heart-warming, whimsical, and powerful.

If you or someone in your life is touched by autism in any way, go get your copy of In My Mind...