Since We're Friends

Since We're Friends follows the friendship between two elementary school boys - Matt, who has autism, and his neurotypical friend who narrates the story. The boys spend time together at school and during playdates, navigating the ups and downs of their relationship. The narrator demonstrates understanding and patience as he learns to interact with Matt in ways that work for both of them. Through their daily activities and interactions, the book shows how children can form meaningful connections across differences. The story presents autism in a straightforward, matter-of-fact way that helps young readers understand and relate to children who may communicate or behave differently than they do. Its core message centers on acceptance, friendship, and finding common ground through shared interests and activities.

Readers appreciate how this children's book portrays autism through a friendship lens rather than focusing solely on challenges. Parents note it helps siblings and classmates understand autism better while avoiding stereotypes. Likes: - Simple, relatable story for young children - Shows concrete examples of how to be inclusive - Illustrations depict facial expressions and body language clearly - Positive representation of friendship despite differences Dislikes: - Some feel it oversimplifies autism - Text can be repetitive - Limited plot depth - Price point high for page count Ratings: Amazon: 4.7/5 (248 reviews) Goodreads: 4.1/5 (161 reviews) "Perfect for helping my daughter understand her brother's autism," writes one parent reviewer. Another notes: "The story shows friendship actions rather than just telling kids to be friends." A critical review states: "While well-intentioned, it reduces autism to a few basic behaviors without showing the spectrum's complexity."

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🌟 Author Celeste Shally wrote this book based on her own experiences as a mother of a child with autism 🎨 The book's illustrator, David Harrington, has also illustrated other children's books about diversity and inclusion, including "My Friend Has Autism" and "All Kinds of Friends" 📚 The story promotes understanding and acceptance by showing how neurotypical children can be supportive friends to peers with autism 🤝 The book demonstrates specific ways to include children with autism in everyday activities, such as playground games and social interactions 🌈 "Since We're Friends" is frequently used in elementary school classrooms and libraries as a teaching tool for autism awareness and friendship skills