Out of My Shell

This book is to teach children about some of the traits of autism and that it is ok to be different and embrace your unique abilities. I have based the story on what we have learned so far on our daughter's autism journey including what it means to be non-verbal and how some children 'stim' to release energy and emotion.

One of the main messages I wanted to get across in the book is that even though Taylor is non-verbal, she is still able to communicate in her own way and has a lot she can teach us.

The main character in the story is Taylor the Turtle, a curious creature. She is a thrill seeker, loves adrenaline and enjoys going on new adventures. She is autistic, and at first, she uses her shell to shield herself from the rest of the world. She finds it hard to look other animals in the eye, and it can be difficult for her to make new friends because she doesn't know how to speak yet.

As she goes on a new adventure into the Forest of Friendship, she meets other animals throughout the story and makes new friends while learning some valuable lessons to guide her through life's challenges. As the story progresses, she starts to come out of her shell, realises it is ok to be different and embraces her uniqueness. She also learns that she has a lot to teach her new friends, despite being unable to communicate using words.