• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2

A wonderful story of new friendship between two children with diverse abilities.

Piper and Kayla love to move. They ride bikes, glide on ice, swoosh down mountains and much more — each in her own way. While Piper pedals her tricycle with her feet, Kayla uses her hands to move her trike forward. While Kayla coasts across the ice on a sled, Piper sails along on skates. Join Kayla and Piper as they play together, explore their world and make new friends.

The inspiration for I Can, Too! comes from the author’s daughter, who was born with spina bifida. On a visit to the mall after her child received her first wheelchair, a young boy pointed, asking his mother, “Why is that girl in a wheelbarrow?” Karen welcomed questions so the unknown could be named and understood and children could get to know her daughter.

Shining a much-needed spotlight on kids who use special gear to navigate the world, I Can, Too! will delight readers of all abilities with its affirming story of inclusion, while also inviting readers to learn more about adaptive devices in the back matter.

Née à Thunder Bay, en Ontario, KAREN AUTIO a grandi dans la ville voisine de Nipigon, où elle a pu laisser libre cours à sa créativité et à son amour pour les chevaux. Vers l’âge de neuf ans, c’est sa passion pour le dessin qui l’a poussée à composer des histoires. Pour Karen, la magie de l’écriture opère lorsque les personnages prennent vie au point de tisser eux-mêmes l’intrigue! Lorsqu’elle n’est pas en train d’écrire, de réviser des textes ou d’expliquer à des étudiants le travail de recherche et l’inspiration sur lesquels reposent ses livres, Karen aime faire du canoë, photographier la nature, lire et voyager. Elle vit à Kelowna, en Colombie-Britannique.

KAREN AUTIO was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and grew up creative and horse-loving in nearby Nipigon. Around the age of nine she began writing stories just so that she could illustrate them. When she’s not writing, freelance editing, or speaking with students about the research and inspiration behind her books, Karen enjoys canoeing, photographing nature, reading, and travelling. Karen lives in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Karen Autio's profile page

As a freelance illustrator working in Toronto, Laura Watson has been creating whimsical illustrations for children's books, educational materials, magazines and various retail applications since graduating from Sheridan College's Interpretive Illustration program, in Oakville, Ontario, in 1995. Born and raised in the heart of the lovely Kawartha Lakes region in Peterborough, Ontario, Laura also studied Fine Art at York University and graduated with an Honours degree in Visual Arts.

In the past few years, Laura has enjoyed illustrating four trade children's books (most recently, Peek-a-Little Boo, written by award-winning author and poet, Sheree Fitch, and published by Orca Books) and countless school publications for subjects as diverse as poetry and math. Laura lives in the east end of Toronto with her husband, and works in a converted backyard garage studio surrounded by a slightly unkempt garden and several fat raccoons. She enjoys the outdoors, runs often and from time to time loads camping gear onto the back of her bicycle and heads off on vacation.

You can see examples of Laura's illustrations for children and adults at http://www.watsonillustration.com.

Laura Watson's profile page

• Short-listed, The Word Awards - Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award
• Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre
• Commended, TD Summer Reading Club Selection
• Commended, CBC Kids Reads
• Winner, The Word Awards, Books, General Market Fiction, Children
• Commended, OLA Best Bets

"Karen Autio has created a vibrant and colorful book that showcases a young girl named Kayla who uses a variety of mobility aids to enjoy the same activities as her classmates . . . This book would make a fantastic learning tool for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten students as it uses direct language and each page is filled with joyful and colorful illustrations. Caregivers and educators will love the incredible comprehensive guide to mobility aids in the back." (I Can, Too!) — Reading With Red + the Magpie

"Watson’s brightly saturated, warm and expressive illustrations introduce readers to [Kayla and Piper] . . . Autio’s text is simple yet effective, using varied movement vocabulary to describe both Piper and Kayla’s development and daily life. Young readers are invited to notice differences between Piper and Kayla while also noticing the many similarities between them, making I Can, Too! a wonderful tool for supporting conversations about different lived experiences . . . I Can, Too! is a book to love and share” — CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"In a story about differences, Karen Autio and Laura Watson show us that we're all the same, or can be, when it comes to mobility . . . When it comes to the kids, they can all move and have fun, even if differently . . . appending her story with "Amazing Ways to Move!," [Karen Autio's] goal isn't to highlight the differences but rather the commonalities and connections children make through their play and learning . . . Laura Watson brings that joy of movement and play to the children of I Can, Too! Her characters are full of life and colour, different in their clothing, skin, and abilities, same in their pleasure at connecting with others and engaging in fun. I Can, Too! is an affirmation that, with accessibility, comes equity and opportunity." — CanLit for LittleCanadians