Children's Fiction Neurodiversity
Love, Always
- Publisher
- Future Horizons
- Initial publish date
- Jul 2023
- Category
- Neurodiversity, Parents, Mental Health, Special Needs
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781957984094
- Publish Date
- Jul 2023
- List Price
- $32.99
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781957984605
- Publish Date
- Jul 2023
- List Price
- $23.99
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 3 to 10
- Grade: p to 5
Description
Love, Always is a beautifully illustrated children's book about the journey of a mom and her child with special needs.
It is a simple, heartfelt story that follows the life of a child with autism through his imaginative journey as he seeks to be accepted, loved and celebrated for his strengths and abilities. In addition to the qualities that make children on the autism spectrum exceptional, they have the hopes, dreams and the desire to belong that all children do.
The book is a powerful reminder that with a little help from each of us, children with autism can fulfill their potential. Although raising a child with special needs is hard, learning to let them go out into the world and hope that they will do well is even tougher.
The author, a gifted special needs educator notes: "Love Always is a heartfelt thank you to all the parents and parent figures out there—may you continue to be the shining light in all our lives."
About the authors
Jillian Ma is a Learning Support Teacher whose professional career has been devoted to thoughtful inclusion of children with special needs in education. Jillian has a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a double major in Psychology and Sociology, a Bachelor of Education, from the University of Alberta, and a post graduate diploma in Special Education through Queens University, Ontario. Love Always and her first book, In My World, give children with autism a voice through meaningful storytelling. It is an absolute honor for Jillian to watch her students grow and to be able to share this narrative of parents who have opened her world and heart to so many beautiful things.
Emma Do is a Vietnamese Canadian artist and designer who loves warm colors and soft lines. She loves expressing fantastical concepts and warm nostalgia through digital art. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, she spent her childhood in Winnipeg and later moved back to British Columbia. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication at Capilano University.
Excerpt: Love, Always (by (author) Jillian Ma; illustrated by Emma Do)
I watched you breathe in the crisp fall air as you admired the changing leaves on the trees
I felt you let go of my hand and told me you would see me at three
I looked out the window as the raindrops fell from the sky
The colors of the rainbow brought magic in your eyes
I cried tears of sadness as you hugged me in your arms so tight
You laid in bed with a broken heart dreaming of your best friend all night
I helped you blow out 7 candles to celebrate another year gone by
You made a silly wish that day but I never questioned why
I watched as they released butterflies to honor her sweet and everlasting soul
A butterfly landed on your finger tip and gave me a sense of hope
I listened to your favorite song and watched you dance to the beat
We laughed together at the park while we shared a sweet cold treat
I watched you stand in front of your favorite spot and pointed as the cars raced by
We looked up and counted all the stars as they lit up the summer sky
