I Create Purty Thangs: And You Can Love Me Tour and Giveaway

And You Can Love Me is a story for everyone who loves someone with ASD (autism spectrum disorder). It is the fictional story of Ethan, a nonverbal autistic child, based on the author's observations and experiences with her grandson. The bounce of a ball is not only a metaphor, but also how the author imagines that the child is releasing his innermost physical and emotional challenges. It is a love story that can be recognized by parents, caregivers and teachers; a story that embraces Ethan, a nonverbal child, who may never/or not yet be able to write his own story, yet he lives it every day and tells it by his actions and by bouncing a ball -- any ball, any size, any color.

And You Can Love Me is also a picture book that a child with ASD may, in some way, recognize within himself/herself. It doesn't try to explain, define or even educate; it is merely Ethan's story - the story of one particular nonverbal autistic child; one of the many stories that will add to the diversity of ASD stories.

ACCLAIM FOR AND YOU CAN LOVE ME
"As a mother and grandmother, this story speaks to me about the power of unconditional love we bring to any situation. This book is an excellent resource for adults who have a child or grandchild with autism. It acknowledges the different ways a loved one with autism may communicate and reminds me that we love completely. As a former special education teacher, I am able to keep sharing with people, through this story, about the wonderful diversity that we see in the world. Everyone has gifts."
--Deb Holtz is a former special education teacher, a current end-of-life doula and a mother and grandmother.

"In And You Can Love Me, Sherry Quan Lee gives us the world of Ethan, a little boy with autism. Although Ethan is mute, his daily routine of bouncing a ball and expressing his needs, as well as his interior life, are revealed through simple sketches and lovely lines, like Today I am another year of being me. A welcome and wonderful addition to the as-yet-tiny body of work about children with autism, And You Can Love Me is a beautiful, profoundly moving book."
--Alison McGhee, New York Times bestselling author of many books for children and adults.

From Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com

Available to buy from...

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And You Can Love Me: A Story for Everyone Who Loves Someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by Sherry Quan Lee

Guest book review by Carly Wilson

‘And You Can Love Me’ is a picture book about Ethan, a boy who has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). This book was incredibly short to read, and would be ideal for a parent reading it to their child to educate them on ASD, or to a child who may have been diagnosed with this.

From an educational perspective, I am happy to see a book like this published. I feel it’s important to educate those on things that make people potentially appear different, to help develop a wider understanding. However, I do feel personally that more could have been added to this book to really inform.

The illustrations were sweet, and I felt they related well to the story being told. Ideal for all ages particularly children.

4 Stars

More books by the author

About the Author

Sherry Quan Lee, MFA, University of Minnesota, is the author of Chinese Blackbird, a memoir in verse, Love Imagined: a mixed race memoir (a Minnesota Book Award Finalist); and, editor of How Dare We! Write: a multicultural creative writing discourse. Teagan Trif Merrifield attended Minneapolis Media Arts Institute for computer modeling. Her passion is bringing what's inside of the mind to life. And You Can Love Me is her first venture into picture book illustration. Kyra Gaylor studied education at Southwest Minnesota State University. Most of her teaching experience has been at the kindergarten and preschool levels. She loves to create. She loves to collect and repurpose vintage treasures.

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