Slug days

Title:

Slug days

Author:

Leach, Sara, 1971- author.

Bender, Rebecca, 1980- illustrator.

Summary:

Seeing the world very differently because of her Asperger Syndrome, young Lauren struggles to navigate the challenges of school life and masters tricks to stay calm, understand others' feelings and let her personality shine. By the award-winning author of Count Me In.

Audience:

Ages 4-8.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

116 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm

Subject Term:

Asperger's syndrome -- Juvenile fiction.

Empathy -- Juvenile fiction.

Interpersonal relations -- Juvenile fiction.

Schools -- Juvenile fiction.

Author(s):

Bender, Rebecca, 1980-

Publisher:

Pajama Press Inc.,

Publication Date:

2017

ISBN:

9781772780222

9781772780321

Publication Information:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada : Pajama Press Inc., 2017.

Call Number:

J LEACH

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003360552	Juvenile Fiction	LEACH	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Lauren, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (an umbrella term that has included Asperger Syndrome since 2013), navigates the ups and downs of school and home life. School friendships have always been a challenge, but Lauren finds she is exactly the friend a brand new classmate needs

On slug days Lauren feels slow and slimy. She feels like everyone yells at her, and that she has no friends. Today there is a different bus driver; Dan and Sachi are sitting in Lauren's seat on the bus; and Lauren's teacher interrupts her reading time. It is definitely a slug day. But not every day is like this. On butterfly days Lauren makes her classmates laugh, or goes to get ice cream, or works on a special project with Mom.

Lauren has Autism Spectrum Disorder (an umbrella term that has included Asperger Syndrome since 2013), and she sees the world differently from many people. Sometimes this can be frustrating and makes Lauren want to flip her lid, especially at school where she learns differently from her classmates. But with support and stubbornness and a flair that's all her own, Lauren masters tricks to stay calm, to understand others' feelings, and to let her personality shine. She even manages to find common ground with her sticky, slobbery baby sister. Best of all, it is being different that gives Lauren insight into the insecurities of the new student, Irma.

Award-winning author Sara Leach writes Lauren's endearing story with empathy and humor, and sends her flying off like a butterfly into a new chapter of life with a new friend.

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-6-Lauren, who has Asperger's syndrome, has trouble reading social cues, doesn't always understand what her classmates are thinking, and gets into fights. Sometimes she has "slug days," where she feels slow, slimy, and like no one understands her. But sometimes she has "butterfly days," where she gets a sticker at school for being well-behaved and shares an ice cream with her mom afterwards. With the help of her routines, her squishy ball, and her special strawberry eraser, Lauren learns to manage her feelings, and eventually makes a new friend at school. There is humor peppered throughout the story as Lauren learns to deal with her slobbery baby sister and tries not to "flip her lid." There is conflict, as her teacher and classmates learn to accept Lauren's differences. The frequent illustrations will assist readers in understanding Lauren's feelings. VERDICT A necessary addition to elementary school libraries and a potential spark for a discussion about autism, Asperger's, or simply embracing differences.-Morgan O'Reilly, Riverdale Country School, NY © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Lauren, a girl on the autism spectrum, takes readers through a week full of ups and downs in this sensitively told story. The book's title refers to how Lauren thinks of days that aren't going well, when she feels "slow and slimy" and friendless. And with classmates, teachers, and other adults who find her frustrating at times, Lauren has a few of those days as the week unfolds. The first-person narration lets readers understand Lauren's motivations and reasoning in a way that others in her life often do not (including her focus on tactile sensations, especially stickiness). Bender's pencil drawings readily reflect characters' frustrations and other emotions-feelings that Lauren acknowledges she has trouble recognizing. Leach's empathetic novel should both open eyes and encourage greater patience and understanding. Ages 7-10. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.