A Day with No Words
Written by Tiffany Hammond
Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove
Wheat Penny Press, 2023, 44 pp (unpaged)
ISBN: 978-1736949795
This beautiful picturebook chronicles the day of a young boy and his mom in the U.S. through the eyes of Aiden, a loving and curious boy with non speaking autism. Though he is unable to speak, the written text and illustrations show how he and his mother communicate through the use of a tablet. The story also describes additional characteristics that are unique to Aiden’s experience with autism, like his sensitivity to sound, attention to people’s voices (“Daddy’s voice is like air”), and how he likes to look at the world through the parted fingers of his right hand. The descriptions of Aiden’s childhood preferences, like going to the park, ordering chicken nuggets, and enjoying a special bond with his mother, help the reader connect to this lovable character while also building an awareness and acceptance of children with autism.
The author writes in poetic narrative verses and includes vivid descriptions and relatable metaphors to help the reader understand Aiden’s perspective, as well as his mother’s experience. In one scene of the story, Aiden and his mom encounter a group of other children and their parents playing at the park. When Aiden “jumps and flaps,” the group turns to stare and talk about him, “That boy is handicapped.” The mother wants to lash out at them but instead closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and calms herself first. She stands up for Aiden by explaining to them that he does not speak but can still hear what they are saying, “The words you say go straight to his mind.” This scene offers one example of how the book provides an opportunity for discussion with children about empathy, fairness, and sensitivity to others who may be labeled as different by society.
The pictures are harmonious, colorful, and warm, extending to the full page of the book and inviting the reader to join in as mother and son travel to the park, encounter other children, spin in the wet grass, and order lunch at a favorite restaurant. The pictures beautifully extend the text and normalize how Aiden communicates through the pictures and words on his tablet. At different times of the story, the illustrations depict colorful images and letters flying off the tablet as Aiden and his mom communicate with each other and with others. The colorful endpaper design of the book includes these bright vivid letters that float off of the tablet in the story.
A Day With No Words provides an affirming perspective of autism and lays the groundwork for understanding and acceptance. The book addresses Aiden’s uniqueness while highlighting universal childhood joys and wonder that every reader can relate to. Books that would pair well to create a text set and launch further discussion and connection about the differences that make us unique could include Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, written by Sonia Sotomayor and illustrated by Rafael Lopez (2019), and Different: A Great Thing To Be, written by Heather Avis and illustrated by Sarah Mensinga (2021).
As a mom of two autistic boys herself, Tiffany Hammond shares her authentic perspectives in this meaningful story. She is an advocate for individuals with autism, a consultant and public speaker. She is also the creator of the online platform, Fidget and Fries, and this is her first book. In the Author’s Note, she refers to this book as a call to action, “We all have a role to play in helping foster understanding, acceptance, love, and accommodations for those like Aiden.”
Kate Cosgrove is the illustrator of And the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle (2020) and The Dirt Book: Poems About Animals That Live Beneath Our Feet (2021), both written by David L. Harrison. Cosgrove has exhibited her artwork online and in galleries across the United States, Australia, Canada, Colombia, England, France, Switzerland and the Ukraine.
Angela Ward, Texas Woman’s University
© 2023 by Angela Ward
