Wild for Winnie

Description

New student Winnie has sensory processing challenges, but her wonderful teacher knows just how to make sure she's a welcome part of the class. Winnie is the new kid at school, and sometimes she acts kind of wild. Her teacher says to her classmates, "Maybe Winnie feels the world differently than most of us. Why don't we give her world a try?" So that week, when Winnie can't stop monkeying around, the class joins her on the jungle gym. And when she's acting squirrelly, they all go nuts on an obstacle course. When Winnie is being a bit of a bear, the whole class burrows into a cozy den for storytime. Soon, with the guidance of their loving teacher, Winnie's classmates realize that sometimes we all feel the world differently, and that's more than okay.

Laura Marx Fitzgerald studied at Harvard College and Cambridge University, and works as a copywriter. She is the author of two highly praised children's novels, Under the Egg and The Gallery. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, their two children, and a dog named Wally.

"In Lovlie's cheery, colorful, pastel-hued double-page spreads, racially, physically, and ability diverse classmates joyfully join Winnie in activities that regulate her animal-themed antics . . . a closing author's note to caregivers alludes to sensory processing disorder and presents additional activities targeting balance, body awareness, and more." -Kirkus "Fitzgerald explicitly advocates for a paradigm shift . . . by the end of the week, this empathetic teacher has created a space for all her students to be accepted. Back matter explains the social and diagnostic responses for children like Winnie and provides strategies for supportive intervention. Wild for Winnie can serveas a read-aloud or a resource-or just a sweet book about acceptance." -Booklist