2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist

Kids

Can you See Me?

Eleven-year-old Tally is starting sixth grade at Kingswood Academy and she really wants to fit in, which means somehow hiding her autism, hypersensitivity to touch, and true self, and trying to act "normal" like her former best friend, Layla, who is distancing herself from Tally, and her fourteen-year-old sister, Nell, who is always angry with Tally for being different; but as she records her thoughts and anxieties in her coping diary, Tally begins to wonder--what is "normal" anyway?

Do You Know Me?

Tally Olivia Adams is a twelve-year-old (just) autistic girl faced with the prospect of a week-long end-of-the-year class trip, which worries her, because there will be "teams" and "activities" and "competition" all of which terrifies her, especially whenshe finds out she is not bunking with her friend Aleksandra; the other girls on her team are often nasty, especially Skye--and Tally needs all the life-skills she has learned to cope with and expose the bully, and maybe make some friends along the way.

Autism

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 1 in 68 American children has autism. This book describes the autism spectrum, exploring how the various ways that this neurodevelopmental disorder can affect individuals, from difficulty with social cues to impaired communication to repetitive behaviors. In addition to learning about the treatment and diagnosis of autism, readers will discover how new research into the genetic components and causes of autism are helping doctors understand more about the condition.

Inside Asperger’s, Looking Out

Through engaging text and full-color photographs, this book shows neurotypicals how Aspies see and experience the world. Each page brings to light traits that many Aspies have in common, from sensitive hearing and an aversion to bright lights and strong smells, to literal thinking and difficulty understanding social rules and reading body language and facial expressions. At the same time, the book highlights and celebrates the unique characteristics that make those with Asperger’s Syndrome special.

Al Capone Does My Shirts

When Moose’s family moves to Alcatraz so his father can work as a guard and his sister can attend a special school in San Francisco, Moose has to leave his friends and his winning baseball team behind. But it’s worth it, right? If his sister, Natalie, can finally get help, maybe his family will finally be normal.  But as it turns out, life on Alcatraz is much more complicated than even Moose would have predicted.  His dad is so busy, he’s never around.