Kira Elbeyli
This book, Headphones: A Book for Children with Autism & Sensory Disorders, introduces the concept of wearing headphones. It was written to help children with autism & sensory disorders feel comfortable and confident in their new headphones, and to help their friends, siblings, and classmates relate to their sensory differences. The book begins in a social story type format, to help children remember what to do when their environment gets too loud. Throughout the book, a cute rhyme is repeated and can be easily memorized. This will allow children to remember to use their headphones in loud environments, rather than resorting to unwanted behaviors. The author shows several types of headphones, and encourages children to help select their own headphones, and choose headphones that they will like. The author explains how loud environments may feel to a person with autism or sensory disorders. Finally, the author points out several appropriate locations where headphones can be worn, and reminds the reader that they can wear headphones anywhere.The author/illustrator also showcases several different types of headphones, big and small, as well as several different colors. The children illustrated in the book all look different, in the hopes that each child can find a character they can relate to. The book was written and illustrated with inclusion in mind. The author hopes that this book will be utilized in preschool and elementary school classrooms, as well as libraries, and in homes. It is the perfect book to purchase for a child who is just beginning to wear headphones, and was written for the author's preschool-age son with autism.'Sometimes it's too loud, but I know what to do! I put my headphones on my ears, and noise does not get through.' 3
