A Day with No Words follows the story of two friends, Fox and Jay, who wake up to find that they cannot speak. As they navigate their day without words, they discover new ways to communicate through gestures, expressions, and actions. Through their shared experiences, Fox and Jay learn the importance of empathy, understanding, and the power of connection beyond words.In the classroom, A Day with No Words can be used to foster discussions about communication, empathy, and the importance of understanding others.

CLEL award winner; description of autistic life; lovely story ( )

"Early morning chases a long night.
Mama pulls the curtains back
to welcome the sunlight."

"I do not speak...
I use a tablet to be heard..."

"My son does not speak, but his ears work just fine.
The words that you say go straight to his mind."

Aidan and Mama spend a day together, communicating with Aidan's tablet. Some people they encounter, like other families in the park, are judgmental; others, like the cashier at the restaurant, are kind. Mama has a small blue Afro and a voice "like water"; Dad has a voice "like air." Aidan wears blue-framed glasses. A true mirrors & windows book.

Back matter includes a note from the author (@Fidgets.and.Fries)

See also: I Talk Like A River by Jordan Scott; Saturday by Oge Mora; A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey ( )

"My son does not speak, but his ears work just fine. The words that you say go straight to his mind."

Thanks to @wheatpennypress @hearourvoicestours for the gifted copy. A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond was a beautiful story about a day in the life of a non-verbal autistic boy and his mom. He communicates through a tablet. I loved that this book educated about autism, non-verbal communication and exposed the ignorance of people who do not understand autism. I loved how the story highlighted that language comprehension is not only based on one's ability to speak verbally. There are other ways to communicate and not being able to speak does not mean that one does not understand. I also appreciated that it gave the perspective about sensory overload and anxiety from the main character's perspective. Autistic children face so much stigma and this book does a great job of showing their experience. The love between mother and son just warmed my heart.

This book would pair nicely with these ither children's books about autism:
👩‍👦My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth Peete

👩‍👦The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca

👩‍👦My Brother Otto by Meg Raby

👩‍👦Davis Speaks: A Brother with Autism by Teisha N. Glover & Nicholas Glover ( )

reviewed