Through the Eyes Of Us

This is the second in a series of books about the author’s autistic daughter, Kya; her best friend Martha, also autistic, is in this story too. We meet them doing all sorts of things together, and we understand their differences as well as the ways they are alike. They both love school, but while Martha talks a lot and asks questions, Kya is quieter and prefers listening to stories. We learn about Kya’s support teacher, who helps her understand things during lessons and uses picture cards. Both girls like lots of different foods, but Martha has to be watched carefully because she doesn’t ‘know when she is full’. They both love touching things, and Martha likes to touch people’s clothes.  Kya even likes touching things like stinging nettles and slugs because she finds them ‘interesting’. Both girls like routines, but Kya doesn’t like going to bed, whereas Martha will take herself to bed when she’s tired. Both girls are individuals – just like all of us – but when we come to know them, we love them for their quirky ways. The pictures are a treat, full of action and soft watercolour from an illustrator who understands, and the whole is redolent of a loving father and his ‘beautiful daughter’.