Today is the fifteenth World Autism Awareness Day.
The concept of autism was first proposed by Leo Canner, an expert at Johns Hopkins University in the United States in 1943, autism is also called autism in medicine, which is a disease that has not yet been known and understood by the whole society.
For autism, unscientific cognition is often the biggest obstacle to social recognition and support. Therefore, in December 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to designate April 2 of each year as "World Autism Awareness Day" from 2008 onwards to raise awareness of autism-related research and autism patients.
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For children with autism, it is a group that is on the rise but is not widely concerned and understood by society. The latest data show that the number of people with autism on the mainland has exceeded 10 million, of which more than 3 million are children.
However, at present, the early recognition and diagnosis of autistic children in China is insufficient, so that the average age of autism diagnosis is larger, and most autistic children are treated after 3-4 years old in kindergarten or even to primary school because of abnormal behavior.
The picture book "The Story of Xiao Bi" tells the story of "me" and the special child Xiao Bi, but also explores topics such as bullying, friendship, and autistic children.
"Xiao Bi's Story" is told in the first person, which is actually the author's childhood experience.
When "I" was very young, there was a child named Xiao Bi.
Throughout the winter, Xiao Bi was locked up at home; when spring came, Xiao Bi first came to the woods. He was always alone, he was always walking in the woods, he kept knocking his head with a branch, breaking one, he would change one and continue to knock...
The children all avoided him. Xiao Bi never went near other children, just stayed alone.
Sometimes, "I" would go into the woods and stay with Xiao Bi. "I" became Xiao Bi's only friend, and the woods belonged to the two of us.
But then other children also began to hide from "me", after going to school, "I" made new friends, when I heard my classmates pointing at Xiao Bi, saying all kinds of ugly words, and also said that Xiao Bi had a neuropathy, and when I got too close to it, "I" also began to hide from Xiao Bi.
Now, even "I" is hiding from Xiao Bi. When I saw Xiao Bi on the way home, I would quickly walk away and pretend not to see it.
Xiao Bi still wanders through the woods every day, tapping his head with a branch.
One day it rained heavily. "I" saw Xiao Bi in the woods and ran away unconsciously, although after returning home, "I" was still worried about Xiao Bi, but did not return to the woods.
The lonely Little Bi gradually went deeper and deeper into the woods. "I" couldn't see him anymore on the side of the road.
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How do you feel after listening to this story? Do you also feel lost, sad, or even a little depressed?
Unlike most children's books, "The Story of Xiao Bi" does not have a hopeful ending, but is as gray as the painting itself.
In fact, this is a childhood regret of the author. The author of "The Story of Xiao Bi" is The Korean picture book writer Song Zhenxian, which is his first independent picture book work.
Author Song Zhenxian
When Song Zhenxian was a child, his father worked in a paper mill, and the family lived near the paper mill. At that time, there were dense and tall cypress forests near the paper mill. Then the paper mill went out of business and people left the area. Song Zhenxian, the fifth grade of elementary school, went to seoul to study, and Xiao Bi disappeared from his life. For a long time, he did not think of Xiao Bi again, until he had a child, and he often thought of Xiao Bi.
Later, the author asked his mother in his hometown about Xiao Bi, and his mother told him that Xiao Bi had disappeared when he was thirteen or fourteen and did not know what had happened.
The author created this book out of regret, self-blame, and apologies to Xiao Bi. He said that when he read this work again, his heart was full of tears, but he could not let go.
The author felt indebted, because he did not return to the woods to find Xiao Bi, did not have the courage to ignore everyone's ridicule and squeeze, and still insisted on being friends with Xiao Bi.
We can't be too harsh on the author, and being isolated by the group will cause a lot of psychological pressure to children and even adults. For children who have not yet established themselves, taking a brave and determined step requires a great deal of courage.
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American children's literature scholar May Abius Knott once said, "We know that human beauty, wisdom, strength, and so on are gradually produced from the chaos of human weakness, confusion, which is absolutely insurmountable." ”
The creepy ending, perhaps a question left by the author, how do we generate goodness and strength in weakness and confusion?
More inclusion, less evaluation. Maybe that's what we can do.
Of course, we can learn better about the special groups of children in the field of medicine or pedagogy from the book, and learn more professional ways and methods to help them.
And for being friends or neighbors, or strangers, the first thing we can do is be more inclusive, less evaluative, and sincerely approach.
Of course, in addition to "The Story of Xiao Bi", there are many picture books showing special children, including "Incredible Friends", "Little Things", "It Doesn't Matter If You're Different"; hearing impairment: "My Sister Can't Hear"; Dyslexia: "Thank You, Foucault", "Take Off, Red Plane"; Children with Physical Disabilities: "Dear Daughter", "Look Up!" , and so on.
Reading these picture books can help us understand the world of children with special needs, a little more understanding and empathy, and a little less prejudice.
Stars on Earth
Magic Elephants & Special Children's Themed Book List
May every goodwill have enough courage,
May every child not have to grow up alone.
The Story of Xiao Bi
[Han] Song Zhenxian / Author · Painting
Xu Lihong/Translation
Age of study: 6-8 years old and older
Guangxi Normal University Press
When "I" was very young, there was a child named Xiao Bi, who had no friends, did not go to school, and wandered alone in the woods all day long, knocking on his head with a branch as he walked. The children avoided him, never went into the woods to play with him, and even laughed at him. Sometimes, "I" would go into the woods and stay with Xiao Bi, but from then on, the other children would hide away when they saw "me". Will "I" become friends with Xiao Bi? What happened to Xiao Bi?
This is a picture book about children with special needs, based on the author's childhood experiences. Unlike most children's books, it does not have a hopeful ending, but is as gray as the painting itself. It's an imperfect world where we can see the cruelty of children, see complex friendships, and even confusion and nothingness. But that's exactly what the author wants us to think about: How do we generate goodness and strength in weakness and confusion?
I hope that everyone, whether adults or children,
Face up to and pay attention to these unfamiliar realities.
Is this true? 》
[Han] Jiang Jingxuan / Author · Painting
Age of study: 3-8 years old
Guangxi Normal University Press
Solly lives in South Korea and his dream is to be a painter; Parnier works in a blanket factory in India, where he works fourteen hours a day; Allena lives in Romania, where she lives alone in the sewers of the streets for three years; Karlami lives in the Congo and was forced to go to war at the age of nine, and three years later, because of the onslaught of the war, he suffered from a serious mental illness... Surprised to hear these stories, Sauley asked, "Is this true?" "It's true, it doesn't sound very real, but it's our true story."
Sometimes, a little compassion, a small act,
Maybe it will give people endless hope.
Look Up! 》
[Han] Jeong Jeong-ho / Author · Painting
Xue Zhou/Translation
Age of readability: 4-6 years old
This is a touching story of caring for life. Xiuzhi, a girl who lost her legs in a car accident, could only lean on the railing and look down. Day after day, she could only see the dense black hair of the pedestrians downstairs, and people hurried past like ants. Xiuzhi could not see people's expressions, and people passing by could not see her. "I'm here!" Xiu Zhi shouted silently, but no one ever found her alone. Until one day, a little boy raised his head, and from then on, everything became different...
Rejoice in the children of the world.
Where is Happiness? 》
[Han] Kim Hee-ching/Author
[Han] Ji Kenjun /Painting
Age of readability: 2-8 years old
This is a creative hole book that can be read with your eyes closed and with your fingers, breaking the reading boundaries between visually impaired children and able-bodied children. Jin Xiqing, winner of the Best Children's Book Award at the International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, wrote a moving poem for all the children in the world.
Every child is a star on earth,
Teachers can be people who polish the stars.
"Thank you, Foucault"
(Beauty) Patricia Polaco/ Authored and Painted
Zhou Ying/Translation
This is an autobiographical picture book that tells the story of a little girl with dyslexia, Teresa, who overcomes the obstacle with the help of Teacher Foucault and learns to read. The story is based on Pollacko's personal experience. Born in Michigan, USA, Polaco was very artistically talented from an early age, but because of dyslexia, the study experience was not smooth, fortunately, with the help of Foucault, he gradually overcame the dyslexia and entered Ohio State University, where he obtained a master's degree in fine arts and a doctorate in art history. Later, Polaco said in an interview: "It was Foucault who changed my life. ”
The child's inner world is delicate and wonderful,
Sometimes longing for care, sometimes it warms you and me.
"Hey, Louis! 》
(Us) Ezra Jack Giz/ By Painting
Liu Yang/Translation
Age of study: 3-8 years old and above
It's a beautiful and reassuring picture book, with a little magic, for children who are not good at words and who long for friendship: relax, express yourself bravely, and build friendships. This is also the Apocalypse for every parent. Inside every child, there is a universe. How to help an introverted child build social confidence: 1. Understand him; 2. Listen to him; 3. Encourage him.
Every child is a versatile elf,
It is an incomparably precious gift in the life of a mother.
"Dear Daughter"
(Poland) Evana Chimilleska / authored and painted
Age of readability: 4-8 years old
The daughter likes to hide, like a snail hiding in its shell. Moreover, it was difficult to find her. Sometimes like a cheerful bird, sometimes like a sad otter. Gentle like a rabbit, savage like a crocodile... In the picture of one positive and one negative, there are completely different patterns hidden, which also symbolize the changing image of the daughter. However, no matter how the image of the daughter changes, lazy or cautious, strong or weak, she is always an incomparably precious gift in the mother's heart.
May we learn to understand and appreciate,
Be the light that illuminates the child's life.
"Raven Taro"
[Japanese] Taro Yashima / Author and E
Age of study: 4-12 years old
The little one comes from the depths of the mountains, and every day to go to school and after school has to walk a long, long way. He was very inferior, very timid, had no friends, and did not do well in his studies. But little ones have their own world: observing everything carefully, listening carefully to the sounds of nature, and appreciating the changes of the four seasons outside the window. Whether it was raining or winding, he insisted on coming to school. From the first grade to the fifth grade, he spent time in neglect. In the sixth grade, the new Isobe teacher discovered many advantages of the little one and often talked to him. On the talent show stage before graduation, Xiao Budian showed his specialty to everyone - imitating the crow's cry, and the wonderful performance made the students greatly moved. Since then, everyone has called Xiao Bu "Crow Taro", and Crow Taro has become confident and happy.
Accept yourself in order to truly embrace this diverse world
"You and I are so different"
[Beauty] Lori Mitchell / Author Paint
Yang Lingling Peng Yi / Translation
This is a healing book written by a mother to her daughter and a book for all who are different. The author writes before the story begins: "April has vitiligo, because of this disease, she has some large and small white spots on her face, other than that, she is no different from other children." ”
"Teacher Qiu's Art Class"
[Beauty] Patricia Polaco / Author / Painting
Patricia is a dyslexia student, so she needs more time to complete the exam paper. But she loves art and longs to take art classes. Fortunately, Patricia's talent for painting was discovered, and she entered Teacher Qiu's art group and studied happily under Teacher Qiu's guidance. Patricia's new substitute teacher did not understand Patricia's learning difficulties, and sternly and forcefully took Patricia's exam papers and threatened to cancel the art class. With the help and struggle of Teacher Yau, Patricia's learning difficulties finally attracted the attention of the school and was solved, and she could continue to take art classes. Under the patient guidance of Teacher Yau, Patricia felt the charm of art. Finally, she entered the beautiful temple of art, became a painter, and achieved great artistic achievements.
"Take Off, Red Plane"
A group of "problem" children, placed in a class called a "dump." This group of children gave up on themselves, but under the leadership of the teacher, Mrs. Peterson, they gradually found their own shining points and discovered the beauty of life. Mrs. Peterson leads them to a real scrap dump and assembles the collected scrap into something useful. The broken red plane in the garbage dump finally took off into the sky with everyone's cooperative efforts, and it flew higher and higher...
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Content Editor: Yi'er
Finishing & Typography: Birds