Zane is different to other kids.
He has his own made-up language. He likes to line things up. And he is frightened of things that don’t seem to bother other people — like the colour black.
His father gets frustrated and angry with Zane. His mother tries hard to explain things to him. But nothing seems to work. Zane just scrunches himself up into a ball and screams.
Things are looking pretty bleak for Zane and his family; that is, until Zane’s big sister starts to draw a chalk rainbow at the top of the front steps …
The Chalk Rainbow explores difference and diversity through a family living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
It’s also a story of unconditional love, of trust and of learning to look at the world through the eyes of others.
The story is told by Zane’s older sister in a way that young children can easily relate to.
The ending is uplifting as all members of the family learn to look at things differently and find a way to move forward together.
Features:
- According to statistics released by the CDC in 2014, the incidence of autism is as high as 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls). This gorgeous picture book sensitively addresses the subject in a way that is comforting for children on the spectrum, while also providing insight into their world for others
- Touches on universal themes of unconditional love, trust and the importance of family
- Visually stunning, the book uses a combination of charcoal drawings with intermittent colour to bring added depth and richness to the text
- Brings together an accomplished author, with numerous picture books and chapter books to her credit, and the talented illustrator behind the highly successful Don’t Think About Purple Elephants and the upcoming Sugar & Spice Collection