Why Johnny Doesn’t Flap: NT Is OK!

An unnamed boy with autism describes his friend Johnny’s unusual and sometimes perplexing behaviors: “Mom says it is because he is NT, or neurotypical. He doesn’t have autism, so his brain works differently from mine, but that’s ok.” Johnny doesn’t arrive precisely on time to visit, makes direct eye contact, “doesn’t have a topic he knows everything about, like World War II or dinosaurs or forklifts,” and “always wants to play with other kids.” Merry’s artwork is somewhat rudimentary (the boys’ facial expressions scarcely change, even when the narrator is having a “meltdown,” and there isn’t much variation in the staging of the images). But the authors’ subversion of expectations through the narration is effective and thought-provoking, and may well lead neurotypical readers to reconsider their own behaviors and judgments. Ages 5–9. [em](Oct.) [/em]