My Friend John -- Adorable New Picture Book Introducing Tourette Syndrome

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Do you know anyone with Tourette Syndrome? I think my first experience really learning about it was watching Ally McBeal. One of the episodes had a client with Tourette Syndrome. But what really got me familiar with it was teaching a student with it. My class was the only time the individual aide assigned to the student could have a break and eat lunch. The student became to trust me pretty quickly and the rest of the class understood my expectations and treated the student with kindness. Many people do not know about Tourette Syndrome or understand it. It is definitely something that can get kids with it teased and bullied. Today I get to share a new book with you that introduces it to young readers and that it is not a reason to tease or bully a person with it but rather accept them and be his or her friend. The book is My Friend John by Arleen McCarthy. It is recommended for ages 6 to 8.

From the Publisher: 

Meet John, a remarkable new student at The Huckleberry School. John's life takes a heartwarming turn when he befriends a sweet little girl named Bella. Everything seems to be going smoothly for John, until a challenging situation resurfaces, shaking the foundations of his world.

In My Friend John, we are invited to witness a touching journey that explores not only the essence of friendship but also the profound qualities of kindness and leadership. This poignant tale serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience within us all and the transformative power of genuine connection.

From Me:

This book shares about a new student, John, in a classroom. Bella gets to sit next to him, and he seems so happy and kind. Then she notices some strange things. He gets shakes and makes a funny sound at lunch. She decides to ignore it and just enjoy getting to know him. When the strange behaviors return in the classroom and it is more than just one weird sound, the other kids make fun of him. The teacher pulls the boys who started the teasing out and talks to them, but the damage is done. After school Bella asks her teacher about John's strange behaviors and the teacher explains he has Tourette Syndrome. Bella goes home and she and her mother research it. The next day John is not in school. Bella gets up in front of the class and tells them about Tourette Syndrome and how John cannot control his shakes or the weird yelling. She asks them to think about what it must be like for him and to be kind to him. She also points out that he might not be there because some of the kids made fun of him. When he returns the next day, Bella shows him she is his friend and cares.

This book is so sweet. The illustrations are adorable. The story is one about friendship and acceptance. It is something we need for all the various conditions kids (and adults) have in the world. We need to normalize being accepting and kind instead of teasing and bullying. People with these types of conditions need to be treated with kindness and know they are welcome and cared about. This book definitely is a step forward for Tourette Syndrome. I feel like if we can educate people about these syndromes then they will be more accepting of them. I feel like this book should be in every early elementary classroom as well as a classroom that has a student with Tourette Syndrome in it. It is a great introduction to the behavior a person with Tourettes may exhibit and has the message of acceptance and friendship. I hope you will check it out.