This Is How We Talk: A Celebration of Disability and Connection

K-Gr 4–This beautifully illustrated book celebrates the ways children and adults living with disabilities communicate with the world. Beginning by explaining that there are many ways people talk, each subsequent page lovingly shows a different example of communication adaptations for people living with disabilities and for their caregivers, loved ones, and providers. Slice and Cupp’s words provide explanation, without specific diagnoses, of realistic drawings, including scenes of nonverbal individuals who communicate through various physical movements, parents translating through sign language for their child while at the doctor’s office, and children and adults using AAC (Augmentive and Alternative Communication) to attend or teach school. Harren uses bright, sparkly lines to indicate movement or emotion and to highlight the type of communication happening, creating a magical feel and inspiring in readers a sense of wonder for every adaptation. Also included are guides for kids and grown-ups that provide more details about specific disabilities, the types of communication represented, and how to teach kids about disability appropriately and responsibly.