An instant #1 NYT bestseller!!!
A must-read that belongs in every home and classroom, "A Day With No Words" invites readers into the life of an Autism Family who communicates just as the child does, without spoken language.
This colorful and engaging picture book for young readers shares what life can look like for families who communicate in a nonverbal way, utilizing tools (like tablets) to embrace their unique method of "speaking."
This story highlights the bond between mother and child and follows them on a day where they use a tablet to communicate with others.
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From me, to you
I wrote this book because I was tired. The exhaustion over the years had weighed me down to the point where many days I felt as though I could not find nor plant my feet. My steps were heavy. My mind filled with a lifetime of the things I was told my son could not do, would not do, and the thoughts of a society that was hellbent on keeping us separated from itself. Many families like ours hide within the walls of our homes and small pockets on the internet. Because of the nature of who we are, how we exist in this skin, every step outside serves as a message to another. They will think they know us because of what they see from us, then ascribe some meaning to it, to which they are almost always wrong. This will happen regardless of how we will feel about it.
I wrote this book because if we are to be a message no matter what, I wanted to control that message as best as I could. I wrote this book because my youngest inspired the days that inspired this book. To put ourselves as close to his brother's existence as we could, and then demonstrate the love we have for him to the rest of the world in the hopes that they would follow suit. Or at the very least gain an understanding of other ways to communicate outside of speech. I wanted to bridge our world with theirs. I wanted to show families like ours that we are of this world and we deserve to be in this world. And we are worthy of being spoken about and loved on in a way that doesn't reduce us to the sum of our diagnostic presentations. I didn't want a book about disability to be academic. I wanted a book about disability to show that we can live a life just as others do, we just do it in a way that works for us and we should live in a world that is equitable and accessible. We are worthy of this much.
I truly hope you enjoy this book. It was the hardest piece of writing I have ever written. I hope you feel all the feels when you read it. And I hope that it inspires you to have your own "days with no words" and that the next time you see a child like mine and their family out and about that you lead with a kind heart.
~ Tiffany Hammond
Meet the Characters
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Son (aka Aidan)
Best Friend: his brother Jojo
Favorite Things: hugging trees, eating fries, spinning barefoot on wet grass, listening to Rihanna
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Mama
Best Friends: her family
Favorite Things: hugging her boys, writing, music, watching television, traveling
Send a note to Aidan
Aidan doesn’t speak but he does enjoy letters and artwork. If you would like to leave him a note, please fill out the form below. We will make sure he gets to hear what you have to say!
Reviews
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Reviews • Reviews • Reviews •
“How lucky are we to finally get Tiffany’s poignant words & message into children’s hands through this impactful story. Children and families can now be touched by her brilliance and learn about the often-overlooked autistics who communicate differently. The importance of this book cannot be overstated in its potential to expose readers, young and old alike, to the beauties and barriers of living the autistic experience.”
“In my past 20 years as a developmental pediatrician, I have never read anything quite like this book that so eloquently, lyrically, and vividly captures the essence and beauty of an autistic mind. This book is a gift to all who read it. ”
“Through A Day with No Words Tiffany Hammond provides us a rare window to the non-speaking world of autism. She has done so with love, compassion, and, I believe, deep understanding. And Kate Cosgrove’s illustrations make it a beautiful world indeed. Bravo to you both and thank you so much for this window!”
“I’m amazed. Truly amazed. I knew your book would be good but what I didn’t know is that it would capture the poetry of our families. Our family and our non speaking son I believe lives in poetry and music like your family does. No book on neurodivergence or autism does this – they explain and show what neurodivergence is. To me your book has a non speaking person but truly it shows the poetry of a family who truly loves and embraces each other. This is the story of my family I want others to know. It’s the story of my family that I want my son to know!!!”
“This is so well done. Beautiful. I mostly smiled but also shed a little happy tear for how big this is for our kids and those that need this. Hundreds of thousands of people need to hear this and eventually, over the years, they will! Thank you.”
“THIS IS THE BEST BOOK ABOUT NONSPEAKING PEOPLE I’VE READ. SHOWS YOU HOW REAL WE ARE. I LOVE IT. ”
“THE BOOK SHOULD BE TESTED WITH TEACHERS TO TEACH THEM. DOUBTERS FIND TOO MANY REASONS TO DISMISS US. THE BOOK CREATES SOMETHING NEW.”