I Am Odd, I Am New - by Benjamin Giroux (Hardcover)

About the Book

Featuring a foreword by the National Autism Association, this extraordinary picture book shows readers the world through the eyes of a boy with autism.

Book Synopsis

Through the eyes of 10-year-old Benjamin Giroux, being odd is different, and different is a good thing. This is what the then fifth-grader hoped to convey in his poem, beginning every few sentences with "I am," about what it is like to live with autism.

• Inspired by a school assignment, Benjamin's raw and emotional words poured out onto the page, but when he feared they were not any good, his parents shared the poem with friends and family.
• Little did they know that it would go viral and end up inspiring thousands of strangers who identified with him to share their support.
• Now for the first time, Benjamin's iconic poem "I Am Odd, I Am New," comes to life in this lovingly illustrated picture book with a foreword written by the National Autism Association.

So whether you know the poem, or it is new to you, discover how Benjamin's honesty will reassure children of all ages that it's okay to be different.

Review Quotes

"A 10-year-old New York boy who was given a school assignment ended up touching the hearts of thousands after writing a moving poem that gives an inside look into his life with autism."
--The Daily Mail

"Benjamin Giroux's goal when writing his poem was to have society understand that being odd is different, and different is a good thing."
--Today

"Later, paper airplanes soar with the suggestion that different shouldn't mean separate, providing an answer to the poem's hopeful concluding sentiments about finding where one belongs."
--Publisher's Weekly

"Written when the autistic author was 10, Giroux's poetic exploration of being/feeling different from the perspective of living on the spectrum brings to light that being neurodivergent is not the same as being broken or "less." Being different is not an insurmountable obstacle to experiencing life but rather a gift to experience more."
--Kirkus Starred Review

"this illustrated book and its powerful message will be an invaluable resource for creative writing teachers. With unique clarity, it provides a child's perspective of the world that will inspire genuine empathy in KS2 children reading this independently, or discussing it as a class in PSHE lessons."
--School Reading List