Izzy Can’t Talk, But He Can Make Friends

Izzy can't talk but can make friends is a beautiful book about a non-speaking autistic boy and what friendship means to him. I read this book along with my non-speaking autistic daughter and she loved how Izzy makes connection with his new friends. Initially he was shy and nervous meeting someone new but gradually he warmed up to his new friend and enjoyed his company. This book is a fun and easy to read book and at the same time teaches us about empathy and understanding towards autistic individuals. It is a great book for neurotypical kids to understand how to be friends with our kids and also a book for our non-speaking kids to see themselves represented and heard. My daughter also enjoys being with her friends and she could relate to all the fun activities Izzy did with his new friend. Definitely a book worth recommending and sharing with family and friends!

I read the book to my special needs book club members. They related well to many parts of the book. From hiding out when needing a safe space, to feeling nervous around new people. I think the book is also written in a way that’s relatable to anyone meeting new friends and experiencing new things. It also highlights how we can overcome these things as well as highlighting how these issues impact those with special needs. It’s a great book to read and learn from.