My Friend Flaps Their Hands: A Celebration of Stimming (BOOK: Children's/ YA)

 

The most impactful stories are those that take a word often whispered—like stimming—and turn it into a shout of joy. In the modern classroom, we are moving away from the outdated goal of "fixing" behaviors and toward a more compassionate, neuro-affirming goal: celebrating the ways these actions help a child regulate, express emotion, and find their center. This shift in perspective is the heartbeat of my latest eBook resource, "My Friend Flaps Their Hands: A Celebration of Stimming." Crafted specifically for the 420L–820L Lexile range, this eBook uses simple, rhythmic sentences and sensory-rich vocabulary to help children and teenagers understand that neurodiversity is a vibrant part of the human experience.

For many students, especially those with autism or ADHD, the world can feel like a chaotic storm of loud noises and bright lights. Stimming—whether it is flapping hands, rocking, or humming—acts as a natural anchor in that storm. By following the story of Toby, a boy whose joy is simply too big to stay inside his body, readers learn that these repetitive movements are a healthy way to manage big feelings. This book provides a direct solution to the common, often anxious questions kids have about neurodiversity. It replaces confusion with empathy, teaching peers that Toby’s "happy flap" is just like a dog’s wagging tail or a person biting their lip when they are nervous. It normalizes self-regulation for everyone, making the classroom a safer space for all kinds of brains.

To make this message accessible to every educator, the resource is designed to be low-prep and is meticulously scaffolded for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). It is available in multiple digital formats to fit any instructional style, including a standard eBook, a digital PDF, and interactive Easel Activities and Easel Assessments. These tools allow teachers to bring the story to life on smartboards or 1:1 devices, ensuring that even the most reluctant readers can engage with the vibrant illustrations and rhythmic text. While students are learning about the "symphony of neurodiversity," they are also meeting critical Common Core State Standards (CCSS) that build essential literacy skills.

The eBook specifically targets standards such as CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.1, which asks students to ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3, which focuses on describing characters in a story and explaining how their actions contribute to the sequence of events. By analyzing Toby’s responses to his environment, students develop deeper reading comprehension and social-emotional intelligence simultaneously. Ultimately, "My Friend Flaps Their Hands" is more than just a story; it is a tool for revolutionizing how we see our students. It invites everyone to join the "Flap Party," reminding us that when we stop trying to quiet the world and start listening to its rhythm, we find that every brain has a beautiful song to sing.

👉Check it out! My Friend Flaps Their Hands: A Celebration of Stimming (BOOK: Children's/ YA)