First Virtual Stop For In My Mind Tour

Welcome to the first stop of the Virtual Book Tour, 'Globe Trottin' for Autism In My Mind : The World Through the Eyes of Autism by Adonya Wong. Adonya's tour runs from January 19 to January 29.

January 6, 2009 marked the world-wide release of her children's book, In My Mind: The World Through the Eyes of Autism. This is available as an eBook and with the purchase of the book customers receive an audio version in Adonya's own voice. Check out the podcast Adonya did with Autism Hangout.

Adonya's son is named Nicholas, same as my older son. Besides both being on the autism spectrum, they share other similarities as both are not fond of dogs, schooled at home, have artistic talents in drawing, plus received their autism diagnoses from School Psychologists before their fourth birthdays.

In My Mind is how Adonya perceives Nicholas's thoughts on the world around him and based on his actions how the world views him. In My Mind is also a tool for him someday to learn more about himself and autism. I agree about utilizing books to help kids gain insights into their own diagnosis. We had numerous books to guide my son Nicholas into autism awareness. Now he is at the point where he will offer opinions on whether a child at autism daycamp is low, medium or high functioning.

I recall many years ago reading that yellow is a common favorite color of kids on the autism spectrum. I noticed on the pages of In My Mind that yellow stood out on his shirt, scarf, duck and shower curtain. The illustrator really captured the likeness of her son Nicholas within the pages of In My Mind, as noted in this Tulsa article.

In My Mind : The World Through the Eyes of Autism is a book for kids of all ages to see what makes a child happy and how those thoughts are brought to life through a Mother's vision. The dreams, fantasies and motions of one child on the autism spectrum will open the eyes and spark conversation among readers.

This is a great opportunity to start discussions on the autism spectrum within a classroom of students, at a support group with family members and parents. It is also appropriate for one on one with a therapist to initiate a dialogue on the illustrations within In My Mind where a child can share what their hopes and dreams are in the future.

My son Nicholas viewed the fifteen page ebook with me and shared his impression:

"It shows nice things that the boy is doing when really all he is doing is nothing but seemingly happy just the same." His favorite pages were nine - having fun on a roller coaster with animals and a cowboy along with page twelve inside the bathtub with the snorkel and his hand up in the air waving.

One lucky reader will win a gift basket containing an autographed copy of In My Mind, a copy of Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wish You Knew, packages of Enjoy Life™ and Namaste Foods™ goodies, and an eco-friendly cleaning starter kit (Whole Foods® 365™ brand), and (1) $50 Amazon.com gift card!! This prize is valued at $200. The winner will be announced 4 days after the tour ends (Adonya will revisit each blog to retrieve names).

**Simply comment about your relationship with autism, what you are doing to raise awareness, and how In My Mind has touched your life. Be sure to visit all of her stops to qualify for this amazing prize!**

Excerpt:
In My Mind, I see many colors, bright like a rainbow, shooting about like comets in the night sky. [turn page] What you see is a child staring into nothing.

Monday, Jan 19 you are here - please comment
Tuesday, Jan 20 Doctorious.org
Wednesday, Jan 21 The Bon Bon Gazette
Thursday, Jan 22 The Queen’s Pen
Friday, Jan 23 Rawtism
Saturday, Jan 24 My Autism Insights
Sunday, Jan 25 Rainbow Project DFW
Monday, Jan 26 Tanner’s Dad’s Blog
Tuesday, Jan 27 Imperfect Clarity
Wednesday, Jan 28 Autism Learning Felt
Thursday, Jan 29 Healing Through The Eyes of Autism

To learn about her book, In My Mind, and living with autism, please visit her at Through the Eyes of Autism website and Blog!

A portion of the author’s proceeds benefit Autism Center of Tulsa (formerly Tulsa Autism Foundation).

Adonya's book is available at Amazon and a bookstore near you!

In My Mind: The World through the Eyes of Autism (Tate Publishing 2009)
Published: January 6, 2009
Genre: Children’s Fiction
ISBN 10: 1-60696-601-4
ISBN 13: 978-1-60696-601-3
28 Pages (full-color paperback)
$9.99 (includes audio book version)

I asked author, Adonya Wong, the following two questions. Her responses are in bold:

1. How would you describe your Nicholas in a few words - what sums him up?

What an excellent question. Trains are currently Nicholas's passion. He has an old timey electric train set, a train calendar (that he somehow managed to instantly locate in a store of hundreds of other themes), a train magazine... he's borderline obssessed. ;) So, summing him up is challenging, but I'll do my best. If he continues down this path, his claim to fame may be as the designer of a zero emissions locomotive.

2. His hands are always outstretched or doing something within the pages of In My Mind, except for the coloring page - is this based on your son doing the same movements?

Yes. Nicholas can often be observed flailing his arms about. It's almost as if he's conducting some music or directing a scene because the flailing is usually coordinated with a song he may be listening to or something he's watching. In my observations, I've learned that his flailing is like his own language because if you pay close attention, you can see when he's "drawing" something in the air or coordinating his hands in such a way that they form letters. It isn't ASL because we never took classes for that, but it sometimes looks like it is.

Please remember to ask your questions in the comments when sharing about your autism connection. Good luck in winning the prize. I look forward to following along the tour and seeing the comments.