I'm Here

June 13, 2011
In the vein of The Dot and Ish, Reynolds offers another characteristically gentle and empathetic small-format book, written from the perspective of a boy who watches, from a distance, as other children play: "They are there. I am here." Their voices are "Splashes upon splashes of sound" that he hears "like one big noise. A big drum. Boom. Boom." When a sheet of paper floats down from the sky ("White rectangle. How did you find me?"), the boy folds it into an airplane. His imagination sends him soaring in a paper airplane ride before the narrative returns to reality, and the plane is retrieved by a girl who returns it to him: " âI'm here,' says the girl's smile." Though back matter explains that the book was written "to help us all reach out, embrace, and appreciate children in the autism spectrum," the pared-down prose and artwork, painted in Reynolds's typical loose style, are open to multiple interpretations and may facilitate conversations about reaching out to others who are differentâand aloneâfor many reasons. Ages 4â8.

Starred review from July 15, 2011

Eloquent, fanciful text and illustrations that sparkle with clarity combine to perfectly portray a solitary boy's flight of imagination.

Alone in the schoolyard, the young protagonist sits apart from the others, but he is quite present. "I am here," he says. Happy to examine the details of the world around him, he is fine—until a piece of paper falls right into his lap, ready to be transformed. He folds the paper into an airplane, which then flies higher and higher, bringing him on a journey above the playground, clouds and sky, then back down to be caught by his schoolmates. The repeated refrain, "I am here," reinforces the boy's sense of himself in the world, even though he is alone, and his unique point of view is both distinct and easy to understand. Clean, appealing illustrations are distilled to their essential elements, focusing purely on the boy and allowing viewers to add their own details. In the end, the airplane sails to someone else—perhaps a new friend—who kindly returns it to the boy. This was written with autistic children in mind but encompasses a wider subject; any child who is isolated, introverted or simply self-contained will find something of him- or herself to recognize and appreciate here.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

October 1, 2011
K-Gr 2—-Created as a companion to a film of the same name, this quiet wisp of a story poignantly portrays the loneliness and social challenges experienced by a boy on the autistic spectrum. The pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoon illustrations, combined with ample white space and varied font sizes, render a warm, light touch to what could be a heavy subject. Pictured sitting alone on a busy, noisy playground, the boy describes how the cacophony created by the other children drives him to sit apart: "They are there. I am here." When a gentle breeze wafts a rectangle of paper into his lap, he painstakingly folds it into a paper airplane. In his imagination, the plane flies him off blissfully into the sky, then swoops down nearly to the ground only to be launched into space again by the playground kids. In reality, a girl finds the paper airplane when it floats to the ground and returns it to the boy, her smile and selfless action bridging the gap between them. The utility of this book for young children, whether or not they are on the autistic spectrum, will be greatly enhanced with adult facilitation. Best for collections needing very simple materials to start conversations about human differences.—"Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT"

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2011
Preschool-G A young boy watches as a group of multiethnic children play in the schoolyard, but to him, the activity sounds like one big crash of noise. They are there, and he is here in his own world, where a sailing piece of paper becomes a paper airplane that can be shot into the clouds with him riding it. In the sky, alone, the boy feels what he doesn't on earththat he is a part of things. But then he lands, and his paper airplane is brought to him by a girl. She acknowledges him, and her smile says, I'm here, as well. Written and illustrated by Reynolds to help children understand those on the autism spectrum, or others who may seem different to their peers, this book, with its seemingly small story, captures a slew of feelings, emotions, and reactions: isolation, harmony, friendship, and hope. Watercolors outlined in ink are set against expanses of white pages and seem alternately fragile and brimming with strength. Parents and teachers will find many ways to use this book. Let the conversations soar.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)