Written by Kate Foster
Ages 8+ | 240 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9781536225808
Publisher’s Book Summary: In an endearing story about an autistic boy and his steadfast furry pal, Alex is convinced that winning a trophy at the dog show will help him make a real friend at last.
Eleven-year-old Alex knows that starting middle school will be a big change, and for an autistic person, change can be terrifying. He is sure that having a friend by his side will help. But how can he make one? Alex devises a plan to impress the kids at school by winning a trophy at the PAWS Dog Show with his trusty sidekick, Kevin the Cockapoo. This should be a walk in the park, right? If only. It turns out that finding a friend is harder than Alex thought—unless, maybe, friendship is about something more than popularity.
This charming story, told through Alex’s clear and honest voice, navigates relationships of all stripes between classmates, new neighbors, family, and, of course, a kid and his dog. After all, friendship isn’t one-size-fits-all—maybe it’s found in the small things where you least expect it.
Available for purchase on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Foster is a children’s author writing about friends, family, and dogs. Originally from a small town in the southeast of England, she now lives on the stunning Gold Coast in Australia with her family and second-hand dogs. She is passionate about encouraging and teaching a wider understanding of autism and mental illness via a positive approach and representation in both her books as well as her presentations and talks.
For more information, visit www.kfosterbooks.com.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Kate Foster is a children’s author writing about friends, family, and dogs. Originally from a small town in the southeast of England, she now lives on the stunning Gold Coast in Australia with her family and second-hand dogs. She is passionate about encouraging and teaching a wider understanding of autism and mental illness via a positive approach and representation in both her books as well as her presentations and talks.
For more information, visit www.kfosterbooks.com.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write All the Small Wonderful Things?
Kate Foster - All the Small Wonderful Things was originally inspired by my youngest son and one of my rescue dogs. When, as a family, we went to collect Claude, our cockapoo, the fluffy little dog made an immediate beeline for my son. He stared at him, brought him toys, and followed him around everywhere. That was nine years ago, and still to this day, Claude does the same. The two of them share a bond that is unspoken, unbroken, and so magical.
Life Is What It's Called - What themes run through this book?
Kate Foster - Kindness, empathy, compassion, friendship, understanding, and family.
Kate Foster - All the Small Wonderful Things was originally inspired by my youngest son and one of my rescue dogs. When, as a family, we went to collect Claude, our cockapoo, the fluffy little dog made an immediate beeline for my son. He stared at him, brought him toys, and followed him around everywhere. That was nine years ago, and still to this day, Claude does the same. The two of them share a bond that is unspoken, unbroken, and so magical.
Life Is What It's Called - What themes run through this book?
Kate Foster - Kindness, empathy, compassion, friendship, understanding, and family.
Life Is What It's Called - What was your favorite scene to write?
Kate Foster - I adored writing the whole entire book, if I’m honest, so this is a hard one to answer. But, if I had to choose, I’d say the final scene. I won’t give away the ending, but it was an utter joy to give my main character everything he wanted plus more!
Life Is What It's Called - What do you hope readers will learn from All the Small Wonderful Things?
Kate Foster - I hope readers take away a much deeper understanding and insight into what day-to-day life can look and feel like for an autistic person. I hope it not only challenges but absolutely smashes harmful stereotypes of autism and offers people a valuable inside perspective. I hope it goes beyond proving that autistic people are not broken, just different, and that sometimes taking a moment to think, to consider, and then make the smallest changes, can make the most enormous impact on a person’s day, and even life.
Life Is What It's Called - How do you see All the Small Wonderful Things being used in a classroom setting?
Kate Foster - I’ve had the most wonderful feedback from teachers and librarians in the UK and Australia who’ve used All the Small Wonderful Things as a class read-aloud as well as an entire class novel study. I’ve been told that through sharing the experiences of Alex and Kevin (the main characters) and by reading it together, the experience has brought groups of children closer together and given them a much better understanding of one another and what people could be going through that we can’t always see on the outside. If similar happens throughout schools in the US and Canada then I can’t imagine a better result!
Life Is What It's Called - How does All the Small Wonderful Things stand apart from other middle grade books in the market?
Kate Foster - All the Small Wonderful Things may center an autistic main character, but it is not a book about autism. So many children’s books starring autistic children are about the child’s journey to overcome their disability, or to be accepted by their peers, or are in some way didactic and forced. I’m not saying these books don’t necessarily have some value or a place on the shelf, but my book contains none of these things. All the Small Wonderful Things is a story about an autistic boy and his best dog friend who are already loved, accepted, and cherished. I write for autism acceptance, not awareness because I feel we should be moving beyond that now.
Life Is What It's Called - What books are you working on next?
Kate Foster - So many books! But here’s a sneaky peek into two of them …
1. A chapter book comprised of three mini adventures starring an autistic (and possibly the first autistic female?) superhero, whose superpowers lie in the incredible dogs from her family’s rescue shelter.
2. A middle-grade mystery (Enid Blyton meets Scooby Doo) starring five autistic kids attending boring school holiday classes who, unexpectedly, must join forces to stage a daring rescue mission.
GIVEAWAY
Enter the giveaway for the chance to win an autographed hardcover copy of All the Small Wonderful Things—a $100 donation will be made to a rescue dog charity of the winner’s choice!
All the Small Wonderful Things: Book Giveaway
Kate Foster - I adored writing the whole entire book, if I’m honest, so this is a hard one to answer. But, if I had to choose, I’d say the final scene. I won’t give away the ending, but it was an utter joy to give my main character everything he wanted plus more!
Life Is What It's Called - What do you hope readers will learn from All the Small Wonderful Things?
Kate Foster - I hope readers take away a much deeper understanding and insight into what day-to-day life can look and feel like for an autistic person. I hope it not only challenges but absolutely smashes harmful stereotypes of autism and offers people a valuable inside perspective. I hope it goes beyond proving that autistic people are not broken, just different, and that sometimes taking a moment to think, to consider, and then make the smallest changes, can make the most enormous impact on a person’s day, and even life.
Life Is What It's Called - How do you see All the Small Wonderful Things being used in a classroom setting?
Kate Foster - I’ve had the most wonderful feedback from teachers and librarians in the UK and Australia who’ve used All the Small Wonderful Things as a class read-aloud as well as an entire class novel study. I’ve been told that through sharing the experiences of Alex and Kevin (the main characters) and by reading it together, the experience has brought groups of children closer together and given them a much better understanding of one another and what people could be going through that we can’t always see on the outside. If similar happens throughout schools in the US and Canada then I can’t imagine a better result!
Life Is What It's Called - How does All the Small Wonderful Things stand apart from other middle grade books in the market?
Kate Foster - All the Small Wonderful Things may center an autistic main character, but it is not a book about autism. So many children’s books starring autistic children are about the child’s journey to overcome their disability, or to be accepted by their peers, or are in some way didactic and forced. I’m not saying these books don’t necessarily have some value or a place on the shelf, but my book contains none of these things. All the Small Wonderful Things is a story about an autistic boy and his best dog friend who are already loved, accepted, and cherished. I write for autism acceptance, not awareness because I feel we should be moving beyond that now.
Life Is What It's Called - What books are you working on next?
Kate Foster - So many books! But here’s a sneaky peek into two of them …
1. A chapter book comprised of three mini adventures starring an autistic (and possibly the first autistic female?) superhero, whose superpowers lie in the incredible dogs from her family’s rescue shelter.
2. A middle-grade mystery (Enid Blyton meets Scooby Doo) starring five autistic kids attending boring school holiday classes who, unexpectedly, must join forces to stage a daring rescue mission.
GIVEAWAY
Enter the giveaway for the chance to win an autographed hardcover copy of All the Small Wonderful Things—a $100 donation will be made to a rescue dog charity of the winner’s choice!
All the Small Wonderful Things: Book Giveaway
This post is sponsored by Kate Foster. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.
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