“Juan Has The Jitters is a story about inclusion, diversity, and the power of math to help one boy with autism thrive among his peers.”
Synopsis
Juan claps his hands to get his Jitters out. They make his tummy swoosh and swirl. His Jitters happen when there are too many people, too much noise, or too many changes to his day, Juan doesn’t like surprises.
Tomorrow there is an athletic event planned at school, which makes Juan very nervous. But his teacher has the perfect solution: math – Juan’s favorite subject! Counting, sorting, and matching help Juan calm his Jitters. By making math part of the day’s athletic games, and by appointing Juan the official judge, his teacher can make sure that Juan will have fun and feel included. The class is calling it the Mathletic Games!
#MelAndNikkiReview
Juan has the Jitters is a great children’s book and one that we would recommend for all to read as it helps teach kids about neurodiversity, inclusion and how we are all unique. We loved how the teacher came up with a creative way to empower Juan and show his amazing talent that he can offer the class.
You can’t help but cheer with the whole class at the end as Juan does an amazing job. Juan claps along with his class and this time it wasn’t for the jitters but for the joy of clapping with his classmates. Simply beautiful and it tugged at our heartstrings.
For this #MelAndNikkiReview, we give it 10 claps out of 5! A must read and a story that will empower our young readers to be inclusive of all no matter of their super powers. 🙂
If you would like to purchase this amazing book, click here. The age recommendation would be four to eight years old. This book would make a great book for teachers as it nurtures on multiple domains of scholastic development.
About the Author
Aneta Cruz is a pre-K teacher and children’s book author. She holds a credential in early childhood special education, a BA in English literature, and an MFA in creative writing. When she’s not reading, writing, or eating Nutella by the spoonful, she teaches her class of preschoolers how to love books (and other things) as much as she does. She divides her time between the Czech Republic and Southern California, where she lives with her husband, two children, and Poe, the cutest ugly dog in the world.
About the Illustrator
Miki Yamamoto has been drawing since a very early age. Most of her childhood was spent in her room sketching, coloring, and painting to entertain herself. She studied illustration at Cal State University, Long Beach and has worked for Hallmark Cards, Disney, and Amscan Party. Miki has won numerous awards as a children’s book illustrator. She resides in Southern California with her wigglebutt Aussie, Bella.
Until next time…Happy Parenting!
-Momma Braga
*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. We do not make commission on book sales.
