I Talk Like A River
by Jordan Scott
Illustrated by Sydney Smith
Neal Porter Books, 2020
40 pages
For ages 4-8
Themes: Fiction, Stuttering, Fathers and Sons
Opening Lines:
I wake up each morning with the sound of words all around me. And I can’t say them all …
From the Book Flap:
What if words got stuck in the back of your mouth whenever you tried to speak? Poet Jordan Scott writes movingly about a boy who stutters in this powerful and ultimately uplifting book, based on his own experience, and masterfully illustrated by Greenaway Medalist Sydney Smith. This is a book for anyone who feels lost, lonely, or unable to fit in.
What I Thought:
This is one of those beautiful books that will stay with me for a long time.
I was originally attracted to it because my 8-year-old grandson used to stutter. With the help of excellent speech therapists, his patient parents, and his own hard work he overcame the stutter by the end of kindergarten.
The story is told from the boy’s perspective and we quickly learn about the pain and difficulty of not being able to clearly and fully express yourself. After a bad day at school the boy and his dad spend some time at his favourite place, the river. It’s here that the dad helps the boy make a connection between his speech and the movements of the river.
The story is raw and real, but it’s also gentle and hopeful. The illustrations are gorgeous and pair beautifully with the poetic text.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough if you’re a speech therapist working with children or a parent with a stuttering child. Actually it’s great for everyone! If you ever meet a person or have a friend with a stutter this will give you a big glimpse into their world and help build understanding and empathy.
Connections:
An interview with the poet/author, Jordan Scott, by CBC.
The Stuttering Foundation has a short list of book for kids that might be useful.
And here’s a potentially useful blog called The Stuttering Therapy Resources.
Thanks for stopping by and reading. You can find all my book reviews here.
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