Overview
An inclusive, vibrant picture book told in verse about a 7-year-old girl with sensory overload; a perfect introduction as to why neurodivergent loved ones sometimes get overwhelmed. Our senses make us feel alive! But sometimes mine can feel too much. They're like a fire - too hot to touch. When Melodie's family surprises her with a day out, she REALLY doesn't want to go. The market is SO SMELLY, the bathrooms are SO LOUD, the food is always SO MUSHY, and the lights are SO BRIGHT. What was supposed to be fun is actually making her feel . . . stressed out. Can she block out the things that bother her and end her day in a calmer place? Inspired by Helen's daughter's experiences of sensory overload, this story will resonate with both neurodivergent young readers who want to learn to self-soothe when they feel overwhelmed, as well as the communities eager to better support them. Includes an informative spread on key terms such as masking, stims and sensory overload.
Full Product Details
Author: Helen Docherty ,
Taylor Barron
Publisher: Watkins Media Limited
Imprint: Moon + Bird
Edition: New edition
Weight: 0.567kg
ISBN: 9781917194075
ISBN 10: 1917194072
Pages: 32
Publication Date: 30 September 2025
Recommended Age: From 4 to 8 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Availability: To order
Reviews
""A wonderfully fun read and a much-needed addition to your social-emotional learning book collection.” ""A beautiful story that gently explores what sensory overload is and how to mitigate it."" ""This is a validating book for anyone with sensory processing challenges and an illuminating one for family members, educators, and peers.""
Author Information
Helen Docherty is an award-winning children's writer based in the UK. Her previous books include The Snatchabook, The Storybook Knight, Someone Just Like You, The Bee Who Loved Words, The Screen Thief, All The Things We Carry and more. Helen has helped many disadvantaged young people create their own books through her work with community projects in her hometown of Swansea, Wales, including Best Start and Storyopolis, a non-profit children's literacy project. Her books have been translated into 27 languages. Taylor Barron is an artist and illustrator who spends her time between Seattle, USA and Paris, France. She specializes in children's books, murals, editorial work, and character design. Taylor has a passion for activism and feels that using her art to communicate about these messages is important. Themes of feminism, environmentalism, mental health and neurodivergence often appear in her work. Her previous books include How Are You, Verity?, On the Bright Side and Your Life Matters.
