Lauren, a third-grade student who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, takes on the challenges of sharing her best friend and persevering when a classmate mocks her bicycle's training wheels.

Eleven-year-old Jake Reynolds wants to save seal pups from the talons of bald eagles, protect his little sister Sierra and confront the wolf he is sure stalks Hidalgo Island. But his best friend Emily calls him a chicken, comforts Sierra when she falls and doesn't believe the wolf exists. Even as Jake hears howling in the night, part of him hopes Emily is right; he may dream of being a hero, but he is terrified by the thought of running into a wolf. When Jake leads Emily into the woods in search of adventure, he finds more than he bargained for—and discovers things about himself that he never knew existed.

Lauren has Autism Spectrum Disorder, and she sees the world a little differently from other kids. What makes her comfortable are her routines and her coping mechanisms for her anxiety, which can get out of control in no time. So it is a challenge to deal with her rambunctious cousins, try on scratchy dresses, and follow impossible directions about going down aisles slowly-but-not-like-a-sloth and tossing pretend flowers around. So is it any surprise that Lauren flips her lid more than once? But while having an extended family seems like a lot of trouble at first, she’s about to learn just how much they can care for one another.

Lauren, who has Asperger Syndrome, navigates the ups and downs of school and home life. School friendships have always been a challenge, but Lauren finds she is exactly the friend a brand new classmate needs.

A 2020 Bank Street Best Book andthe second title in the acclaimed Slug Days Stories, now in paperback . Laurenand her family drive to a farm in North Dakota to visit relatives and celebrateher Auntie Joss' wedding. But Lauren finds to her dismay that she is expectedto do more than meet adults who hug her and invade her personal space. Laurenis going to be--horror of all horrors--a flower girl. Laurenhas Autism Spectrum Disorder, and she sees the world a little differently fromother kids. What makes her comfortable are her routines and her strategies tomanage her anxiety, which can get out of control in no time. So it is achallenge to deal with her rambunctious cousins, try on scratchy dresses, andfollow impossible directions about going down aislesslowly-but-not-like-a-sloth and tossing pretend flowers around. Is it anysurprise that Lauren flips her lid more than once? But while having an extendedfamily seems like a lot of trouble at first, she's about to learn just how muchthey can care for one another. In Penguin Days, two award winners revisitsecond-grader Lauren from the acclaimed SlugDays with equal humor and empathy. Drawing on her experience teachingchildren with ASD, Sara Leach creates an energetic character who stompseloquently off the page. And Rebecca Bender's delightful black-and-whiteillustrations show, in Lauren's fraught situations and facial expressions, allthe love and assertiveness that could possibly dwell together in one unique,little person.

The third title in the collection that began with USBBY Outstanding International Book Slug Days. Lauren, a third-grade student who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, takes on the challenges of sharing her best friend and persevering when a classmate mocks her bicycle's training wheels. Irma is Lauren's best friend. Irma knows all the strategies Lauren uses when her Autism Spectrum Disorder makes it hard to "go with the flow." Lauren helps Irma learn English words and understand unfamiliar customs. So why does Irma suddenly want to introduce Lauren to her mountain-biking, litter-dropping neighbor Jonas? Why is Irma calling Jonas her friend? As if sharing Irma weren't bad enough, Lauren also has an alarming new problem at school. Their teacher has announced a mountain biking day when the students will learn to ride their bikes on an obstacle course. But Lauren still uses training wheels. She just can't face the teasing she will get when her classmates see them. She isn't brave like Irma. She can't go with the flow like Dad. How can she possibly face this challenge? From author Sara Leach and illustrator Rebecca Bender comes an honest and warm-hearted successor to the critically acclaimed Slug Days and Penguin Days. With straightforward text and frequent black-and-white illustrations, Duck Days is an accessible chapter book for any young reader with mountains of their own to climb.