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Storytime Bilingüe featuring "Soy un super heroe especial"

Children come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities, and it's important to teach them to celebrate these differences from birth. As bicultural and bilingual, my children straddle two languages and cultures on a daily basis, and I want to introduce them to and expose them to cultures, traditions, and lifestyles that differ from their own, so that they may begin to develop understanding and empathy for others.

April has widely been known as “Autism Awareness Month” in the United States as a way to empower autistic individuals and their families, and this year the Autism Society of America has been leading a significant effort for the federal government to officially designate April as “Autism Acceptance Month.” According to the Autism Society of America, the shift in the use of terminology aims to foster acceptance and ignite change through building better awareness of the signs, symptoms, and realities of autism. Since the prevalence of autism in the United States has risen from 1 in 125 children in 2010 to 1 in 54 in 2020, this year's campaign is "Celebrate differences." (#CelebrateDifferences) 

Which is why I love the book, Soy un super heroe especial. The narrator is a child with autism, and the reader gets a special glimpse of his life. This story creates awareness and invites readers to love and care for those on the Autism spectrum. Author Sofia Lachapelle is the mom to two boys with autism, and she said she wrote the book, "to inspire parents and families to believe in a better future for their loved ones, and to become part of their life in action, because parents are called to be their children's mentors and best therapist." 

So join us as we read the story of a young superhero, who shows us just how special he is, and how important it is to get to know others who might be a little bit different than yourself, because you might just meet your new best friend.




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