The Can’t-Be-Seen Who Couldn’t Squawk: A Story of Stuttering, Diversity, and Inclusion

$13.95 - $38.95 inc GST $12.68 - $35.41 ex GST

Welcome to the land of the Can’t-Be-Seen! Meet Nate, a unique Can’t-Be-Seen who does not squawk like the rest. Family, friends, teachers and doctors are not able to help him. But when he meets others like himself, Nate learns just how truly special he is. His world will never be the same again. Neither will he.

Follow Nate on an adventure to self-discovery and acceptance in the fantastical world of the Can’t-Be-Seen.

Nate is the same as every other Can’t-Be-Seen, with one difference: Nate has a speech impairment-a squawk impairment if you will!

This book is an #ownvoices picture book for children aged 2-8 years old and can be a great classroom device to foster important discussions around inclusion, acceptance and bullying.

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SKU: 120521-1 Categories: , , Tag: NDIS approved: Yes Ages: 0 - 5 Author: Prof Dale F. Williams Illustrator: Prof Susannah L. Brown Publisher: The Brainary ISBN: 978-0-9873476-7-1 Language: English

Product overview

Welcome to the land of the Can’t-Be-Seen! Meet Nate, a unique Can’t-Be-Seen who does not squawk like the rest. Family, friends, teachers and doctors are not able to help him. But when he meets others like himself, Nate learns just how truly special he is. His world will never be the same again. Neither will he.

Follow Nate on an adventure to self-discovery and acceptance in the fantastical world of the Can’t-Be-Seen.

Nate is the same as every other Can’t-Be-Seen, with one difference: Nate has a speech impairment-a squawk impairment if you will!

This book is an #ownvoices picture book for children aged 2-8 years old and can be a great classroom device to foster important discussions around inclusion, acceptance and bullying.

ABOUT THE CREATORS

nate-at-park-with-dale-and-susannah.jpg

Photography by Blaine Williams

AUTHOR

Professor Dale F. Williams 

The Can’t-Be-Seen Who Couldn’t Squawk is authored by Professor Dale F. Williams who himself has a stutter. His motivation in creating the book, came from the realisation that there is not much representation for people with speech and language impairments in books. He recognised the importance of teaching acceptance and self acceptance to children at the age where they typically develop a speech or language impairment. Professor Williams is Chair of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Florida Atlantic University, and has also authored several other books about stuttering, including:

ILLUSTRATOR

Professor Susannah L. Brown 

The Can’t-Be-Seen Who Couldn’t Squawk is Professor Williams’ first children’s book and was created in collaboration with illustrator and fellow Florida Atlantic University colleague, Professor Susannah Brown. Prof Brown has an extensive background in visual and fine arts education and is the Professor of Art Education in the College of Education Department of Teaching and Learning at FAU. She has won several teaching awards including the National Art Education Association (NAEA) 2019 Higher Education Art Educator of the Year and is also a studio artist, having exhibited visual art works in galleries and museums. The following are three of Prof Brown’s latest literary works:

  • Curriculum integration in contemporary teaching practice: Emerging research and opportunities 
  • Creative literacy in action: From birth to age nine
  • Teaching arts integration in the schools

Testimonials

“Children will love this charming story, told in verse, about a “Can’t Be Seen” (Nate) who learned to squawk. The poor bird has many trials and tribulations because of his inability to talk (or squawk), including being bullied by others. When a new teacher introduces Nate to other children who also squawk, he feels much better. Nate’s squawks can sound different and that’s okay! The beautiful illustrations bring the story to life, challenging readers to reflect on the true meaning behind this delightful tale.”
Dr. Janet Towell
Professor of Reading, Language Arts and Children’s Literature
Florida Atlantic University

“Dr. William’s story of Nate, the young Can’t-Be-Seen who had difficulty with squawking, is unfortunately a familiar tale for many children who stutter. From Nate’s attempts to hide his squawking difficulties, to the physician’s advice to Nate’s parents to ignore them, and to the teasing Nate receives at school, these parallel many children’s journey who stutter. Fortunately, Nate meets Mr. Paul who introduces him to other Can’t-Be-Seens who have difficulty squawking and Nate realizes he is not alone. He also helps Nate realize the power and beauty of squawking, whether it is a perfect squawk or not! As Nate gradually accepts how he squawks, he avoids less and feels better about himself as a squawker.
This book is an excellent resource for SLPs who work with children who stutter and parents of children who stutter. The illustrations are beautiful and child friendly. It provides a non-threatening avenue for discussing stuttering, avoidance strategies, teasing, and acceptance. At the conclusion of the story the author includes valuable information for parents, along with discussion questions for the child who stutters. The utility of this book for helping ease a child into acceptance or for helping parents understand how to interact with their child is beyond measure.”

Charlie Osborne, M.A., CCC-SLP
Clinical Professor Emeritus
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
“I have really enjoyed your book and read it to my daughter who is 9. She picked it up and read it herself first. I think as a mum it is a very good story and covers lots of the worries of the bird and his friends and parents really nicely. As a speech therapist I really like the sequence of the story and how it is easy to stop at different places in the story and talk about the characters, what they are feeling and doing, what might happen next. Even to discuss the characters who weren’t very nice and why they behaved the way they did”.
Katie Young (Zewde) FRCSLT
Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist Voice

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