Penguin Days

by Sara Leach

Illustrated by Rebecca Bender

Lauren’s family makes a difficult two day car trip to North Dakota for Auntie Joss’ wedding because flying has been a disaster before for Lauren who has Autism Spectrum Disorder and is learning how to control her reactions to changes and to certain things that make her uncomfortable. She takes things literally and doesn’t always understand jokes or react instinctively to facial expressions or body language. She is, however, an intelligent child with a passion for reading and insects.

Several problems arise in Penguin Days with the whole wedding scenario. Lauren is under the impression she will be the only flower girl when, in fact, she is one of three. She doesn’t like her dress because it isn’t comfortable and itches. Without meaning to, Lauren ruins the dress. Lauren’s mom has several solutions up her sleeve because she works hard to understand what Lauren is thinking. You’ll enjoy learning how the parents solve these problems and enlist the help of extended family members. Lauren even begins to make friends with her cousins as the story comes to a close.

If you are ever in public and you see a child having a meltdown, don’t judge. Maybe he is a child who needs more discipline and boundaries, but maybe, just maybe, you are witnessing a child on the Autistic Spectrum. If the child is lucky, like Lauren, she is receiving professional help to learn how to control her inner fireworks and to interact with others socially. In the U.S., where for whatever reason autism is on the rise, we are becoming more aware of autism and learning how to manage its effects better. Not everyone, however, has the money or skills to navigate that system. Also, the intervention is most effective when it happens early, and the changes do take hard work, consistency, and time. Meanwhile, Penguin Days is a wonderful, sensitive tool to help the child with autism and the rest of us to understand how autism plays out on the inside and manifests itself on the outside of the child on the Autistic Spectrum.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Pajama Press (Myrick Marketing) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Children’s Fiction

Notes: 1. Very good illustrations
2. Sensitive book sharing the perspective of both the autistic child and her family.

Publication: January 18, 2019—Pajama Press (Myrick Marketing)

Memorable Lines:

“You’re precious.” “Gems are precious,” I said. “I’m not a gem. But I would like to be an amethyst. They are purple.”

Mom and Dad always say my brain works differently than other people’s brains because I have Autism Spectrum Disorder. They say my different brain is one of the things they love about me.

The barn got really noisy. Mary Lou mooed. Kevin yelled. And somebody was screaming. I lay on my back in the prickly hay. Mary Lou stepped toward me. I curled into a ball, covered my head with my arms, and started rocking back and forth.

Lauren’s Auntie Joss is getting married and that means—a road trip! It also means cows, cousins, and a uncomfortably crinkly dress.

Penguin Days is another delightful story by Sara Leach about Lauren, her family, and life experiences along the autism spectrum. While most kids struggle to express what they’re feeling throughout childhood, this is especially true among children with ASD. In this book, Lauren struggles with not being The Flower Girl, but one of three flower girls. There’s a mishap in the barn with cousin Kevin and a loosed calves. A trip to the mall to replace an itchy (and ruined) flower girl dress is squeezed into the schedule before the big day. There is some confusion surrounding “penguin suits” and Lauren’s misfortune at not being able to wear one; her cousin Kevin gets to wear a penguin suit after all.

The book is full of meaningful and productive dialogue, as well as personalized ways of verbalizing Lauren’s thoughts and feelings that might inspire other families to adopt this helpful practice. Being able to clearly articulate frustrations, likes, or moments when one is likely to “flip their lid” is a foundational piece of communication, and Lauren and her family illustrate this practice well. While on the topic of illustrating well, there’s Rebecca Bender, whose delightful black and white sketch drawings are scattered among the pages. They capture the mood and feelings of each person, especially Lauren, in a refreshingly straightforward manner.

The importance of planning and communication is highlighted in Penguin Days. Right before her flower-tossing trip down the aisle in front of loads of people, Lauren struggles against her “lizard brain,” her tendency to be spun up in times of anxiety or fear. With the help of her relatives, especially the cousins that had treated her unfairly earlier in the week, a plan is hatched to overthrow her brain’s overwhelmed craziness. With a rock in one hand to squeeze out her negative emotions, support from family, and a crowd full of people for Lauren to imagine as penguins, the wedding should go smoothly. Ah, Penguin Days!
(It’s worth noting that Sara Leach’s other book, Slug Days, also features Lauren and her family’s journey with ASD. It’s fantastic as well!)



Thanks to Myrick Marketing & Media, Pajama Press, and NetGalley for the provided e-ARC and the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest, unbiased, and voluntary. #NetGalley #PenguinDays

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A early reader chapter book about a little girl, Lauren, with Autism Spectrum Disorder. There are descriptions of the types of feelings and reactions that Lauren has which I felt were easy to associate with. Things like 'fireworks' in her brain and her insides being 'squirmy'. I think the younger children this book is geared at (kids just learning to read) will be able to appreciate what Lauren feels like in these moments. The lovely illustrations also help demonstrate the idea of a brain that is overwhelmed, or a moment when Lauren is unhappy.

There is a lovely transition from the beginning of the book where Lauren is with some cousins, aunts and uncles who do not know her or understand her; to the end of the book where they are helping her. The ease at which Sara Leach has written Lauren also helps to sympathize with her. Whether or not we as kids, or the children reading the book, would have been scared is irrelevant because we understand how Lauren feels and as the storyteller that is all we really care about.

This is a great introduction for a 5+ year old to start understanding that everyone reacts and feels differently in situations. The one thing we all have in common however is that we like to be special, be loved, have friends and feel included.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Penguin Days
by Sara Leach
Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC

Pajama Press

Children's Fiction

Pub Date 18 Jan 2019


I am reviewing a copy of Penguin Days through Pajama Press and Netgalley:


Penguin Days would be a great book to help your child/Student understand a little more about Autism Spectrum disorder as seen through a little girl Lauren who has the condition and finds herself struggling with the change of traveling far to take part in her Aunt’s wedding.


Lauren struggles with the change her routine and with dealing with her rambunctious cousins. She doesn’t like trying on scratchy dresses or walking up and down aisles, she’d rather be with her best friend looking for bugs.


I give Penguin Days five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

A slice of life of a little girl standing up in a family wedding and how her autism spectrum disorder colors her perceptions. I liked the way her parents showed they understood what she needed, and how she relied on the coaching from her teacher.

A sweet book about 8-year old Lauren who is has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Lauren and her family are driving to North Dakota to attend Auntie Joss’ wedding — they are driving because none of the passengers had a good flight the last time they all flew anywhere. Lauren is to be a flower girl. The trip is challenging in many ways but Lauren gets through it with the help of her extended family and by keeping in mind techniques she has been taught by her special teachers.

A kind of Rosie’s Project or Curious Incident for elementary readers — its a great introduction to what it’s like to have autism and how friends and family can help and support.

Great illustrations too!

Lauren is such a delightful character. She is autistic, autism spectrum disorder, and is very, very literal. If someone says it is time to play ball, and they mean to get working, she will wonder why they aren’t playing ball.

The stories, this is the second in the series, are told from her point of view, so we can see how absurd some of the situations she gets into are.

This is a great way to show how autism is not something to be afraid of, or something to avoid. Her family just knows what works and doesn’t for her, and acts accordingly, and so does Lauren.

The first book in the series introduced us to Lauren, and what she faces trying to make friends. This second book shows how she survives a wedding, where she would much rather be looking at bugs.

Fun, fast read.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.