It's Raining Cats and Dogs

Gr 3 Up—Idioms, metaphors, and other figures of speech are often taken literally by children and adults who are on the autism spectrum. Barton, a highly functioning young adult on the spectrum, explains pictorially how he sees these common phrases and how he has come to deal with figurative language. The book is helpful for both those on the spectrum and the neurotypical people who surround them. There are excellent, clear explanations for how and why these sayings are confusing. Simple line drawings clearly show the literal interpretation of each phrase. The meaning, in nonfigurative language, appears under each picture. The book could be used in many ways with all children and would make a nice companion to Peggy Parish's "Amelia Bedelia" books for elementary school children. The foreword by Barton's mother as well as the introduction by the author also give helpful explanations and background, making the book more accessible to a wider audience.—Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD