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Square Me, Round World: Stories of growing up in a world not built for you
‘Square Me, Round World’ is an illuminating collection of short stories that delve into the distinctive experiences of those who navigate life feeling like square pegs in a world of round holes. From social challenges to sensory differences, this book aims to foster greater empathy, understanding, and a drive for a more inclusive world.Ever felt like a square peg in a round hole? Dive into tales of growing up in a world where you just don’t seem to fit in. From the challenges of making friends and masking your authentic self, to the overwhelm of sensory overload and restless nights, these stories will resonate with those who know what it’s like to feel different.
Written by Chelsea Luker, an Autistic/ADHDer psychologist from NSW, Australia (and founder of Connect Us Psychology) with over 50 illustrations by Eliza Fricker [(c) Eliza Fricker, 2024], renowned author/illustrator of “Thumbsucker” and “Can’t Not Won’t”, this book is more than just a collection of experiences. It’s a beacon of understanding, shining light on common experiences of Autistic and ADHDer individuals. Plus, with a discussion guide, it’s the perfect option for parents, teachers, and therapists seeking to support and connect.
Discover, understand, and embrace the square pegs in our round world. Suitable for children and adults alike, this book is a reminder that different isn’t less. It’s just different—and that’s perfectly okay. In fact, sometimes, it’s brilliant.
Written by Chelsea Luker, an Autistic/ADHDer psychologist from NSW, Australia (and founder of Connect Us Psychology) with over 50 illustrations by Eliza Fricker [(c) Eliza Fricker, 2024], renowned author/illustrator of “Thumbsucker” and “Can’t Not Won’t”, this book is more than just a collection of experiences. It’s a beacon of understanding, shining light on common experiences of Autistic and ADHDer individuals. Plus, with a discussion guide, it’s the perfect option for parents, teachers, and therapists seeking to support and connect.
Discover, understand, and embrace the square pegs in our round world. Suitable for children and adults alike, this book is a reminder that different isn’t less. It’s just different—and that’s perfectly okay. In fact, sometimes, it’s brilliant.
104 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2024
13 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 3, 2024
This books was amazing! I can’t wait to read it with my son. I think it will help him to see the things he struggles with in other kids. The book was completely relatable.
February 15, 2024
A beautiful book of short stories bringing awareness to diversity from social challenges to sensory differences . A book for both children and adults alike and an amazing resource for any family, early learning centre or library. With a discussion guide at the end to bring further understanding that everyone is unique and to value diversity. With illustrations that capture you and words that resonate and provoke further thought. Allowing you to be you and valuing everyone as unique and amazing. A book celebrating your differences and embracing yourself.
April 17, 2024
This is a book that elicits a deep resonance for many individuals, on many different levels. Square Me, Round World is a perfectly formed creation with just the right angles, well-rounded perspectives and completely 3-dimensional characters that will certainly allow readers to see themselves in, or at least, someone they know. For junior to middle grade readers, these seven short stories (and a discussion guide) are written and illustrated in such an easily accessible, friendly and inclusive manner that they will be enjoyed over and over again.
Psychologist, author and mum to neurodivergent children, Chelsea Luker, draws upon her own life experience as an Autistic / ADHDer herself, showing a credible example of the kinds of thought processes, behaviours and sensory challenges that we see in the book. The stories are suitably reflective of neurodiverse children trying to ‘fit in’ when the world around them has pre-defined social, emotional and academic ‘rules’. Not only that, but the tales also incorporate practical yet non-didactic strategies and suggestions for both the individual and their caregivers on suitable management techniques for a more inclusive approach. Square Me, Round World can honestly attribute its success to the notion of its authenticity, resonance and sensitivity, rather than simply being another factual text on the subject matter that claims ‘this is what ‘different’ is’.
Each of the stories introduce us to a new main character navigating a different aspect of living in a ‘world not built for them’. In ‘Feeling Different‘, Oliver is excited to bring his pet dragon, Sophia, to ‘Bring your pet to school day’. His hands dance. His tummy jumps. His toes tap. Until he realises that Sophia is *very* different to everyone else’s pets, and so is Oliver – he is different to the other kids in the class. Oliver doesn’t always understand his friend’s jokes, or the teacher’s instructions, and he can’t always keep still in his seat. But, like the other stories and the other characters in the book, Oliver comes to realise that “different was not bad. Different was not less. It was just different.” Sometimes, if not always, different is brilliant, and this book gives its readers permission to realise that they are brilliant, like the sparkly stars in Chelsea’s dedication. All you need is to find the world that fits best, and other sparkly stars that shine and transform like you.
With the combined playful and heartfelt narrative of Chelsea’s text, Eliza Fricker brings another level of energy, expression and multi-dimensional diversity through her delightful hand-drawn, two-toned illustrations. She ‘brilliantly’ captures the various contexts and associated emotions the characters are navigating in what seems like an ‘unconventional’ world – to them. I love the added pictorial details that support the text, and the flock of owls are especially cute!
The imaginative and eye-opening collection of stories found in Square Me, Round World provide readers with insightful and empowering ways to both acknowledge and embrace differences, but also to draw on their own strengths, tackle challenges, make genuine connections and appreciate their own and others’ authentic selves. This incredibly valuable resource is just the exact neuro-affirmation all the shapes of the world need for a more inclusive and understanding society.
Highly recommended for all school, library and specialist settings.
Psychologist, author and mum to neurodivergent children, Chelsea Luker, draws upon her own life experience as an Autistic / ADHDer herself, showing a credible example of the kinds of thought processes, behaviours and sensory challenges that we see in the book. The stories are suitably reflective of neurodiverse children trying to ‘fit in’ when the world around them has pre-defined social, emotional and academic ‘rules’. Not only that, but the tales also incorporate practical yet non-didactic strategies and suggestions for both the individual and their caregivers on suitable management techniques for a more inclusive approach. Square Me, Round World can honestly attribute its success to the notion of its authenticity, resonance and sensitivity, rather than simply being another factual text on the subject matter that claims ‘this is what ‘different’ is’.
Each of the stories introduce us to a new main character navigating a different aspect of living in a ‘world not built for them’. In ‘Feeling Different‘, Oliver is excited to bring his pet dragon, Sophia, to ‘Bring your pet to school day’. His hands dance. His tummy jumps. His toes tap. Until he realises that Sophia is *very* different to everyone else’s pets, and so is Oliver – he is different to the other kids in the class. Oliver doesn’t always understand his friend’s jokes, or the teacher’s instructions, and he can’t always keep still in his seat. But, like the other stories and the other characters in the book, Oliver comes to realise that “different was not bad. Different was not less. It was just different.” Sometimes, if not always, different is brilliant, and this book gives its readers permission to realise that they are brilliant, like the sparkly stars in Chelsea’s dedication. All you need is to find the world that fits best, and other sparkly stars that shine and transform like you.
With the combined playful and heartfelt narrative of Chelsea’s text, Eliza Fricker brings another level of energy, expression and multi-dimensional diversity through her delightful hand-drawn, two-toned illustrations. She ‘brilliantly’ captures the various contexts and associated emotions the characters are navigating in what seems like an ‘unconventional’ world – to them. I love the added pictorial details that support the text, and the flock of owls are especially cute!
The imaginative and eye-opening collection of stories found in Square Me, Round World provide readers with insightful and empowering ways to both acknowledge and embrace differences, but also to draw on their own strengths, tackle challenges, make genuine connections and appreciate their own and others’ authentic selves. This incredibly valuable resource is just the exact neuro-affirmation all the shapes of the world need for a more inclusive and understanding society.
Highly recommended for all school, library and specialist settings.
August 19, 2024
Love! This book is a powerful one for neurodivergent (esp autistic and ADHDers) kids to read and see their experience of the world reflected and validated. It’s a collection of short stories with cute illustrations that reflect a variety of ND experiences that kids may see themselves in. ND adults too are likely to find reading through these very lovely and healing. I think it is also a great book to read with neurotypical kids to give them an idea of different ways some of their peers experience the world. It’s simple, beautiful, and so relatable.
March 1, 2024
I love Eliza’s illustrations, although in this book the stories are so emphatically written from more of the kid’s point of view and I think helps adults to understand some of the differences and difficulties.
“Different isn’t less. It’s just different - and that’s perfectly okay.” ❤️ especially when your Vegemite toast is cut just the way you like it!
“Different isn’t less. It’s just different - and that’s perfectly okay.” ❤️ especially when your Vegemite toast is cut just the way you like it!
March 22, 2024
Square Me, Round World is a great book packed with short stories to help a wide age range of readers understand and build awareness around autism.
Chelsea illuminates that being different is not bad & that everyone is unique and special and that “sometimes different is exactly what we need”.
A beautiful with stories that are easy to connect to.
Chelsea illuminates that being different is not bad & that everyone is unique and special and that “sometimes different is exactly what we need”.
A beautiful with stories that are easy to connect to.
June 22, 2024
This is just wonderful! I hope every nevrodivergent child is read this book, together with the people around them, parents, teachers, caregivers... Actually, I hope everybody reads this book! It is marvellous!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 1, 2024
Can’t recommend this book highly enough! My 8yo keeps reading it on repeat and he talks about the short stories all the time 🥰 thank you!!
April 10, 2024
I highly recommend this book. It is a quick way to understand neurodivergent friends and I have forwards some onto people that will really benefit from it.
April 22, 2024
What an incredible book! This resonated with our son instantly! Such a powerful message and so beautifully written. All schools should have this and actively use it with all children
November 25, 2024
I didn’t realise this was a kids book when I bought it, but it was great all the same 👍
November 17, 2024
Book review - Square Me, Round world by Chelsea Luker, illustrated by Eliza Fricker.
The book is wonderfully illustrated throughout by Missing The Mark
I read the book with my 6 year old and it couldn't have been better timing. As she asked about a school friend who is now home-schooled and this book gave me something she could relate with to make it easier to explain.
I would say the book is good for ages 6 to tweens. At the back there is a useful guide for parents and some prompting questions you can use whilst reading each story.
Each chapter an affirming short story that will help children to understand themselves. Each is short enough to hold your attention. Anyone would think the book was written by an AuDHDer. (It is).
The book can be read in around an hour so I read it in one sitting with my little one entertained throughout.
It does a great job of showing how everybody is different and that different is ok!
Another book that amplifies the importance of finding your “flock”. How finding your neurokin is so important.
It also covers masking and burnout in such a simple way in two wonderful short stories. I found the one about masking extremely useful in explaining it to my 6 year old! Although at first she did think it was a literal mask
The book is wonderfully illustrated throughout by Missing The Mark
I read the book with my 6 year old and it couldn't have been better timing. As she asked about a school friend who is now home-schooled and this book gave me something she could relate with to make it easier to explain.
I would say the book is good for ages 6 to tweens. At the back there is a useful guide for parents and some prompting questions you can use whilst reading each story.
Each chapter an affirming short story that will help children to understand themselves. Each is short enough to hold your attention. Anyone would think the book was written by an AuDHDer. (It is).
The book can be read in around an hour so I read it in one sitting with my little one entertained throughout.
It does a great job of showing how everybody is different and that different is ok!
Another book that amplifies the importance of finding your “flock”. How finding your neurokin is so important.
It also covers masking and burnout in such a simple way in two wonderful short stories. I found the one about masking extremely useful in explaining it to my 6 year old! Although at first she did think it was a literal mask
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews