Too Sticky!: Sensory Issues with Autism

by Jen Malia, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator)

Holly loves doing experiments and learning new things in science class! But when she finds out the next experience is making slime, she's worried. Slime is made with glue, and glue is sticky. Holly has sensory issues because of her autism and doesn't like anything sticky! With help from family and her teacher, Holly receives the accommodations and encouragement she needs to give slime a try.

Genres: Picture Books, Disability, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Stem

32 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2020

About the author

An autistic mom of three autistic kids, Jen Malia is the author of the children’s chapter book series The Infinity Rainbow Club and the picture book Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism. She is Professor of English and Creative Writing Coordinator at Norfolk State University. She has written for or appeared on the New York Times, the Washington Post, New York Magazine, NPR, Parents, Glamour, Woman's Day, and others. She has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Southern California and is pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Originally from Pittsburgh, she currently lives with her husband and three kids in Virginia Beach. You can find her on her website JenMalia.com

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly is worried about making slime at school. Will it be too sticky for her? How can she find a way to do the science she loves without having to touch something that makes her squirm?

This is a story to help others gain more understanding of those on the autism spectrum, especially for girls on the autism spectrum, based on the experiences of the author and her daughter.

[Audrey | WellReadandUndead(ish) · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were aspects of this book that I really liked but the ending left me very disappointed.

What I liked:
-Representing autism in girls
-Normalizing sensory issues with specific examples
-Portrayal of a supportive family
-Showing how sensory issues can cause anxiety and how to calm oneself
-Advocacy for accommodations
-Illustrating how communication can look different for autistic people

What Fell Short:
The author writes that both she and her daughter are diagnosed autistic. Due to societal pressures, girls and women are more likely to mask, mimic behaviors, and change their own behaviors that are deemed “odd” or “rude” to appear normal. Because of this, girls and women are often not diagnosed and don’t receive the support they need. The author wanted to write a story that gives representation to such an under diagnosed group, which is much needed.

While the author had some accurate portrayals, I was disappointed by how the story ended. I don’t know that it was intentional and it probably wasn’t meant to be harmful, but because the main character’s parents, sister, classmates, and teachers all encouraged Holly to touch the slime that she so feared the texture of, Holly did. This “overcoming” and “triumph” is often celebrated as not letting something hold you back; however, what I saw and fear we do to children too often—whether autistic or not—is invalidating their fears and pressuring them to do something.

This pressure/encouragement is often done out of kindness, knowing the child may actually like something if they tried or “preparing the child for the world”, but it can be damaging to teach a child over and over again to disregard their feelings because adults (or a large enough amount of people) have said that you shouldn’t feel that way and/or just do the thing anyways. Moreover, in this specific story, this external pressure bulldozes over the point I think the author wanted to make about respecting differences and allowing people to live in this world the way they were built to.

If it were important to show how a child with sensory issues can overcome a fear, it would’ve been a more powerful message to depict the child making the decision for themselves from an internally motivated desire (like Holly being a little scientist and liking experiments) as opposed to doing so largely because of social pressure (the teacher specifically saying that a scientist should touch her experiment). I think it’s especially hurtful to perpetuate these subtle messages to girls because they’re already taught to mold themselves according to others rather than themselves, which is doubly true for autistic girls who are taught to mask at a young age.

I say all this not to write off the book as terrible, because I think there were some truly great parts. I say it as an autistic woman who has experienced and seen how seemingly innocuous, “positive” pressure can have far reaching impacts. Maybe the story ended with Holly touching the slime because the author was taught growing up that that was the only acceptable outcome. I want more people to see that Holly can “touch” the slime and still be validated and respected as a human who needs and deserves accommodations. It means being a little creative and a little patient…like putting the slime in a ziplock bag that Holly can poke at until she feels comfortable and curious enough to touch it without a barrier, whether that’s an hour later or days/weeks/months/years later. Cultivating a love for the world and its wonders and overcoming one’s fears doesn’t happen overnight.

[Merry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I appreciate that this book has been added to the dearth of youth materials featuring autistic kids. It's even written by a late-diagnosed autistic parent with an autistic child! That being said, I really have a huge problem with the way this book presents accommodations and dances around a child's right to autonomy while quietly reinforcing ABA practices that violate consent and are harmful to autistic people.

1: The child expresses a disinterest in participating in an activity she feels will trigger her sensory issues. She clearly expresses this emotion to trusted adults. This activity is not important. It is not related to her health or safety; it is not a graded classroom assignment where she will be judged pass/fail on performing this task. It's just a slime day at school. I don't know why your kid isn't allowed to say no to slime days!!!! Your child deserves to decide when to consent! They're not any less deserving of bodily autonomy because they're autistic.

2: Sensory issues are not restricted to autistic kids. Plenty of NT kids have sensory processing issues or particular stimuli that are upsetting to them. That's normal and human.

3: WHY isn't your kid allowed autonomy over these low-risk activities? She expressed a disinterest in engaging in this activity. Just say okay and give her something else to do. You don't need to coerce her into complying by telling her "it's not that bad! Just do it!" She likes slime; she likes watching the other kids make it and understands why and how it works. SHE JUST DOESNT WANT TO TOUCH IT SO DONT MAKE HER. If the whole reason you MADE her touch the slime was to prove to her that it was okay and desensitize her to this stimuli... buddy that's ABA therapy and I have bad news for you about how autistic people feel about that. If she touches it and doesn't like it, it's harder for her to communicate that distress to others, especially in a stressful environment where she may feel pressure to comply because she wants praise from teacher and parents. Bad vibes all around.

"How can she find a way to do the science she loves without having to touch something that makes her squirm?" Well, the lesson at the end of the book is that this kid can't be trusted to know her own limits. They also offer her 'accommodations' like washing her hands (AFTER she's done the thing) instead of like... gloves.... a popsicle stick to stir with.... partnering her with another kid and letting her watch.... lots of other ways to accommodate kiddos and make sensory-friendly spaces everyone can enjoy. I did not appreciate the messaging of this book and will probably not be recommending it, in favor of the few really cool books on our shelves, like "Why Johnny Doesn't Flap".

https://autisticscienceperson.com/why...

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book and her daughter both live with autism and sensory issues, so this book is brimming with authenticity. It tells the story of a little girl, Holly, who is anxious to go to school, where they'll be making slime in science class. As someone with sensory sensitivities, I could relate to Holly's struggles. As the first picture book I've seen dealing with sensory issues, I'm excited to see this one! It deals with the issues with compassion and understanding, so that even children without these particular struggles will have a better understanding by the end.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Own Voices story about a young girl with Autism. She doesn't like sticky things so is dreading the class science experiment that day - making slime. With support from her family and teacher, she successfully navigates the experiment. She discovers she can handle touching the slime and be accepted for who she is.
The author's note share information on Malia's own life.

[Rajani LaRocca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Own Voices story offers insights into the life of a girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and her dislike of sticky things. Holly experiences the world differently from her neurotypical family and peers, and her sensory issues make her worried about making slime in science class, even though she loves science. This book tells the story in a gentle and nonjudgmental way, and shows how Holly, her family, and her teacher all use strategies to help her conduct the experiment and find she enjoys it after all. The art is vivid and makes the green slime almost ooze off the page.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up for Book Riots 2021 Read Harder Challenge- to complete the challenge of reading "a children's book that centers a disabled character but not their disability."
Holly is autistic, but the story in Too Sticky! is not about her autism. Rather, the story focuses on a science experiment that Holly is nervous will feel too sticky to be enjoyable.
I found that the book made it clear how Holly was different from the other children in a respectful manner. The writing framed Holly's experiences clearly, not hiding her reactions (like groaning and stimming) nor over-explaining the reasoning behind her anxieties about Slime Day. Nobody "corrected" Holly on her aversion to slime, but rather gave her options so she could choose how she wanted to interact with the slime (if at all).
I thought the book was enjoyable- the pictures were bright and fun and there was even a recipe to make your own slime!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was good and I appreciated it. I think this would be wonderful to read to children.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very honest and direct look at autism sensory issues. Would be good for classroom use. **Copy provided from publisher for an honest review.**

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very good story idea, and written well.

[Felicia Gist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Sticky! - Sensory Issues with Autism is a book about a little girl named Holly who didn't like to touch sticky stuff. Holly loved pancakes and syrup for breakfast; however, she didn't like when the syrup touched her hands - too sticky she thought. It was time for Holly to go to school after breakfast, but she didn't want to go because she remembered that she was making slime in her Science Class today. Holly was so stressed about making slime; she thought everything looked like slime. As she passed pine trees in the car to school, they looked like they were covered in slime. Holly's anxiety was still high when her mom took her to her classroom. Holly's mom explained to her Teacher, Miss Joy, that she doesn't like things sticky on her hands and could she provide soap and water for Holly's hands during the Science experiment - Miss Joy agreed. Holly felt at ease knowing that her Mom and Teacher supported her anxiety toward slime. Before Science Class, Holly imagined everything was covered in slime. At lunch, she imagined her green jell-o resembled slime. She also imagined the monkey bars having slime on them during recess. When it was time for Science Class that afternoon, Holly's Teacher knew that Holly had sensory issues, and she didn't want to touch the slime, so Miss Joy had the class to mix the slime with popsicle sticks. After the experiment, Miss Joy and two of Holly's classmates (Isabella and Nick) encouraged Holly to touch and explore the slime. Miss Joy provided soap, water, and paper towels for Holly. Miss Joy took the advice of Holly's mom and provided those things. Holly's mom taught her to breathe as a self-calmig technique. She took a deep breath and touched the slime - she liked it and thought it wasn't as bad as she thought. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who encounters a child with autism that have sensory issues - just embrace their anxiety and work through it. Teachers and Parents should be partners through the child's journey toward success. Parents should advocate and support their child with special needs; therefore, having the support will reassure their child that everything's ok and will help them have the confidence to explore new things.

[Lovell Peak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Sticky is a story about a little girl named Holly who struggles with sensory issues that contribute to her challenges of being a child with an autism spectrum disorder. The plot of the story describes an experience that Holly overcomes on one particular day at school with she is faced with the phobia of touching an object that is sticky, which vexes her sensory issues with sticky textures. The story encompasses specific challenges that Holly faces daily such as her disdain for loud noises. Although Holly likes school and participates in science class, she dreads touching sticky objects. After the teacher makes accommodations for Holly, she attempts to work with the science experiment of making slime. Once Holly pushes through her fear of touching sticky objects, she discovers that slime is not sticky at all. This story helps children to discover what it feels like to succumb to certain phobias that can be associated with autism.

The genre of the book is a fictional story that is based on real-life experiences of children with an autism spectrum disorder. The book shows developmental appropriateness for children because it depicts a short story that children can relate to such as participating in science experiments at school or eating pancakes for breakfast. The book has several components that make it a quality picture book for children. The story facilitates an exciting plot that makes the story fun for children while simultaneously, exposing them to an unfamiliar concept. The illustrations keep children engaged because it depicts slime throughout the story, which sparks the interest of most children. The book considers the culture of the autism community of girls who experience these sensory issues daily. Cultural considerations are made when the characters use phrases that depict the culture of children with autism such as "Use your words", and "Loud noises hurt!" The story takes an in-depth look at the effects of autism and ways to conquer its challenges.

[Melanie Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

TOO STICKY is such an important book for teachers, parents, and children. With sensitivity, it depicts the challenges that a child with autism faces every day. Getting ready for school is tough for any child, but getting through breakfast with the sensory overload of sticky syrup and too much noise at the kitchen table while also dreading a slime-making activity at school, is almost overwhelming for a child with autism. The author does a wonderful job helping the reader feel what Holly’s feeling. And we see strategies that Holly has learned to cope with overload, like taking deep breaths, using the words she’s been taught, squeezing a stress ball, and communicating with a teacher when a school activity is challenging. The sweet illustrations convey all the different feelings Holly is experiencing. For a child with autism to see herself reflected in a book like this is very empowering. And it’s important that though Holly is autistic, it’s not her defining feature in the story. She’s also a thoughtful sister, a budding young scientist, and a helpful friend to classmates. Those around her, like her classmate who shoves his slime-covered hands at her, become more mindful of how others want to be treated. With a lesson of empathy and interesting science components (a slime recipe is included at the end), this is a wonderful book to share with anyone, and a particularly useful book for teachers to use for read aloud and discussions.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is condescending from the very start!

Young Holly has SPD and Autism. She doesn't like the feeling of sticky textures. When she's in distress from having maple syrup on her hands and tries to express her need to clean her hands, her mom steamrolls her with "Use your words." and "ask nicely."

When Holly is able to articulate that she's also nervous about an experiment at school to make green slime, her sibling tries to talk her out of her feelings - "But you love science class!"

Holly is able to enjoy the process of making the slime and stirring it with a stick, but still doesn't want to touch it. Her teacher guilts and pressures her with, "Shouldn't a scientist test her experiment?"

Other students in class are curious and kind to Holly, but everyone else in her life including trusted grownups disregard her feelings and preferences and push her to do something she has clearly expressed she does not want to do.

Holly has one accommodation - soap and water at her desk to wash her hands after touching the slime. (My six year old pointed out, wouldn't all students be asked to wash their hands after handling slime?!) There's a serious lack of empathy, respect, and creativity here. Could Holly have skipped the experiment? Could she have partnered with a classmate and observed their slime without touching it? Could she have worn gloves to touch the slime without feeling the texture on her skin?

This is a huge miss.

[Qing Zhuang · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Too Sticky” is a much needed mirror/window to the experiences of children with autism or sensory sensitivity. It follows Holly through her day in nervous anticipation of making slime in science class. She loves science but sticky textures throw her off. She eats breakfast, goes to school and chats with her friends like a typical child but she subtly employs different tools to get through her day. She practices what to say and remembers to make eye contact, she takes deep breaths or squeezes her stress ball when she feels anxious. With support from her family and her teacher, she is able to learn and have fun with making slime. Writer Jen Malia reveals at the end of the book that she was diagnosed as an adult with autism along with her 2 year old daughter. How wonderful that Malia has created such a charming book that casts light on such an experience. Illustrator Joanne Lew-Vriethroff did a lovely job with her clean and expressive line work. What a great pairing of words and imagery. What an important message!

[Suzette Pereyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book recommended on https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021... for inclusionary books for students. I listened to it on YouTube.com. I really like how this book portrayed Holly, the student with Autism, as a real person. In order to deal with her difficulties with looking people in the eye, saying 'Thank you," and touching sticky things, she uses strategies taught to her by her parents and teacher. She tries to remember to use the strategies, but she also keeps a stress ball in her desk in case she gets nervous. I think classes or grade levels with a student with autism would benefit greatly by listening to this book and discussing it together in a non-threatening way. It could really help them to understand their autistic classmate, and perhaps some of their feelings could also be compared. You don't have to be autistic to find it difficult to look people in the eye or remembering to say, "Thank you." All students would benefit from this book.

[Mary Copp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sensitive and eye-opening Own Voices story about the reality of living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and sensory issues. Holly doesn’t want to go to school the day the class will be making slime. Slime is too sticky! While much of Holly’s life and routine seem perfectly normal, the way Holly experiences the world around her is quite complex. Told in a sensitive and straightforward manner, this is an engaging story and the reader is easily captivated by this child’s moment to moment experiences – her fears and struggles, the encouragement from a supportive family, a sensitive teacher and good friends and her learned behavior that helps her cope.
The illustrations are colorful and engaging. And some are slimy!

A thoughtful Author’s note explains the Jen Malia's and her daughter’s experiences with ASD and sensory issues. An explanation about girls and autism is particularly relevant and insightful.
And added bonus: A slime recipe at the end!

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids love slime – most of the time. But for some kids the idea of touching slime is unsettling. I think many kids, both with and without sensory issues or autism, can relate to Holly, the main character in TOO STICKY: SENSORY ISSUES WITH AUTISM by Jen Malia and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. Even though she loves science, Holly is intimidated when it is slime day at school because she doesn’t like to touch sticky things. But with support from her parents and teacher, and through her own determination, Holly is able to cope with her anxiety and do the experiment. I like how this #ownvoices book portrays Holly and her world in a realistic light. It would be a great book on the shelf in any classroom or library – both to help children with autism see themselves reflected in a story, and to help neurotypical children (and adults) understand some of the sensory issues that kids with autism face. The book also touches on the science of slime and includes a recipe in the back.

[Anna Crowley Redding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. Gentle, steady, and revealing. In a super relatable story, readers (and their grown-ups) find out first hand what it is like to experience the world when you have sensory challenges like Autism. What I love most about this book is the deeply supportive environment that empowers the main character to face her fear-- a class project of making slime. The tools she uses to handle the stress and anxiety she's experiencing, the tools she uses to connect with others...could all be easily adopted by readers. This book accomplishes empathy and world-broadening without being preachy or heavy-handed. In fact, your young readers may not even notice that after reading this book, they just witnessed how they see the world reflected in this beautiful book or they learned how other people see the world. And as a bonus, there is a slime recipe in the back. Believe me, TOO STICKY deserves a spot on your bookshelf.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fictional story that incorporates important information AND examples of the ways in which atypical-neurosensory processing (on the autism spectrum) can affect daily life, and also ways in which girls with this pattern may vary from the larger percentage of males with this diagnosis or these patterns. The challenges are portrayed very organically within family routines, as are the ways in which the girl and her family and school friends model constructive and supportive ways to remind and n encourage her to give things a try.
The author note at the back adds value in the first person narrative and sources suggested.
This could be very welcome for families and classrooms in which a member struggles with atypical beuroprocessing, but also in settings in which no one is identified as such. It is a very well-told story to foster both empathy and models of specific ways to speak and act in support of anyone with differences from our own.

[Meaghan Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book won the Golden Kite Award. This book was about a little girl who struggled with sensory issues, communication with others, and anxiety. She was worried about making slime at school, but once accommodations were made for her, she ended up playing with the slime and actually enjoyed it. The print content is important because it discusses one of the forms of sensory issues, communication, and anxiety through a child and how they react to it. It is important for educators to be aware of these things as well as other students. This book can be utilized in a science classroom as well as a special education classroom. There is a science lesson about the ingredients used to make slime, and why the ingredients used are necessary. It also shows some of the struggles some students go through, and it raises awareness to those struggles.

[Sarah Rizk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book for parents of children with sensory issues. As someone who doesn't have sensory issues, it can sometimes be easy to overlook or just not understand how traumatic it can be for kids/other people to deal with those things that make them uncomfortable. In this story, we see a child stress all day long about not wanting to touch sticky slime. So, not only were they struggling with the slime itself, but they were on edge all day long, worrying about how it was going to feel when they eventually did have to touch it. My son loved the pictures, and as a parent, it made me stop to think about how much of a struggle certain things are for my son, like wearing sandals or eating scrambled eggs, and this gave me more of an understanding of how I could look at those types of things more from his point of view.

[Lindsay Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This "own voices" story presents a story of a girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder — rarely acknowledged in children's books — who dreads her class assignment of making sticky slime. The main character, Holly, finds a creative workaround that helps ease her fear, all with the help and creative adaptations of the compassionate adults and peers in her life. This is a great book for showing kids what it's like to live with ASD (without ever calling it that) and also showing readers who don't have ASD great examples of inclusivity. The STEM layer about the science of slime, plus a recipe, as well as a heartfelt author's note. Illustrator Joanne Lew-Vriethoff's simple lines accentuate the emotion of the story.

[NoNieqa Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This #ownvoices book can be employed in a second grade science curriculum as much as it can be a beautiful centerpiece in a discussion on empathy and understanding autism. Beginning with breakfast and the main character's feelings about sticky pancakes, the writer grounds the story in familial love and support, and in particular, sibling love and support. The narrative, seamlessly weaves the main character's feelings and perceptions about the sensory challenges she experiences, her journey as a budding scientist, and the actual science involved in the slime experiment. All readers will benefit from the message that with the love and informed support of our family, educators, and community and time, we can work through personal challenges.

[Cynthia June Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done.
Too much text to be a picture book.
Nice illustrations; African-American teacher.
Holly is worried about making slime in science class, but Mom arranges for the teacher to allow her to wash her hands, and the teacher encourages her to try touching the slime. First, Holy observes that the slime doesn't stick to a classmate's hands, so she touches it. She has fun, washes her hands, and has a good day and information to share with her family that evening.

Yes: plot arc.
She both does and doesn't solve the plot conflict herself. She doesn't because the teacher has to encourage her, but she does because she watches a classmate first and decides to try.

Albert Whitman
c 2020

[Marissa Bonham]

This book explores the sensory challenges faced by a young child with autism. The main character finds certain textures and sensations to be overwhelming. The book helps children understand how sensory processing issues can affect someone with autism, offering the readings with insights into their experiences and struggles. This story teaches children the importance of empathy and understanding of those who have sensory issues, promoting inclusivity and kindness. I can use this book in my future classroom to help my students better understand sensory processing challenges and autism. I can also use it to teach children how to be supportive of others who may have different needs or sensitivities.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has two layers, making it a perfect classroom read. Written by Jen Malia, a woman diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and sensory issues, it provides an accurate window into the world of a child living with ASD/sensory issues. The book also complements the STEM curriculum, depicting a slime experiment and including a slime recipe in the backmatter. Joanne Lew-Vriethoff's illustrations of the slime experiment are wonderful especially if students can't do the experiment themselves. This is an excellent read for all students, hopefully helping children understand their classmates with ASD and sensory issues.

[Larissa Marantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Sticky! This wonderful Own Voices story told by debut picture book author Jen Malia is a perfect book for anyone unfamiliar with autism to help them understand what it's like to have sensory issues and to have challenges with things that neurotypical people take for granted. More importantly, children with autism will be happy to see themselves reflected in Holly who is able to manage her anxiety of having to make sticky slime in her class at school. Parents and teachers alike will appreciate this book as it will give them insight to the children with autism in their lives and will hopefully allow them to interact with them in ways that are comforting and compassionate.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Sticky! is an #ownvoices book about how children on the Autism spectrum experience sensory issues during everyday activities. The book sensitively conveys coping mechanisms that girls (who are diagnosed at a lower rate than boys) might use, knowingly or unknowingly, to mask when they are having sensory overload. The adults in the story are sensitive advocates for the main character, who also learns how to cope with a sensorially-challenging slime experiment.

I'd love to see this book used in mainstream classrooms so that all kids can gain a better understanding of their neurodiverse peers.

[Kelly Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Syrup, slime, stickiness, and science combine as an autistic main character navigates a day where the school science project calls for creating a sticky green pile of slime. Holly loves science but she doesn’t love to get her hands dirty. Author Jen Malia artfully shows Holly reacting to loud noises, working on eye-contact, practicing polite conversation and using a green stress ball. This is a wonderful day-in-the-life story of an autistic child and a great addition to school libraries as we encourage children to understand each other. And bonus – you get a slime recipe on the last page! Now everyone can get sticky with Holly – just make sure you have soap and water handy!