Laila has her sunshine and unicorns-themed birthday party all planned out. Her and her mom have even created a party schedule so that Laila knows just what to expect. But–oh no! The party was supposed to be outside, and now it’s raining!
Samantha Cotterill’s It Was Supposed to Be Sunny explores how, for children on the autism spectrum and/or with sensory processing difficulties, even fun things like birthday parties can be deeply upsetting and overwhelming when unexpected changes pop up. Throughout the story, we see the strategies that Laila uses to stay calm and enjoy herself even when things don’t go the way she expected– from taking some quiet time to calm down with her service dog, to adjusting her written schedule, to reminding herself that she has dealt with unexpected changes before and can do it again.
Caregivers and children, neurodivergent and neurotypical alike, will see themselves represented in It Was Supposed to Be Sunny’s diverse cast of characters, and the story can help non-autistic children build empathy and understand why things that feel small to them can feel so hard for their autistic peers. Unlike many stories featuring autistic children which center on how their autism makes things difficult for people around them, It Was Supposed to Be Sunny center’s Laila’s experience. Instructional, inspiring, and authentic, this is a wonderful pick for parents, caregivers, and child care providers.
--reviewed by Athnie