My Friend Julia: A Sesame Street ® Book about Autism
Sesame Street Series
on Goodreads (42)
What’s inside...
Meet Julia! Julia is an autistic girl who loves art and her family. Join Elmo, Abby, and the rest of the Sesame Street crew as they introduce Julia and all the things that make her special.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Julia feels when she does things differently from her friends?
What are some special qualities or talents that Julia has?
Why is it important to be patient and understanding with our friends?
How can we help our friends feel comfortable and included when they're with us?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings and thoughts about Julia’s experiences, relating them to their own friendships.
Highlight the importance of embracing differences, discussing how everyone has unique traits that make them special.
Use examples from the book to talk about empathy, and how understanding others' feelings and perspectives is valuable.
Prompt your child to think about ways they can be a good friend to others, just like Elmo and Abby are to Julia.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and acceptance of differences
Explanation: The book introduces Julia, a character with Autism, and showcases how her friends learn to recognize and appreciate her unique traits.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by embracing peers who might seem different, promoting an inclusive environment at school and in play areas.
Example Lesson: Adaptability in social interactions
Explanation: The story demonstrates that Julia sometimes reacts differently in social settings, prompting her friends to find new ways to engage with her comfortably.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to adjust their interactions to better include others who may have different social needs, fostering empathetic communication skills.
Example Lesson: Celebrating individual strengths
Explanation: Julia has remarkable skills in certain areas, such as art, which her friends admire and celebrate.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to recognize and commend the varied strengths of each individual, enhancing their ability to value everyone's unique contributions.
Example Lesson: Patience in relationships
Explanation: Julia's friends show patience as they learn the best ways to interact with her, understanding that sometimes interactions need to be adjusted for everyone to feel comfortable.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of patience and understanding in building strong and respectful relationships.