How to Build a Hug: Temple Grandin and Her Amazing Squeeze Machine by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville, illustrated by Giselle Potter. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2018. $18 9781534410978
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
This book follows to path of Temple Grandin’s life from being a young kid until her time away at school. Temple didn’t like loud noises or bright lights or the feeling of hugs as a child, although she did want to be held. Some of the things she did like included wrapping herself in a swing and being covered in couch cushions. Through several experiences, including watching babies be swaddled and working on a farm and learning about the squeeze chute for cows, Temple realized she could be a machine that would be soothing to her and feel like a hug.
This a thoughtfully done biography of Temple Grandin’s sensory issues and her hug machine. The book includes additional information in the back about this portion of Temple’s life. A small part of me wanted the book the be explicit about what a breakthrough this was for understanding autism, but the gentle nature of the text may be more impactful to kids as they are able to make the connections themselves.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
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