I will always love books that provide children with characters to see themselves in, with relatable experiences. It's Me, Henry is just such a story. The illustrations are delightfully enchanting, as well.

This is a good story. Henry is different from the other kids and it makes him sad.
Orca Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on March 15th.One thing Henry is good at is plants. He even knows their Latin names.

When the class goes to visit the botanical garden, he's excited. He even gets to help with the presentation. Suddenly he's got friends and life is better.

I love simple stories that bring a light and important message. It's me Henry is exactly like that, the author shows how Henry sees himself and how children react to his behavior. The way he compares people to plants and his love for them.

A wonderful story for children and adults.

5/5 stars

This book is about a smart, adorable little boy named Henry, a boy on the autism spectrum. He behaves differently from his peers. He forgets to raise his hand in class and shouts out answers causing a disruption in the classroom. On a positive note he is a genius when it comes to naming plants. He even knows their proper Latin names.

He finds solace at recess time under a big Salix Babylonia ( willow tree ) at recess while the other kids are playing games together. He likes the peace he finds in the school counsellor's office, a place where he feels safe and accepted. His most favourite place to be is in the local botanical gardens where the staff even know his name and appreciate his knowledge.

One day the class takes a school trip to the gardens and it's there that Henry shines. His knowledge of all the flora and fauna astound his classmates and they realize for the first time how smart and unique Henry really is.

This is a wonderful story of acceptance and friendship. It points out how differences should be celebrated by others. The beautiful watercolour illustrations are tender and touching and full of emotion. I love the heartwarming message and highly recommend this book. It would be a wonderful book to include in a classroom setting and especially in a school library.

A sweet -- and beautifully illustrated -- book about being yourself. Henry is a neurodivergent kid that just doesn't fit in, until his classmates see him in his favorite place in the world. So sweet!

This is a subtle, gentle introduction to a neurodivergent young boy and his experiences, both positive and negative, at school. No explicit labels are given and the things that happen to him at school (impulse control issues, social issues with classmates, overwhelm, etc.) are handled very matter-of-factly and are balanced with more positive things (an understanding school counselor, a field trip to an environment where he's comfortable, a classmate reaching out). The overall tone is realistic but hopeful.

The illustrations are soft and lovely (they look like gorgeous, detailed watercolors), and complement the story nicely. This would probably be best as an adult-led read for early elementary kids. The messaging is probably a bit too subtle/oblique for pre-K, but, with guidance, first and second graders could benefit from the story and the questions that it could prompt.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

This is a lovely, gentle book about a child who's a little bit different.

School is not always fun for Henry. Sometimes he's so excited that he knows the answer to the teacher's question that he forgets to raise his hand. He doesn't like the noise at recess, and sometimes he just wants to be alone. But when the class takes a trip to the arboretum, Henry really gets a chance to shine.

The soft watercolors by Geneviève Desprès are the perfect accompaniment for this tale.

This book will be out in March of 2022. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this one.

Absolutely beautiful illustrations! The writing was really nice and I thought the story was quite cute. I think it was too wordy to be used for a story time book, and as a librarian that is something I look for in kids books. Either way, I really thought this was great and can see myself suggesting it for purchase for my library!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved, loved, loved the art in this book. It fit perfectly with the story and was so appealing. The story was pretty wordy, so it would definitely be for older kids, 1st grade and up.

3.5

This was a sweet story about Henry who is autistic and his day to day life as a child! We see him going to school, go on a field trip and just do daily mundane activities.

The art in here was super cute and had a unique colour palette that I thoroughly enjoyed flipping through. I definitely recommend this one!

I do want to note though that I am not autistic so I cannot speak on the representation and if it is accurate or not. Please seek out own voices reviewers for this!

4/5⭐️

This tale evokes emotions, teaches empathy, and shares the struggles of one little boy with autism. It is heartfelt and touching. Beautiful watercolor style images capture the attention of readers with earthy tones and pastels that connect to the characters love of plants and nature.

Henry is a little boy who loves plant names. Unfortunately, his friend Daisy prefers he use her name instead of calling her Leucanthemum vulgare. Henry has autism and the book explores some of the challenges he faces at school, from blurting out answers to fixating on subjects. This book is a great way to expose students to some of the behaviors they may see out of autistic classmates and explain some of the unique ways they see the world. It is a way to teach some empathy for someone who may be a little different. Henry is a delightful character with a big imagination. He is funny and quirky, using snorkel gear in the bathtub to explore the "ocean," but he also has deep feelings and seeks connection with others. He feels lonely and isolated from his classmates, as many children with autism often feel. They are excluded because of their differences and a lack of understanding about how to include them. One of the most poignant moments was when he sat far away from the playground at recess because the noise hurt his ears. The kids noticed him sitting alone again and just left him be, half assuming he liked it that way and also thinking he was a little weird and odd. Sometimes not understanding how autism can effect a child, makes other students less aware of why they do certain things. That uncertainty can lead them to just ignore a child with autism instead of working to include them. Henry visits his favorite place, The Botanical Garden, with his class. There, he is able to share his knowledge and passion for plants with his class. He really gets to shine and his classmates get to see that.

My heart equally broke for poor Henry, as much as it swelled with joy for him through the book. I was instantly emotionally connected to him and wanted to reach in and wrap him up in a hug and tell him how wonderful and valued he was. The book was inspired by the author's own son who has autism. Everyone has their own unique talents, is special in their own way and children with autism are no different. Learning how to be a good friend to someone who may need a little extra care is an important life lesson for children. They can learn to respect all differences, learn to adapt to someone's needs and treat everyone with fairness and equity.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This cute picture book is about a very smart boy named Henry who often struggles although he is extremely smart. He loves trees and eventually is able to share his love of them with his classmates.

It's Me, Henry by Stephanie Deslauriers is a wonderful picture book that introduces readers to the titular character, a young boy on the autism spectrum. Henry struggles to connect with his peers, but possesses a very special knowledge of flora and fauna. When his class takes a field trip to the botanical gardens, it is Henry's time to shine as he shows his classmates some of his often hidden talents and, in the process, teaches them, and himself, that being different and unique is truly special.

Beautifully illustrated by Genevieve Despres, this lovely book will be a wonderful addition to any home or classroom.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for an ARC.