Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down

by Lindsey Rowe Parker, Rebecca Burgess (Illustrator)

This is a story about sensory differences and how some children experience their world, told from a child's perspective.

The vibration in her feet when she runs, the tap-tap-tap of her fork on the table at mealtime, the trickle of cool water running over her hands—these are the things that calm her jitters down.

This book is for anyone who has ever felt the need for a wiggle, stomp, or squeeze!

"Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes playfully validates the unique sensory experiences of children, written from their own perspective. I'm excited for every kid that will see themselves in this beautiful book!"
—Mark Loewen, Author of What Does a Princess Really Look Like?

"I have worked in special education for 12 years and have not come across a book that explains these jittery feelings until now. This book will capture the hearts of families and children with unique needs as well as educate those unfamiliar with sensory differences."
—Bridget Martinez, Special Education Teacher

"I often find myself trying to explain to parents why their child needs wiggles, stomps, and squeezes to get through their day while experiencing sensory input in ways that are different and often more intense. This is the first book I have come across that provides a very real glimpse into the lived experience of a child with sensory differences. What a wonderful book that so many families can benefit from!"
—Caitlyn Berry, Occupational Therapist

Genres: Picture Books, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Childrens, Disability, Fiction, Mental Health, Family

50 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[bohemianrhapsodyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this children’s nonfiction book because it tells us from a child’s perspective how they process their senses and what sensory perception means to them. Sensory perception means something different to everyone. This book helps explain some unique ways that children process their senses. And I think that everyone can benefit from this information.

I just reviewed Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down by Lindsey Rowe Parker. #WigglesStompsandSqueezesCalmMyJittersDown #NetGalley

[BookTrib.com]

Parker’s book is a triumph in depicting sensory sensitivity, and is an indispensable teaching tool for classrooms and educators everywhere. It’s clear that her representation of a neurodivergent child with heightened sensory needs comes from a place of caring and understanding.

Ultimately ... it's a celebration of individuality and the unique ways we all experience our world.

Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/08/10/a-cel...

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet book about a young girl with autism, who uses wiggles and stomps to calm down her nerves. It provides a close look at how her heightened senses make getting dressed, eating a meal, and playing on the playground a different experience for her. Sometimes she gets overwhelmed, but she uses a hum, or a hug, or a tapping to help her calm down again.

What a beautiful book! I love the sweet characters, and the funny writing style. It makes the whole story really fun and relatable.

The illustrations are really cute and colorful! I love the jumping action on every page, and the sweet expressions on the character's faces.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is glowing with excitement for the VOICE this book gives to children and families familiar with sensory learning differences! Vivid colors and interesting and dynamic illustrations help readers understand better what life may feel like through the eyes of another. I can't wait to share, read, and discuss this with my library community.

[Maddy Addison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes explains sensory-challenged children’s behavior

Posted on May 7, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator, book reviews with a twist

I wasn’t sure if Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down, by Lindsey Rowe Parker was more appropriate for me as an adult, children, or those who display this behavior set. Honestly, I suspect this book is good for all those groups, and probably more.
Forgive me if I mangle this terminology. This review is coming from a non-teacher, non-health professional.
Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down portrays a child-sized definition of what it is like to be inside a body with sensory differences.
Though jitters are common in folks of all ages, having an extreme case of the jitters and the compulsion to run, tap, touch, twist, and squeeze, like this boy, can sometimes be misunderstood.
But through the eyes and voice of this small child, and his mother, readers can explore what that particular behavior set is like for some people, why it is important for those with his mindset to feel the of dipping their feet into the cool water, the process of tapping three times on a surface, or running out that jittery feeling when necessary. It is all a part of how they interact with the world.
In this book, Mom is a person who understands the special needs of her son. Sometimes, he needs to run. Other times he needs to tap. And other times he needs to remove his shoes. He doesn’t know why he needs to do these things. He is just compelled to do them.
This character also experiences extreme distress at his inability to wash his hands clean of the soil that rests on his skin. He responds with an upset, exaggerated, and severe reaction to a simple problem other people would solve with more soap. But this sensory-challenged boy cannot process his dirty hands in a way commonly acceptable. So mom, who is trained to identify and assist in these situations, takes over and helps her special son find peace and calm once more.
Another aspect of this book I found illustrative of what it feels like to be sensory-hyper aware was that its text is run together, most words in a sentence are missing a word space, and some word letters overlap with the letters in place before it. When I first opened this book, I thought I was experiencing a software glitch. Then I realized the text was presented in that manner purposely to show readers how a child with special needs might see the same world.
All in all, this was a very moving five or ten minutes of reading that introduced me to a new way to understand and tolerate behavior and actions I do not fully understand.
Wiggles, Stomps, and Jitters is a title that belongs in libraries and classrooms. Teachers, at some age, might do very well to introduce mainstream students to what it feels like to approach life in a way different from their own.
I give this BQB title a thumbs up, a winner’s circle blue ribbon, a bronze statuette of the thinking man pondering why he was unaware of what was behind the seemingly bad behavior of certain children. And I deem this title an “I” for an “important” read for all ages. Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes will make a difference to everyone who reads it pages.

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Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wiggle, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down was such an eye opener for me when thinking of a few of my students who have sensory differences. What I loved about this book is that it explains the girl gets this feeling that she can't explain but she needs to do certain tasks to help calm her jitters. Often we don't understand the students feelings when they are overstimulated and we try to control them from running or stomping, and this isn't helpful for their sensory overload.
As stated in the article, Building on Windows and Mirrors: Encouraging the Disruption of "Single Stories,"Through Children's Literature" children have a right to books that reflect their own images and books that open less familiar worlds to them" (Bishop, 2012, p. 9) So often students with hidden disabilities do not get to see themselves in books. They see children who don't have any disabilities. I love this story because it is showing a mirror to my students who have those hidden disabilities and allowing to see their disability in a book. There are others who have a hard time calming their jitters down as well. I will use this book in my class to show my students with the sensory differences its okay and help them problem solve their sensory overloads. I would also like to use this book to teach my students to have sympathy for their classmates and not see them as the student who is always screaming or running around but to show them that sometimes they just can't control that feeling they get.

[Paige Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores sensory differences and the perspective of the character and her sensory differences. The vibration in her feet when she runs, the tap-tap-tap of her fork on the table at mealtime, the trickle of cool water running over her hand — these are the things that calm her jitters down. The main character is the girl and the setting is the places she is at throughout her day and experiences. The illustrations remind me of pop art and are engaging. They show the emphasis of the sensory input that bothers the girl with the bold letters and emotions and then the jitters and actions that help calm her down. I like how the author used a lot of sound effect dialogue to tell the story! This is a great representation of sensory differences and children who can get sensory overload or overstimulation. As someone who, at times, gets overstimulated I totally could relate to this! I do not have autism, but I have dealt with over stimulation, sensory overload, and perfectionist habits throughout my life, and I know students can relate to this character and find ways to relate their feelings during the day to this character, so peers and the teacher can better understand why someone might react to pen marks on their hands or wet socks from walking inside the school in the rain!

[Jeanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the child that cannot seem to control the wiggles, stomps, and squeezes. Sensory can be a big deal for children and can cause frustrations and anger. Parents have problems dealing with a child that suffer from over sensory issues. It is good for both child and parent to have a better understanding of what is happening and how to deal with it where the frustrations and anger can result in a better emotional well being for everyone.

The illustrations are sensory friendly and the wording is simple to convey.

A special thank you to BQB Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Jandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey Rowe Parker, in her story, was able to present, and explain perfectly the reasons why children with Sensory Processing Disorders do what they do and why those behaviors are necessary to them, as scratching a tickle is necessary to you. You will see all kinds of examples of what a child with sensory differences go through in a day. A great story, a great book, and a great tool to help parents and Educators understand why Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes are needed and provide whatever is necessary to calm the Jitters.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for the e-ARC of this book.

This book will be an important one in many school and home libraries. It not only helps students identify some of these wiggly feelings, but helps adults understand that these aren't the behaviors of "difficult children", but of children who are struggling with something around them.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and BQB Publishing for a free digital copy for my review.

This book provides great perspective into the mind of someone who has different sensory needs. I loved the explanations that are given in language kids can understand and the excellent illustration that is paired with the text.

[Kenzie Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I think all educators should read it. This book teaches about and normalizes sensory differences among individuals. Stimming should not ever be seen as a disrespectful or innapropriate behavior. This book can help educators and students understand others who may process the world differently than they do.

[Luisa Zhuravleva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book insightful when it comes to the experiences of having autism. The descriptions of sensory overload are accurate and eye-opening. I found it sweet how the mother humming and rocking the child made the child feel better sensory-wise. I find it interesting how people on the spectrum live in a world of sensory experiences as described in the book.

[Mrs Heidrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to show kids how sensory issues affect some of us and to be able to talk about differences in how we experience different things. This could be a wonderful conversation starter. This would be an amazing book for representation and to allow some children to be able to see themselves in some ways as well!

[Brittany Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book about the way this child processes sensory information and his need to wiggle, stomp, and receive hugs to calm down. It's a great way to help children with processing disorders be seen and to teach others about what it feels like. The illustrations are also fun!

[Andrea Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book about how one person calms their jitters down. The language rhythm was a little off to me, but this could be a great resource for people who need to understand someone who calms themselves in a different way.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A child's perspective and descriptions of different ways she feels when she has the jitters, and what she does to get rid of them. I thought this book was a great way to add a tangible, physical description to what a child may be feeling when they can't actually put it into words.

[Debbie Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. It brought tears to my eyes. This beauty gives an inside peek into the experience of neurodivergence and inspires empathy. A wonderful addition to social work toolkits and school libraries.

[Cynthia]

I liked the book because of the illustrations as they were very accurately representing what the girl in the book was feeling. It was nice knowing that the author who wrote this is diagnosed with ADHD and isn’t simply writing out of assumptions of what living with this is like.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Joni Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about a child dealing with sensory disorders! The illustrations are so cute. The illustrator is an autistic artist. I think this would be a wonderful addition to any library.

[OjoAusana · Rating 5 out of 5]

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Really great book, i've never read anything like it and this would have been such a great book to have as a child!

[Vj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might be good for some children with autism; others might not want to be touched. Just saying.

[Lindsey Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for SPD kids (and their parents)

Such a touching story with helpful messages. Helps people not familiar with SPD understand what individuals go through daily. Loved it.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very empathetic picture book about getting overwhelmed. Although not explicitly stated in the story, the main character (and author!) are autistic.

[Kathleen]

Neurodivergent Content: MC has sensory processing issues/sensory seeking behavior - author has ADHD, illustrator is autistic

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

a young child who likes things a certain way and wants to move all the time goes through their day explaining how they feel. elementary and up

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent read for those kids who struggle to sit still. I liked that it didn't have a 'magic fix' just some helpful tips.

[Ashley Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fabulous book about regulating sensory needs! The characters use strategies to calm themselves and appreciate what makes them unique!

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really a 4-star children’s book, but I’m a sucker for normalizing neurodiversity. Here’s to all the ADHD and ASD kids that might read this book.