On slug days, Lauren feels slow and slimy. She feels like everyone yells at her, and that she has no friends. Today there is a different bus driver; Dan and Sachi are sitting in Lauren's seat on the bus; and Lauren's teacher interrupts her reading time. It is definitely a slug day. But not every day is like this. On butterfly days, Lauren makes her classmates laugh, or goes to get ice cream, or works on a special project with Mom. Lauren has Autism Spectrum Disorder (an umbrella term that has included Asperger Syndrome since 2013), and she sees the world differently from many people. Sometimes this makes Lauren want to flip her lid, especially at school, where she learns differently from her classmates. But with support and stubbornness and a flair that's all her own, Lauren masters tricks to stay calm, to understand others' feelings, and to let her personality shine. She even manages to find common ground with her sticky, slobbery baby sister. Best of all, being different gives Lauren insight into the insecurities of the new student, Irma. Award-winning author Sara Leach writes Lauren's endearing story with empathy and humor, sending her flying off like a butterfly into a new chapter of life with a new friend.

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Fiction - Junior category by the Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award. It was recognised by the Books about Autistic Mighty Girls. It also was recognised in the Best Books for Kids & Teens category by the Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards. It was recognised in the Ages 3-5 Years category by the Usbby Oustanding International Books. Also it was recognised in the Schneider Family Book Award category by the American Library Association Awards. It was recognised in the Children's Novel category by the Chocolate Lily Award. It was recognised in the Books Promoting Autism category by the Huffington Post Book Awards. It was recognised by the Horn Book Award. Presented annually since 1967 by the Boston Globe and Horn Book Magazine for excellence in childrens and young adult literature. This honour is granted in the three categories of Fiction and Poetry, Non-fiction, and Picture Book.

There are 120 pages in this book. This is a chapter book. Publishers market early chapter books at readers aged 6-10 years. This book was published 2020 by Pajama Press .

Author/Illustrator Rebecca Bender is best known for her award-winning Giraffe And Bird books. Her other publications include How Do You Feel? and Peach Girl (illustrations). Rebecca graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design with the medal for illustration and is now an art director and designer. She lives in Burlington, Ontario, with her husband and two children. Author/Illustrator Rebecca Bender is best known for her award-winning Giraffe And Bird books. Her other publications include How Do You Feel? and Peach Girl (illustrations). Rebecca graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design with the medal for illustration and is now an art director and designer. She lives in Burlington, Ontario, with her husband and two children. Sara Leach hails from Whistler, BC, where she loves to ski, hike and bike. Her middle grade novel Count Me In won the Red Cedar Book Award for 2012/13. In addition to being a children's author, she is also an elementary school teacher-librarian. She has had the privilege of teaching several amazing students with Asperger Syndrome (now classified under Autism Spectrum Disorder), and her experience working with them inspired Slug Days. Author/Illustrator Rebecca Bender is best known for her award-winning Giraffe And Bird books. Her other publications include Slug Days, How Do You Feel? and Peach Girl (illustrations). Rebecca graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design with the medal for illustration and is now an art director and designer. She lives in Burlington, Ontario, with her husband and two children.