Ada al contrario
(Ada upside down) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
As a baby, instead of crying like “Wah, wah,” she screamed, “Ee-oo, ee-oo.” She slept during the day and stayed awake at night. Her father would lay her down in her crib and she would lift herself up. He would lift her up and she would want to lie down. She called her father “mommy” and her mother “daddy,” and as she grew older, she even began to walk backwards. Ada’s story lightly touches the theme of Asperger’s, a form of autism, and does so by emphasizing the aspect of freedom and the right to be accepted in one’s diversity. This is a theme that can involve all children regardless of their own unique characteristics. A gym teacher is going to teach her a trick to live in harmony with others while remaining herself.
Edited by: Centro MeTRa - Università di Bologna (Italy)
Comment:
“Ada al contrario” is a picture book that tells the story of an unconventional little girl who does everything “backwards” by following her own nature, with delicacy, irony, and profound emotional intelligence. Without ever explicitly mentioning Asperger’s syndrome, the book addresses the theme of diversity as uniqueness, emphasizing the importance of acceptance, empathy, and the right to be oneself. Francesca Buonanno’s illustrations accompany the text with liveliness and lightness, contributing to a story that entertains, makes you think, and invites you to reconsider what it really means to be ‘normal’. A book that speaks to young and old alike, promoting a multiple and inclusive vision of childhood and humanity.