Новинка для детей: книга о силе нейроразнообразия «Get Lost, Zoomer!»

Attadale author Katina Nadebaum launches children’s book Get Lost, Zoomer! aimed at celebrating neurodiversity First-time children’s author Katina Nadebaum says the release of her upcoming book celebrating the strengths of neurodiversity is “just the beginning” for her. The Attadale resident is at the end of the year-long process creating her debut picture book Get Lost, Zoomer! Nadebaum said the story follows lively squirrel Zoomer, whose “impulsive energy often causes chaos — until those very qualities become exactly what’s needed to save the day”. “The story is for every child who has ever been told they are ‘too much’,” she said. “It encourages young readers to embrace their differences while helping parents, educators and therapists recognise the strengths behind behaviours that are often misunderstood.” Nadebaum was inspired by various neurodiverse family members and through her role as a director with the national non-profit ADHD Foundation and member of the Scope Neurodiversity Advisory Board, but she said Get Lost, Zoomer! was a story for all children. “Through both my personal and professional experiences, I’ve seen how many children spend their days trying to fit into environments that weren’t designed for the way they think, learn, or experience the world,” she said. “That’s why I wanted to write stories that celebrate strengths rather than labels, helping children recognise that the traits that make them different can also be their greatest gifts.” When writing, Nadebaum said she also thinks about how she felt when she was a child, and rather than focusing on labels, the book “celebrates kindness, inclusion and self-acceptance”. “It is designed to make children laugh, spark meaningful conversations, and remind young readers that our differences are often our greatest strengths,” she said. “My hope is that it helps children of all abilities come together through storytelling, building empathy and understanding from an early age.” The former chartered accountant and governance worker knew she wanted to write a book and what followed was “many months” of a collaborative process with various people from editing to design, printing and production, including illustrator Aleksandra Szmidt. “Aleksandra captured Zoomer’s personality from the very first sketch,” Nadebaum said. “She brought warmth, humour, and so much heart to every page, bringing the story to life in ways words alone never could.” “Seeing Zoomer grow from an idea into a finished book has been an incredibly rewarding journey, and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.” Despite the process being a “learning curve”, the mother of one said it was the just the beginning and she was already thinking about her next book. “I’ve always been telling stories, since I was little,” Nadebaum said. “I love the craft of storytelling and the extraordinary power of stories to shape how children see themselves.” “A story can comfort, inspire, spark imagination, and help a child believe they belong. To me, that’s one of the greatest gifts a book can offer.” Get Lost, Zoomer! is available for pre-order at katinanadebaum.com/books and will be released on October 1 via Little Steps Publishing.