Abstract

In this tale we meet a child sitting alone, feeling unable to join in with the other schoolchildren having fun in the playground. Feeling frustrated and lonely, the child's emotions build up until they form a bubble around them, separating them entirely. Who can help the child?

Suddenly a White Rabbit appears, who presents easy and playful ways to get the child to express their feelings. Each time the child says what they like and don't like, it helps to create a hole in the bubble, opening the child up to the wider world.

Through delightful illustrations and photographs, this picture book helps children who struggle with social isolation find a way to communicate with those around them. It can be read by children themselves or with adults as a learning tool, helping children learn to express their feelings through the use of visual communication cards.

Nice new tale written for children on a tricky subject - identifying things you like doing. Robin has a lot of confusing emotions and plays on his own. He doesn't really understand what he likes to do. That is until the White Rabbit comes along and helps him with a simple technique. Good for primary aged children.
AuKids

While using picture cards and symbols is something that I use as part of my child counselling toolbox, I think Robin and the White Rabbit will prove an excellent starting point to the activity of counselling itself. Consequently, I shall look forward to commencing one of my child counselling sessions with this book, and utilising the reading part of the session as a gentle introduction to the therapeutic process itself.
Once the child client has heard Robin and The White Rabbit's story, I am sure they will enjoy making their own activity cards and allocating them to the appropriate facial expression card. With this in mind, I think that 'Robin and the White Rabbit' and I will do well together in helping to heal autistic children... I'm sure it will work wonders!

Elaine Nicholson, Action for Asperger’s
This delightful, delicately illustrated picture book will prove a boon to teachers and parents who want to communicate better with children who find putting their feelings into words difficult. Lovely as well as useful.
Elizabeth Schlenther, HealthyBooks.org.uk
Emma Lindström is a preschool teacher working with children with special needs. Åse Brunnström has an Master of Education in Visual Arts and Design.

In my opinion, the book uses a simple way to show children, parents and school staff how to engage with children who have an autism spectrum disorder, and helps in overcoming some of the barriers to communication. The story also offers a tool for children who have autism to use in playground situations with friends, so that they can feel more confident in joining in. The simplicity of the wording and illustrations make the book inviting, and the use of the white rabbit makes it an enchanting story.
I think that this is a good buy for school libraries' SEND section and for parents to read with their children.

BACP Children & Young People
Touchingly simple and straightforward and all the more effective because of that, it's a gentle education for all of us - adults, siblings and youngsters on the spectrum - in the power of visual communication.
Brian Attwood, author of Make Your Own Picture Stories for Kids with ASD

Children with autism have powerful feelings but often can't find a way to express how they feel. Now here's a book that offers those who work with ASD youngsters a means of helping them.
Many of those who work with ASD children will be familiar with the use of pictorial symbols to facilitate communication but this picture book deals specifically with helping youngsters understand and express their feelings... Emma Lindström and Åse Brunnström offer a very useful and empowering tool that can be used in school or at home; there's no judgement involved; and the final explanatory pages speak directly to the listener (via Robin) and the reader aloud (via the book's creators, Emma and Åse).

Red Reading Hub, Jillrbennet's Reviews of Children's Books

This charming book is a poignant reminder that children with Autism feel intensely, but are often unable to give voice to their feelings.
The sadness and loneliness felt by Robin, resonates through the stark illustrations.
We long to help, but are left floundering in the silence.
Leading us on a journey from despair to joy, we are shown a way to unlock Robin's inner thoughts and feelings.
A powerful therapeutic tool for young and old.

K.I.Al-Ghani Specialist Advisory Teacher, University Lecturer, Autism Trainer and International Author of books on ASD
A structured way to support primary school aged children with communication difficulties, especially those on the autism spectrum, in the expression of their feelings... not a 'story book' in the conventional sense, but cleverly introduces the picture card system, using an illustrated story.
Youth In Mind
What's fantastic about this book is the ideas don't come from a 'grown up' but from the child's friend - a white rabbit, making children more likely to engage with the suggestions... Helps children to realise they aren't alone in finding social situations difficult. Including the child's difficulties as part of a story helps to normalise them.
Special Educational Needs Resources Blog
I was quite impressed with this book as it was both creative and inspiring... Åse Brunnström and Emma Lindström have both done a wonderful job at writing this story as they show what autism is like and how you can help anyone who has autism express their feelings more clearly... Overall, "Robin and the White Rabbit" is a truly cute and inspiring story that would be great for parents and teachers.
Rabbit Ears Book Blog
This will be extremely valuable information for parents and teachers, and will enable the child to use a new form of communication. The story also includes themes of friendship, encouragement and affection, and can be used to explain the world of autism to typical peers. The messages and implications of this book could be written in many hefty volumes. The great value of this little story book is its brevity, and eminent accessibility to adults and children alike.
From the foreword by Tony Attwood, The Minds and Hearts Clinic, Brisbane
Robin and the White Rabbit will enchant children with its delightful illustrations and sweet story of courage and friendship whilst giving educators a valuable tool to help children understand and express their thoughts and emotions.
Kathy Hoopmann: Author of All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome, All Dogs Have ADHD and All Birds Have Anxiety