Why Does Izzy Cover Her Ears?

Meet Izzy, a feisty first grader, whose behavior is often misunderstood as she tries to cope with sensory overload in her new surroundings. This brightly illustrated book creates an environment that is accepting of students with sensory modulation difficulties, including many on the autism spectrum. It's a great resource for occupational therapists, teachers, and parents to share with children. Resources for adults at the end of the book include definitions of sensory processing and sensory modulation disorder, suggested discussion questions, and lists of related books and websites.

Jennifer Veenendall is a school-based occupational therapist in West St. Paul, Minnesota. She works with students with a wide range of abilities and is especially passionate about creating learning environments that meet students' individual sensory processing needs. Jennifer received her occupational therapy degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her master's in human development from St. Mary's University of Minnesota. She lives in Hudson, Wisconsin, with her husband, Scott, and their two children, Anna and Benjamin. When she is not working, Jennifer enjoys spending family time at their cabin as well as drawing and painting.