The first sign of Saturday morning was the whisper of pages that came from Goldie’s bedroom. The whooshing page turning sounded a story’s beginning, middle, and end that captivated Goldie long enough for me to drink my morning cup of tea. Stories for Goldie were visits to the house of the five little monkeys, a picnic with Little Bear and friend, or a night on the phoroscaent sea. Storying for Goldie was life learning on the spectrum.

After an hour, I heard the door pop open. Goldie hopped out ready for the day.

“Hungry for breakfast?” I asked.

Goldie didn’t answer. She went on downstairs and began to play with her brother.

I peeked into her room. There was a mountain of books on her bed. The sagging mattress surely lost its spring . Nearly every book had been pulled off the middle shelf and arranged just so on the top of her bed. I loved children’s stories so, it didn’t take long for a whole bookshelf to be full and then overflow. I had hoped that Goldi was story girl just like I was. The stack of books on a sagging mattress, proved my wish came true.

I eyed each book spine and learned more about where Goldie had been in the wee hours of the morning.

Five Little Monkeys by Ellen Christelow. The perfect reminder of bed time routine. Bathe, get pajamas on, brush teeth, and … then jump on the bed! Routines were like a promise for Goldie. They should never be broken. They provided security and developed a sense of independence. Mundane as some are they must be done each day. Cute little monkeys taught her to smile, laugh, and pepper a routine with joy.

The Big Red Barn and Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. Goldie knew that the world was big but hidden inside were small but important discoveries just like finding a little pig learning to squeal in a Barn or a picture of a cow jumping over the moon.

Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Ratham. Goldie always kept a watchful eye on that Gorilla. Just like she does when she sees someone who is doing something that stirs up a question inside. She learned to be observant and notice things that some overlook.

Pancakes for Breakfast by Tommie DePaulo. Goldie spoke gibberish. It was a foreign language no one could understand. But wordless book helped Goldie develop language she held inside for some time. And one day, she could say things, things that should be said, with feeling. Things said during a climatic moment that demanded attention. After the dog and cat spoil the old woman’s pancakes, Goldie learned what to say in such climatic moments: “Oh No! What a mess!” She did and it was always appropriate for her to say so.

Make Way for the Ducklings by Robert Mckloskey had a bright yellow cover. The pages were filled with life like illustrations that moved. I knew Goldie’s favorite part was not when the ducks crossed the street. But when officer Mike went to make a phone call to tell another officer to be careful the ducks were on their way. It was also when Mrs. Mallard waddled with an extra little wiggle. Goldie smiled and rested on both pages. Her look told me that she felt like all was well and right with the world. Sometimes she needed to know that and still does.

Officer Buckle was Goldie’s hero. She knew his rule making talent was useful. She knew it before anyone in the entire Napville School. Perhaps she knew she had talent. The world might be slow to recognize it. But it was there. It still is.

I wondered if Goldie would ever have some really truly friends. Amos and Boris gave me hope. All along the phosphorescent sea, underneath the sky glittered with stars, there was an unexpected friendship. A whale and a mouse would be the best of friends. Even if they would only be present for a very short time, it would be a forever friendship. Goldie patiently waited through the sophisticated vocabulary just because the words sounded so important. But also because they helped speak of a longing she had – a true friendship.

It was Little Bear that taught Goldie how to play. She didn’t know anything past putting dolls to sleep. But then, she was jumping in puddles, fishing with a tree stick, and stirring up cupcakes. All because of a fun, curious, little bear, whose friends knew to play because playing was living life at that age. Little Bear helped Goldie rest in times of play. She had not known the world of play for so long. Reading this story, finally helped her realize she was born to do it. after much ignorance of the fact that she was born to do it.

Stories for life on the Spectrum are not just any stories for Goldie. Just like for any reader, we pick up or put down a book for reasons only we know. But for Goldie, these are some that changed her. They are now a part of her life and always will be.

As she’s lived life on the spectrum, Goldie holds these stories dear. They taught her, shaped her, and helped her become who she is and who she will be later after more book mountains, more storying, and more living.