I'm Here

Written and Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
(Atheneum, Simon & Schuster, August 2011)
Hardcover, 32 pages
For all ages.

I'm here.
And you're there.
And that's okay.

But…

maybe there will be a gentle wind that pulls us together.
And then I'll be here and you'll be here, too.

Pure, powerful, and deceptively simple, best-selling author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds reminds us that children — and the friendships they make — can take flight in unexpected ways. With a strong anti-bullying message, I'm Here teaches children to stand up for others who may not seem to belong. 

Take a moment to view the short film version of I'm Here, with original story and art by Peter H. Reynolds. The film movingly conveys the loneliness that a child on the autism spectrum often experiences, and the life-changing impact each of us can have when we reach out and embrace them. FableVision Studios created the film for SARRC (Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center). The film includes a powerful musical score by Ruth Mendelson.

Praise for I'm Here

“Eloquent, fanciful text and illustrations that sparkle with clarity combine to perfectly portray a solitary boy’s flight of imagination ... this was written with autistic children in mind but encompasses a wider subject; any child who is isolated, introverted or simply self-contained will find something of him- or herself to recognize and appreciate here... an excellent selection, replete with warmth, originality and the promise of good things to come.”

- Kirkus Reviews
STARRED Book Review