Common Sense Media Review
By Angela Zimmerman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Upbeat rhymes tell amazing tale of scientist with autism.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE GIRL WHO THOUGHT IN PICTURES: THE STORY OF DR. TEMPLE GRANDIN explores the life of an esteemed animal scientist whose early life was fraught with difficulty. As a young Boston child diagnosed with autism, she was easily overstimulated and couldn't relate to other kids or daily challenges. She didn't speak a word until she was 3 years old, but she was able to visualize thoughts and feelings through her ability to think "in pictures." Other kids were mean to her because she was "different," and she ended up getting kicked out of school for throwing a book at another student. Life wasn't easy -- until her mother sent her to live with family on a ranch out West. There she discovered she had an innate ability to connect with animals and understood their behavior in a way no one else could. For the first time in her life, she was encouraged by her talent and unique mind, and she conceived of new ways of working with livestock. She ultimately was able to harness her unique gifts, and today is a leading researcher and lecturer on animal science.
Is It Any Good?
Told in playful rhymes and with whimsical cartoon-like illustrations, this is a wonderful account of an inspiring woman. It offers a relatively candid look at what it can be like to live with autism and can help kids empathize with those who have learning and developmental difficulties. A note at the end of the book from Dr. Grandin herself is a great addition, reminding kids that The Girl Who Thought in Pictures is about a revered real-life scientist.
A handy section in the back titled "Fun Facts and Tidbits From the Author's Chat With Temple" breaks down some of her notable accomplishments and anecdotes in paragraph-length bites. One describes the 2010 HBO movie about her life staring Claire Danes. The illustrated timeline with photographs, as well as an "About D. Temple Grandin" section that details her story in more depth, help older readers and adults gain a deeper understanding of her life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Dr. Temple Grandin's early life as shown in The Girl Who Thought in Pictures. What kinds of challenges did she face as a child diagnosed with autism?
What do you think it means that Grandin "thought in pictures"? How did that contribute to her ability to connect with animals on a deeper level than most other people?
Do you know any kids or grown-ups whose brain works differently than yours? What can you do to connect with them?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Daniel Rieley
- Genre : Biography
- Topics : STEM
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : The Innovation Press
- Publication date : August 29, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 5 - 10
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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