Who Am I?
Written and illustrated by Janette Nakoa
“Like you, and different at the same time.”
Meet Nico — curious, funny, full of energy, and a boy who notices things other people miss. In his own words he shares what he loves (music, science, comics, sports, popcorn) and what is hard for him (loud noises, new textures, focusing, patience, writing). When he breaks his mom's vase, Nico learns to stop, think, then act — and discovers how his parents' patience, a plan at school, and teachers who understand him help him grow. The book closes with four "Who am I?" questions that invite young readers to describe their own traits, likes, struggles, and the people who support them.
About this book
Who Am I? is a self-portrait, spoken by the child himself.
Nico does not explain his diagnosis and the book never names one. He simply tells you what he loves and what is hard, in the same breath and with the same matter-of-factness — which is exactly how children describe themselves before adults teach them to rank the two.
The turning point is small and ordinary: a broken vase. What follows is not a punishment but a strategy — stop, think, then act — and the quiet demonstration that Nico’s growth is a shared effort. His parents are patient. His school makes a plan. His teachers understand him. He is not fixed by anyone; he is supported, and he does the growing himself.
The final page turns the book around and hands it to the reader: four questions asking who they are, what they love, what is hard, and who helps them.
Who it is for
Children and the adults reading with them — parents, teachers, counsellors, and therapists looking for a book that describes a neurodiverse child from the inside, without pity and without a lecture.
Book details
| Reading age | Baby to 12 years |
|---|---|
| Grade level | Preschool and up |
| Pages | 24 |
| Format | Paperback, full colour, gloss laminated |
| Trim size | 8.25" × 8.25" |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-963465-10-5 |
| Publisher | School of the Holy Spirit |
| Published | August 31, 2026 |
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