~ Jon James
A Bar Harbor teenager is using the power of storytelling to help young readers better understand what it’s like to navigate school as a child with autism.
At just 15 years old, Aleyna Joseph has written and self-published her first children’s book, Pink, Purple and Brave: Allie’s Big Kindergarten Day. Inspired by her own experiences, the story follows a young autistic girl named Allie as she faces the excitement and uncertainty of starting kindergarten.
Aleyna said she wanted to create the kind of book she wishes had existed when she was younger.
“When I was Allie’s age, I couldn’t find children’s books with autistic or neurodivergent main characters,” she said.
Through Allie’s journey, Aleyna highlights some of the challenges autistic students can encounter in the classroom while encouraging understanding, acceptance and inclusion.
Her mother, Jennifer Joseph, said watching her daughter transform personal experiences into a published book has been both surprising and inspiring. Jennifer, who currently holds the Ms. Maine Ambassador title, said Aleyna’s willingness to share her story is something she hopes will make a difference for other families.
Rather than keeping those early memories to herself, Aleyna chose to turn them into a resource that could help children, parents and educators better understand life from an autistic student’s perspective.
Pink, Purple and Brave: Allie’s Big Kindergarten Day is available for purchase through Amazon.
Latest Local Central Maine News
