Do you know anyone with Selective Mutism?
We do, a beautiful little girl that William adores
This story, Call Me Lion
By Camilla Chester
Has really helped me to understand SM more
And it is a book I think that all teachers
And educators should read
A book that all children would enjoy
It is a story of great courage
Sensitively shared with love and warmth
It is a story of the power of friendship
Of quietly facing up to bullies
Of quietly finding creative ways
To do the things that you long to do
When you are too scared to talk

Not all lion’s roar
Leo is a quiet lion
But though he is not loud
He is enormously brave
And I know that anyone
Who reads his story
Will fall in love with him
And be in tears by the end of this book
It is brilliant and beautiful
A way for young readers and their grown ups
To begin to understand what Selective Mutism is
And how it affects children’s lives

Leo loves to dance
He dreams that one day he will perform
In The Lion King

We join Leo during the school summer holidays
He is off to dance camp
Just Jive
And his selective mutism is putting his place
In the dance show on the line

Leo does not speak
He wants to
He physically can speak
But fear and anxiety hold him back

When Leo makes friends with the girl next door
He knows that their friendship can only be temporary
How can anyone be friends with a boy who can’t talk?

But his new friend, Richa, is different
She is patient and kind
They love lots of the same things
Including Patch the dog
And dancing

Also, Ricah has a secret of her own
Leo realises that she might need him
Just as much as he needs her

With the support of Leo’s siblings
Can they make their friendship work?
Can they help each other?
Can Richa and Leo’s friendship
Become permanent?

You will have to read this gorgeous story
Filled with love, kindness and empathy
Set in a summer heatwave
Against a soundtrack of funky disco beats
To find out

It is the perfect summer read x