Emil Has an Engine

Emil is not being naughty. He is holding his breath.

Emil's body has an engine in it, and the engine does not switch off. He knows what he is supposed to do. He just cannot find it among all the other sounds. When his teacher asks him to sit still, he tries — and it feels like holding your breath.

This is book 1 of six. All six are set in the same classroom, 2B, with the same six children. In every other book Emil is just someone in the background. In this one, you see the world from the inside.

What is in the book

• 14 illustrated spreads, written for children aged 6 and up
• Short lines and simple words for children starting to read alone
• A page of Emil's own advice: say one thing at a time · don't get mad when he interrupts · ask him to run somewhere with you
• A page for the grown-up, with three questions to talk about afterwards

How it works

The diagnosis is never named in the story. The child simply tells you how the world feels. ADHD is explained on the last page, for the adult reading along.

Instant download. EPUB for e-readers and tablets, PDF for everything else. Both files included.