Theo Does Not Choose It

Theo is not being funny. He is not doing it on purpose.

Theo's shoulder jumps. His eyes squeeze shut. Sometimes he makes a sound. It is a bit like a sneeze — it builds up, and then it has to come out. When people stare there is more of it. When people laugh there is a lot more. Some days he holds it in all morning, and then gets home and it all comes out at once.

This is book 6 of six. All six are set in the same classroom, 2B, with the same six children. In every other book Theo 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 Theo's own advice: don't stare and don't count them · don't laugh, even if the sound is funny · just carry on talking to him
• 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. Tourette syndrome 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.