Kinyarrow Press announces the release of a playful picture book that promotes safe play and exploration for children, in particular those who are neurodivergent with high support needs. Ayden Stays Safe, written by Z.Z. Özra, features a boy and his dog on their daily adventures as they learn aboutdangers and risks and how to avoid them.

Özra says, “The book was inspired by my autistic son who does not understand safety. So I created a whimsical style story that turns risky and safe play into an illustrated adventure with simple wording that he and other children like him can understand.”

In the story, Aydin is a sweet boy who loves adventures, especially when it’s with his best friend, Sam the poodle. But sometimes his love of exploring and curiosity can be dangerous when he isn’t safe. Aydin sees the world differently, and he learns differently, too. He might put things in his mouth to understand them better, like a flower. His love of animals means he might approach a strange dog, even when it might not be friendly like Sam. This isn’t safe for Aydin. But with the help of his trusty canine companion, and his parents, of course, Aydin learns what is safe to do and why it is important. Being an adventurer is fun…and tiring!

Families and educators of young children will delight in this impactful story featuring a character that will resonate with the neurodiverse community and will be a wonderful tool to open a dialogue with others. Ayden Stays Safe is the debut title in a planned series featuring the same characters experiencing other diverse challenges.