Written by 
Above: “Ty the Dinosaur and the Substitute Teacher” book cover, authors Marcus Tallberg and Jill C. Faulkner.
Download 300dpi book cover
More about Tallbergs Förlag and a list of current and forthcoming North American titles here.
Contact: Andy Reynolds at andy@popularpublicity.com
What’s it Like to be a Kid with Autism? In New Children’s book, a Cute Dinosaur Explains
Children’s book shows kids what life is like for a classmate with autism
World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2021
Ty the Dinosaur has autism. He doesn’t like change. Today when Ty arrives at school Ty gets angry because the usual teacher is sick, but a kind principal teaches him a neat trick.
– Back cover text from the “Ty the Dinosaur and the Substitute Teacher”
Download press release text WORD | PDF
“The story in this book is based on real experiences from a real school student–me!” says co-author Jill C. Faulkner about “Ty the Dinosaur and the Substitute Teacher,” to just published in North America (February 23) by Swedish publisher Tallbergs Förlag.
Written by Faulkner with Marcus Tallberg and illustrated by Klaudia Drabikowska, the book lets us tag along for a rough day at school for Ty, a kid dinosaur who has autism: When Ty arrives at school, he gets worried because the usual teacher is out sick. The substitute doesn’t keep the class under control and Ty gets very frustrated. So frustrated in fact that he ends up in a fight with a classmate and is sent to the principal’s office. But instead of getting into trouble, Ty gets some good advice, which makes his day better.
As recounted in the back of the book, Faulkner was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at the age of ten. She was outspoken, often angry and very violent. “The vast majority of adults looked at me and saw a child who did not want to behave properly. They did not understand that there was more to it than meets the eye. They never saw my overcharging or when my energy ran out because the environment was messy. They did not see my inability to handle change or how I struggled to answer a question correctly. They only saw the anger that exploded when I did not have the strength left to fight in a world that is not built for those who are as sensitive as I am.”
Today Faulkner lives “a fully functioning life,” thanks to years of therapy and the love and support of her parents. In addition to being an author, she is one of a dozen lecturers on the Tallbergs Förlag roster and regularly speaks to children, parents, and teachers about autism with warmth, love and humor.
Asked how “Ty the Dinosaur and the Substitute Teacher,” came to be, co-author and publisher Marcus Tallberg explains, “I took a job as a coordinator for a company that helps clients get the right personal assistant, or companion. I organized an education night where I invited a woman with autism named Jill Faulkner to come speak about her experience. After her lecture I asked her why she hadn’t written a book about it. She said she couldn’t write. I said, ‘But I can write! Is it okay if I make a draft, have you read it and then we will see how it goes?’ She agreed and the result was ‘Ty the Dinosaur and the Substitute Teacher,’ which we wrote together. The next book is about Ty’s friend Stego, who is in a wheelchair.”
Though just a tiny window into the world of autism, Faulkner and Tallberg’s “Ty the Dinosaur and the Substitute Teacher,” with its simple storyline, charming illustrations, and cute little Ty, is a book not just for children ages 6 – 11 years, but also for their parents and teachers.
“Ty the Dinosaur and the Substitute Teacher” is distributed by Ingram and available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble.
Below the first page spread and a later spread from the book.
Product Details
Ty the Dinosaur and the Substitute Teacher
by Marcus Tallberg and Jill C Faulkner and illustrated by Klaudia Drabikowska
Publisher : Tallbergs Forlag (February 23, 2021)
Language : English
Hardcover : 42 pages
ISBN-10 : 9198654713
ISBN-13 : 978-9198654714
Reading age : 6 – 11 years
Item Weight : 10.4 ounces
Dimensions : 6.69 x 0.25 x 9.61 inches
Distributed by Ingram
Link to the book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Spanish Edition on Amazon | Barnes & Noble
German Edition on Amazon | Barnes & Noble
To request a review copy of “Ty the Dinosaur and the Substitute Teacher,” author interviews or for more info please contact andy@popularpublicity.com
Tallbergs Förlag AB is a Stockholm-based rainbow multimedia company that champions minority identities and role models, from LGBTQ, ethnicity, religion, class, and gender to autism spectrum disorders. In addition to being a publisher of nearly 40 books by over a dozen authors, the house produces workshops, educational and cultural events, podcasts and documentary films. All Tallbergs Förlag products are available as digitally designed educational packages for schools, businesses and organizations wishing to increase their awareness and understanding of gender, identity and autism. Tallbergs Förlag was established in 2017. http://www.tallbergsforlag.se @tallbergsforlag
Marcus Talberg is an entrepreneur, author, publisher, public speaker and founder of Tallbergs Förlag. He was born and raised in the small town of Trollhättan, Sweden and now lives in Stockholm with his dogs Max and Malva. @marcustallbergofficial
Popular Publicity 