Do you like getting letters, little one? Imagine receiving notes in envelopes with fun stamps from exciting places like cities or the sea. Look up to the sky and squint your eyes to see the love note birds flying high. They are on their way to bring you words of love from me!
Their wings are strong, and they fly fast, carrying my loving words to you. Even if you feel small in a big forest, remember to stand tall. If you’re on a ship with big waves, know that you’re strong and can handle anything. In a sweet candy bay, you’re sweeter than all the treats. If you’re climbing a mountain, I’ll cheer you on every step of the way. At night, when the sky is dark, lovebirds will guide you like a shining star.
Wherever you go and whatever you do, my love will always be with you, keeping you calm and safe.
One day, I had a tough time. At recess, I got in trouble for kicking the fence. At lunch, they ran out of my favorite pizza, and on the bus, the driver missed my stop, so I had to walk home in the rain. I was hungry, cold, and wet.
When I got home, Mama told me that Benji was playing in his box. Benji goes into his box when he’s had a bad day at preschool. We tiptoe and speak softly when Benji’s had a bad day. I wished I had a box for days like this.
Benji wiggled his fingers at me, and I said, “Hi, Benji.” He told me to take my shoes off because there was water everywhere. I explained that it wasn’t my fault; I had to walk in the rain.
Benji’s block city was spread all around, and Mama reminded me to watch my step. I wanted to tell her I helped build it, but she was busy on the phone.
I felt grumpy and hungry, so I poured some cereal, but too much milk spilled out. I was having a really bad day, and I cried. No one noticed.
Then, Benji came out of his box. He spread his blanket on the floor and wrapped me up in it, saying, “You’re my little burrito.” I opened the blanket and let Benji in, saying, “You’re my little brother.” That’s how Mama found us, and she asked if she could join in too.
No matter if the day is good or bad, Benji and I will be okay because we’re brothers. We stick together, side by side, always.
In our house, both our autistic and non-autistic sons loved being wrapped in fuzzy blankets like burritos. It was comfy and calming, and it inspired this story. It’s important to remember that every child is unique, and their needs and behaviors can be different. Some kids are sensitive to sounds and lights, while others love to move and make noise. Some might visit a sensory gym to help with coordination, but not all do. Being a brother or sister can be hard sometimes, but it’s also one of life’s greatest gifts.
Thank you for reading about Sammy and Benji. If you love stories, ask your grown-up to explore more fun stories like these. There’s a kid-safe, ad-free library full of storybooks waiting for you!
Love Note Birds Craft: Create your own “love note birds” using paper, crayons, and scissors. Draw and color a bird, then cut it out. Write a short love note to someone special on the bird’s wings. Ask a grown-up to help you hang it somewhere in your home where it can “fly” and be seen by everyone. Think about how it feels to send and receive love notes. Can you think of other ways to show love to your family and friends?
Build a Blanket Fort: Just like Benji and Sammy, use blankets and pillows to create a cozy fort in your living room. Invite a sibling or friend to join you inside. Talk about a time when you felt sad or had a bad day. How did you feel better? Discuss how being together with someone you care about can make tough days easier. What other things can you do to help someone feel better?
Observation Walk: Go on a short walk with a grown-up and try to spot things that remind you of the stories. Look for birds in the sky and imagine them carrying love notes. Notice how people help each other, like holding doors or sharing smiles. When you return, draw a picture of what you saw and share your thoughts on how these observations relate to the stories you read.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any unnecessary elements and keeping the essence of the content:
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[Music]
I’ll love you for always.
Do you like letters, little one,
In envelopes to read,
With notes and stamps from fun places,
Like cities or the sea?
Then look up to the sky, up high,
And squint your eyes to see.
[Music]
The love note birds are on their way,
With words to you from me.
[Music]
Their wings are strong, their flight is swift,
Their plumes a brilliant hue,
And nothing stops their airborne gift,
My loving words to you.
[Music]
You could be in a towering grove,
Feeling lost and small,
But through the trunks we’ll weave and wove,
To tell you to stand tall.
[Music]
You could be on a ship at sea,
Where waves are fierce and fast,
Swifter still my words will be,
You’re strong, and you’ll outlast.
[Music]
Or what about a candy bay,
Where sugar seagulls call?
Yes, that’s sweet, but I will say,
You’re sweeter than it all.
[Music]
Or if you’re on a mountainside,
Climbing for the top,
I’ll cheer you on through every stride,
You can, don’t ever stop.
[Music]
And what about an inky blue,
When night comes where you are?
Lovebirds find their way to you,
And give a guiding star.
[Music]
Oh, dearest one, it’s hard to tell you,
Everything you’ll need.
Here at least you have my love,
To read and read and read.
[Music]
Where you go, whatever you do,
Have peace, be calm, be still.
My love will keep surrounding you,
It does, it always will.
[Music]
[Applause]
I’m a puppy.
[Music]
At recess, I got yelled at for kicking the fence.
At lunch, they ran out of my favorite pizza,
So I didn’t eat.
And on the bus home, the driver missed my stop,
So I had to walk all the way back in the rain.
Now I’m hungry, cold, and wet.
[Music]
Says Mama, as soon as I open the door,
Benji’s playing in his box.
When Benji’s in his box,
It’s because he’s had a bad day at preschool.
[Music]
When Benji’s had a bad day, we tiptoe and speak softly.
When I’ve had a bad day,
No one tiptoes or speaks softly.
[Music]
Mama and I made that box last summer.
Mama cut the window flaps,
And Benji and I splashed on the paint.
Inside it’s cozy and safe,
But only big enough for Benji and his blue blanket.
I sure wish I had a box for days like this.
[Music]
Benji wiggles his fingers at me.
“Hi, Benji,” I say softly.
Benji’s face appears.
“What, Sammy?” Benji says.
“There’s water all over the floor!”
“Take your shoes off this instant!”
“It’s not my fault! I had to walk all that way in the rain.”
[Music]
Benji’s block city is spread all around.
“Watch your step,” Mama says.
Benji’s been working hard on that.
I know, I helped, I start to say,
But Mama’s phone rings and she turns away.
[Music]
I stick my tongue out at the box.
I do my best karate kick high in the air,
Above Benji’s block city.
“Good job!”
I’ve always wanted to learn karate.
Mama says I can’t right now because the classes are on Tuesdays,
And that’s when we have to visit the super happy lady at Benji’s clinic downtown.
[Music]
“Let’s bounce the ball,” super happy lady likes to say,
But Benji never does.
“Let’s play a game,”
But Benji never plays.
Meanwhile, I’m told to sit in the waiting room and not bother anyone.
On super happy lady days, we always get back home tired,
So Mama will make berry smoothies to help us feel better.
[Music]
Then she’ll wrap Benji tight in his big blue blanket,
Just how he likes,
And tell him, “You’re my little burrito.”
But today there are no berry smoothies and no burritos.
Today Mama is busy, and Benji is hiding.
This day is just plain old rotten.
[Music]
Thump goes the box,
It’s Benji kicking around in there.
“Hey!” I say.
“Come out and I’ll teach you karate.”
But he doesn’t.
[Music]
So I go to the kitchen and pour some cereal,
But when I add the milk, too much gushes out.
I am grumpy, hungry, and cold,
And now there is milk everywhere.
I have had it with this fence-kicking,
Rain-dripping, milk-spilling day.
I cry mad, sad, shivery tears.
No one notices.
[Music]
Benji’s coming out.
He holds his blanket up high and tiptoes through the block city.
Benji spreads his blanket flat on the floor.
What’s he doing?
He pulls me down on the fuzzy blueness
And makes me lay straight and still.
Then he rolls me over and over.
[Music]
He works hard to wrap me up tight.
Benji leans over me,
His forehead clunks my forehead.
His eyes look right in my eyes.
“You’re my little burrito,” he says.
[Music]
I open the blanket and let Benji in.
“You’re my little brother,” I say.
And that’s how Mama finds us.
“Can I come in too?” she asks.
Whether the day is good or bad,
Benji and I will be okay.
That’s because the two of us are brothers.
[Music]
Side by side is where we are and how we’ll always be.
[Author’s Note]
At our house, our autistic and non-autistic sons alike had fuzzy blankets they carried around,
And they often asked on both good days and bad to be wrapped tight into burritos.
This can be comfy and calming,
And it’s what sparked the idea for this story.
It’s important to note that no two autistic kids are alike,
And their needs and behaviors will be different.
Some, like Benji, are super sensitive to sensory input.
The world can feel too bright, too loud, and too intense.
Other kids are sensory seekers.
Some may like to drum on things and clap their hands and shout out,
And many kids like to stim to rhythmically fidget or move as a way to disperse extra energy and stress.
Certain autistic kids will visit a sensory gym or occupational therapy clinic,
As in the super happy lady illustration,
To help with coordination and sensory processing.
But not all.
Different kids have different needs, strengths, and challenges.
It’s not always easy being a brother or a sister.
It’s hard at times to be patient.
We all have bad days, and it’s okay to express those feelings in appropriate ways.
Despite the bad days, though, sibling bonds can be one of life’s best and most important gifts.
Thank you for reading about Sami and Benji.
[Music]
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This version maintains the narrative while removing extraneous elements like laughter, applause, and music cues.
