This Is How We Talk

From the creators of This Is How We Play is a new jubilant, inclusive, luminously illustrated picture book that celebrates all the ways we communicate with each other.

A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

We sign, write, clap! We tap, stim, scream! So many ways to talk and joke, play and learn and dream. This joyful read-aloud, with an empowering refrain, from disability rights activists Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp, demystifies and respects how disabled people and their families use different forms of communication to connect and show love.

Back matter consists of a kid-friendly guide to thinking, learning, and talking about disability and communication; a glossary of the different disabilities represented throughout the book; and a guide for grown-ups on ways to encourage discussions about disabilities with the children in their lives. Throughout, This Is How We Talk centers, affirms, and encourages the disabled children and adults who are already doing the challenging work of advocating for themselves and finding strength in community.A New York Public Library Best Book of 2025

★ "Featuring exceptional accounts and impactful illustrations of different forms of communication, this book is a true celebration of all people living with disabilities and an invaluable learning experience for children and their grown-ups. This is a first purchase for all collections.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“An exuberant and inclusive look at the many ways we all express ourselves.” —Kirkus

“This picture book would be great for helping students better understand the variety of communication styles in the classroom or as reassurance for a child who may communicate outside the expected verbal means.” —BooklistJessica Slice is an author and essayist who writes about her experience as a disabled mom who uses a power wheelchair. Her writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Disability Visibility, and more. She lives in Canada with her family. Caroline Cupp is a disabled progressive pastor in Philadelphia.

Kayla Harren is an award-winning illustrator of numerous children’s books, including the Lambda Literary Award winner Calvin. She graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City with a BFA in illustration, and lives in Minnesota with her husband and dogs.