Audrey, the Little Swan: Handling Big Feelings on Noisy Days

Some days, the pond is just too loud.

Deep in the Whispering Woods, Sunbeam Pond is full of HONK-HONK-SPLASH and FLAP-FLAP-SWISH. Audrey looks just like every other little swan, but the loud swan games feel far too big for her ears. When the noise gets too sharp and the world feels too bright, Audrey has a "stormy feather day." She doesn't yet have the words to say "It's too loud!" or "I need space!", so her wings flutter and flap in a flurry instead.

Mama and Papa know Audrey isn't doing anything wrong. Her mind simply works a little differently, and she needs her own special tools. Timothy the Turtle teaches her slow, steady breathing and how to find a quiet space inside. Fiona the Frog helps her feel balanced and strong in her own body. Even her playful brothers and sisters learn a gentler way to play.

Then comes the Great Spring Splash, the loudest day of all. Can Audrey stay steady when the whole pond is roaring?

A tender, softly illustrated picture book for ages 4 to 8 that:

- Gives children simple words and pictures for sensory overwhelm and big feelings

- Models two calming strategies children can practice: slow Turtle Breaths and grounding Frog Balance

- Shows a family and siblings adapting with love, instead of asking a child to change who she is

- Celebrates quiet strengths and a powerful message: you don't need to be loud to be brilliant

Written with sensory-sensitive and neurodivergent children in mind, including autistic children and children with sensory processing differences, Audrey's story is also a warm read for any child who sometimes finds the world too much. It fits naturally into bedtime reading, classroom calm corners, social-emotional learning (SEL), and conversations between parents, teachers, and children.

Part of the Different Mind, Different Magic series: stories that celebrate the magic of different minds.