Thinking in Pictures

Having read all of Sy Montgomery's information books about things like tarantulas, snow leopards, and strange parrots, I was intrigued by her latest work. Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World was released in April, and I have been eager to get a copy via inter-library loan. Now I do not want to return it!

Born in 1947, she was soon recognized as being different than other toddlers. Her father even believed she should be taken to a mental institution! But her mother believed her daughter could flourish under the right conditions. She did. Despite the personality quirks and inability to read facial expressions, Temple Grandin became an advocate for humane treatment of livestock, completed her PhD., and remains a consultant for design of animal facilities. She has learned to understand words and people more clearly through the years, but her mind still thinks in pictures. Doors of all sorts are both a challenge and a comfort for her. Her story is well-told in this biography for young people.