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Iris Grace: How Thula the Cat Saved a Little Girl and Her Family
Iris Grace: How Thula the Cat Saved a Little Girl and Her Family
Iris Grace: How Thula the Cat Saved a Little Girl and Her Family
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Iris Grace: How Thula the Cat Saved a Little Girl and Her Family

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Iris Grace is a beautiful little girl who, from a very young age, barely communicated, avoided social interaction with other people, and rarely smiled. From both before her diagnosis of autism and after, she seemed trapped in her own world, unable to connect with those around her.

One day, her mother brought home a Maine Coon kitten for Iris, even though cats aren’t typically thought of as therapy pets. Thula, named after one of Iris’s favorite African lullabies and meaning peace” in Zulu, immediately bonded with Iris. Thula knew right away how to assuage Iris when she became overstimulated; when to intervene when Iris became overwhelmed; and how to provide distraction when Iris started heading toward a meltdown. Whether exploring, playing, sleeping, or taking a bath with Iris or accompanying the family on a bike ride, Thula became so much more than a therapy cat. With Thula’s safe companionship, Iris began to talk and interact with her family.

This heartwarming story is illustrated with sixty of Iris’s gorgeous impressionistic paintings, works of art that have allowed her to express herself since the age of three. A gifted artist, Iris sees the natural world in a profoundly vivid and visceral way. With Thula by her side, she’ll sit and paint for hours, and the results are stunning.

Inspiring and touching, Iris Grace follows the struggles and triumphs of a familyand a miracle catas they learn to connect with an amazing child.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherSkyhorse
Release dateApr 25, 2017
ISBN9781510719804
Author

Arabella Carter-Johnson

Arabella Carter-Johnson is Iris Grace's mother and a professional photographer whose work ranges from family portraits and landscapes to wedding photography. She has documented her daughter's life through diary entries and photographs and this book. She resides in the United Kingdom.

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Rating: 3.821428464285714 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The book has beautiful illustrations of Iris Grace’s paintings. The author used her diary and photographer skills to document her daughter’s life from birth until eight. Their journey is filled with the joy and sorrows parent face with an autistic child. The parent’s professions allowed them to spend much of their time working at home. They are able to observe and find ways to communicate. One she is diagnosed; they spent their time and money modifying their house, trying several therapies, and exploring ways to accommodate their child’s needs. They learn that a child will choose a specific blanket, a toy, or other sensory item to provide comfort. In their case, comfort came in a cat named Thula. The cat do not really save the family, but provide a different way for Iris to express needs and find comfort. The author also provides a photographic index of Iris’s painting that is included in the book.I was randomly chosen through a Goodreads Giveaway to receive this book free from the publisher. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Despite the title, the book is really not about Thula the cat. She is in the book, of course, and is an incredible companion and support for Iris, but she occupies only a small part of the narrative. The book is about Iris Grace, the author’s lovely daughter who is on the autistic spectrum, and all that was done to reach her and bring her into the loud, bright, fast moving world.The book starts with Arabella and her husband and their life together before having Iris. Arabella at one point worked with training horses using a method that creates deep communication with the animals; they can be told what is wanted of them with small body movements when it’s done right. This may seem like an odd inclusion, but it’s important; Arabella’s ability to read body language turns out to be critical to the success of communicating with Iris. After Iris is born and they realize she is not neurotypical, their lives are totally centered on her. Fortunately, both parents are able to work mainly from home, so Iris always has a parent with her, watching to find clues to what will allow them to communicate with her, and trying to interact. They spend a lot of time seeking information on Iris’s condition and trying various therapies. Their house is rearranged to give Iris maximum opportunities for exploration and expression. They must have spent a truckload of money on art supplies, therapists, and books. And it turned out to be worth it; Iris eventually started talking, and became able to tolerate crowds and go out into the world so she could enjoy music (very important to her) performances. And she discovered painting; she’d always loved working with art, but painting turned out to be her passion and forte. Her paintings remind me of the work of Impressionists, especially Monet. Many original paintings and prints have been sold. And Thula? She’s proved to be a stabilizing force for Iris. When Iris is upset, she goes to her and maintains body contact, a firm reassurance. Before Thula arrived, Iris was terrified of taking a bath. Thula climbed right into the tub with Iris, and suddenly being immersed in water was acceptable, even enjoyable. Iris is her person, and she stays with her almost constantly, even at night- going to bed and to sleep is no longer a problem now that Thula is there to share her bed. She’s a natural service animal; no training was done and she was adopted as a young kitten. It’s an amazing story, illustrated with line drawings, photographs (Arabella is a professional photographer), and Iris’s paintings.

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Iris Grace - Arabella Carter-Johnson

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