Wild Things

How We Learn to Read and What Can Happen If We Don't

By: Sally Rippin

Narrated by: Sally Rippin

When best-selling Australian children’s author Sally Rippin discovered her child was struggling to read, she assumed it would sort itself out over time. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

Her son’s dyslexia and ADHD went unsupported for years, leaving him behind his peers and labelled ‘difficult’ by an education system that couldn’t easily cater to neurodivergent kids. By the time Sally learned how to advocate for him, it was—almost—too late.

Told through the eyes of a parent who started out by doing everything wrong, Wild Things is about how we can help all kids find the joy in reading—and advocate for them throughout their schooling careers.

After all, they say school isn’t for everyone, but if everyone must go to school—then why not?

©2022 Sally Rippin. First published in Australia by Hardie Grant Children's Publishing. (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"Wild Things throbs with love, compassion and, above all, hope for children who happen to find written words really hard." (Alice Pung, author of Unpolished Gem)

"A much-needed source of solace and empowerment for any parent with a child who struggles at school, this is also a vital commentary on the desperate need for a better resourced and more inclusive education system." (Rachel Power, author of The Divided Heart)

"This is a must-read for parents, teachers and universities wanting to learn how we can create an inclusive and accessible education system for everyone." (Eliza Hull, disability advocate and editor of We've Got This: Stories by Disabled Parents)