What Is Normal?

 I’m working on a book called “What Is Normal?” The premise of the book is that everyone is “normal,” even though “normal” may look different for each person. For example, it is normal to spend time doing things you enjoy... although everyone has different things that they enjoy!

What I’m looking for is photos of kids and adults (especially kids since it is a kids’ book) that will go along with the pages of the book. Each sentence will have a double page collage of photos. I will edit the photos to make them look like drawings, so that kids won’t be immediately identifiable from their photos. People will also be able to choose whether they want their names, or their children’s names, included in the credits.

I will paste the text here. If you would like to submit a photo, or you want more information, PM me! 

Here is the text... and I’d love to hear any ideas for additional pages!

(copyright 2021 by Angel Nicki Mann)

You may hear people say, “I want to be normal,” or “Just act normal,” or “That’s not normal.” But what is normal?

Usually, when someone talks about “normal,” they mean, things that most people have in common. But there are so many ways to be normal! For instance…

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It’s normal for your body to need food. It’s normal to have some foods that are your favorites!

(Photos of people eating different foods, including unusual foods or foods from various cultures.)

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Its normal to love your family!

(Photos of all kinds of families including nontraditional families.)

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It’s normal to wear clothes that make you feel like yourself… or clothes that make you feel like who you want to be!

(Photos of kids and some adults wearing clothes that defy traditional gender norms, cultural clothing, cosplay costumes, comfy clothes, etc.)

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It’s normal to have fun with your friends.

(Photos of kids and adults with friends, doing any activities. Animals count as friends.)

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It’s normal to communicate with others.

(Photos of adults and kids communicating in different ways, including ASL, PECS, augmentative communication devices, letter boards, phones, etc)

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It’s normal to want to be safe.

(Photos of people in their safe places)

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It’s normal to have lots of different feelings.

(Photos of adults and kids expressing various emotions.)

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It’s normal to learn about new things.

(Photos of adults and kids reading, learning on a website, taking a class, etc.)

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It’s normal to spend time doing the things you enjoy.

(Photos of kids and adults doing various activities, including unusual hobbies and interests.)

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It’s normal to wonder if you’re normal. It’s normal to love the things about yourself that make you different! So just be you… because you are wonderfully normal just the way you are!