The Can’t-Be-Seen Who Couldn’t Squawk: A Story of Stuttering, Diversity, and Inclusion

Welcome to the land of the Can’t-Be-Seen! Meet Nate, a unique Can’t-Be-Seen who does not squawk like the rest. Family, friends, teachers and doctors are not able to help him. But when he meets others like himself, Nate learns just how truly special he is. His world will never be the same again. Neither will he.

Follow Nate on an adventure to self-discovery and acceptance in the fantastical world of the Can’t-Be-Seen.

Nate is the same as every other Can’t-Be-Seen, with one difference: Nate has a speech impairment-a squawk impairment if you will!

This book is an #ownvoices picture book for children aged 2-8 years old and can be a great classroom device to foster important discussions around inclusion, acceptance and bullying.

Ages: 2 – 8 years

Testimonials

“The Can’t-Be-Seen Who Couldn’t Squawk”
Dr. William’s story of Nate, the young Can’t-Be-Seen who had difficulty with squawking, is unfortunately
a familiar tale for many children who stutter. From Nate’s attempts to hide his squawking difficulties, to
the physician’s advice to Nate’s parents to ignore them, and to the teasing Nate receives at school,
these parallel many children’s journey who stutter. Fortunately, Nate meets Mr. Paul who introduces
him to other Can’t-Be-Seens who have difficulty squawking and Nate realizes he is not alone. He also
helps Nate realize the power and beauty of squawking, whether it is a perfect squawk or not! As Nate
gradually accepts how he squawks, he avoids less and feels better about himself as a squawker.

This book is an excellent resource for SLPs who work with children who stutter and parents of children
who stutter. The illustrations are beautiful and child friendly. It provides a non-threatening avenue for
discussing stuttering, avoidance strategies, teasing, and acceptance. At the conclusion of the story the
author includes valuable information for parents, along with discussion questions for the child who
stutters. The utility of this book for helping ease a child into acceptance or for helping parents
understand how to interact with their child is beyond measure.

Charlie Osborne, M.A., CCC-SLP
Clinical Professor Emeritus
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

The Can’t Be Seen Who Learned to Squawk
By Dale Williams and Susannah Brown (illustrator)

Children will love this charming story, told in verse, about a “Can’t Be Seen” (Nate) who learned to squawk. The poor bird has many trials and tribulations because of his inability to talk (or squawk), including being bullied by others. When a new teacher introduces Nate to other children who also squawk, he feels much better. Nate’s squawks can sound different and that’s okay! The beautiful illustrations bring the story to life, challenging readers to reflect on the true meaning behind this delightful tale.

By Dr. Janet Towell
Professor of Reading, Language Arts and Children’s Literature
Florida Atlantic University
Author of Hooked on Books, Language Arts and Literature in Elementary Classrooms, PreK-Gr.8 with Philomena Marinaccio. Kendall Hunt, 2020 (3rd ed.)