María y yo

Maria and I / Astiberri, 2007

» Best Work and Best Sript at the Barcelona International Comic Book Fair
» Catalan National Book Award
» The film has been awarded of The International Disability Film Festival «Breaking Down Barriers» 2014
» One of the Mischief Makers Summer 2018 Reading Challenge books selected by the Reading Agency (UK)

In this tender and amusing memoir of a summer vacation with his autistic daughter, the author uses his expertise as an artist to communicate with her through his drawings and tell us a beautiful story, thus shattering most of the clichés about children with autism. A revealing and cathartic read.

María is 12 years old, she has an infectious smile, and a great sense of humor. She also has autism. This comic tells the story of her holiday with her father in the Canary Islands, Spain, and the adventures they get up to.

Delightful illustrations and dialogue between father and daughter show the day-to-day challenges that people with autism and their carers face, and how Miguel and María overcome them.

«María and I share certain peculiarities and habits… Mine I have invented, and hers are a mixture of her autism and being stubborn like her grandmother.» Miguel Gallardo, author

🎬 The film Maria and Me, has won the Educactif prize from The Pamplona Film Festival XI, whose jury praised the educational efforts of a story that was «original and full of humor, irony, and sincerity» about living with an autistic person.

PRESS

«The upscale hardcover packaging and simple images make this a lovely gift for anyone interested in learning more about the condition as it affects day-to-day life.» Johanna Draper Carlson, Comics Worth Reading

«This unique, comic-style book by an award winning Spanish illustrator and his autistic daughter will be of most use to families with autistic siblings. Gallardo has a wonderful way of getting people’s expressions and personalities with just a few lines, and his drawings are so expressive of life with his daughter.» Healthy Books

«Stripped of unneeded decorations, these drawings will capture you with their purity. This purity is what this book is about. Pure love between a father and a daughter. Love towards family and friends. Love towards life.» Hanoch Piven, Illustrator and educator

«An endearing account of a father’s view of his holiday with his daughter with autism, beautifully illustrated and at times funny, this book provides an alternative way of explaining some of the common traits of autism.» Tara Leniston, actress, author and mother of a son with autism

«[Gallardo] favours humor over pathos, scenes of everyday life over outbursts of legitimate rage (...). A devastating autobiographical story about autism.» Frédéric Potet, Le Monde

«A trip abroad recounted in deft brushstrokes and an ironic, lighthearted tone, starring a father (our narrator) and his autistic daughter, plunged headfirst into a bizarre world brimful of weird creatures.» Simona Abruzzo, Lo Spazio bianco

«María y yo is undoubtedly a moving and candid work, but also an amusing and ironic one.» Enric González, El País

«A revolutionary blow of fresh air.» Sara Brito, Público

«Miguel Gallardo published María y yo, which, thanks to its adult, socially aware themes, not to mention his skilful handling of such themes, marked a sea change in the way comics were perceived. The genre cast off its image as something for children and fanboys and began to attract a much wider public, as well as the media spotlight.» Anna Abella, EL Periódico

«Miguel sees the humour in situations that would make many parents squirm. He views situations with the years of experience he has in knowing and loving his daughter and her quirky way of seeing the world. The drawings show us how he is feeling, how Maria feels and how the people around them react...Maria and I gives us insight into the confusions, fears, wonder and delight that parents of children with autism live with every day. The story is funny, moving, and powerful without an ounce of sentimentality.» Booktopia

«A delicate, sensitive and entertaining look at his relationship with his daughter, María.» Jesús Alejo Santiago, Milenio (Mexico)

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