This image is the cover for the book Tonio and Bear’s Adventures

Tonio and Bear’s Adventures

Meet Tonio and Bear, and all the animals they will encounter on this incredible adventure. Tonio is on the autism spectrum, but no worries! He and his best friend Bear will overcome any obstacles they find along the way. In a world where sometimes things can be a little bit overwhelming it is important to have a friend who is loyal and understands you and who is always there when you need him. Bear will help Tonio face the challenges of autism as he discovers the amazing animals at the zoo. This book will be the first in a series of great adventures for our little hero and his sidekick Bear who is always ready, willing, and able to save the day. A book that kids and their families can relate to and that can teach us all that “Autism is a part of our world, not a world apart.”

Hilda Torres, Israel Martinez

Hilda Torres is a wife, mother and grandmother, who immigrated to the United States from Cuba with her parents when she was two years old. She has always lived in beautiful South Florida. Hilda studied English literature at St Thomas University, in Miami, and has a love for reading, and for books. She has a son who is 30 years old and was diagnosed with autism very early on in his life. Back then, autism was not a well-known neurological disorder. This diagnosis inspired her to work with children who have autism spectrum disorder. When her son started first grade, she decided to teach children with special needs. She worked in the first school in South Florida to have an ‘Autism Pilot Program’; a program that integrated children on the autism spectrum into the public-school setting. There, she worked alongside an incredible team of teachers and professionals in the field of autism to make a difference in the way kids with autism were going to be taught. Once her son got older, she decided he needed her full-time and quit working in order to meet his needs. She has since dedicated herself to helping her son and spreading autism awareness. Hilda wanted to write something that kids with autism and their families can relate to. A book that not only can teach others about autism but can also give the autism community a different kind of voice. She is so happy to present to you these two amazing characters. Come with us and enjoy their adventures and see autism through their eyes.