Review: Ettie Stutters

17th April 2023

Sarah Moriarty reviews a new children's book by Steven Steinfeld all about his mother Ettie, who lived life to the full with a stammer.

Ettie Stutters: A True Story for Children of All Ages Who Stutter is a thoughtful and charming children's book that tells the story of US-based author Steven Steinfeld's mother, who lived a long and courageous life of 105 years filled with love and a whole lot of determination.

Ettie is a true role model. From a young age she acknowledges her fears about talking out loud with her stammer but doesn't let it hold her back from pursuing her dreams. She stays quiet at school, speaking as little as possible. However, she shows her courageous character by raising her hand and standing up proudly to speak when she has something important to say, despite knowing that the other children might tease her.

Ettie knows that it is more important to focus on what somebody says and not how they say it, a meaningful message which is conveyed throughout the story.

From a young age she acknowledges her fears about talking out loud with her stammer but doesn't let it hold her back from pursuing her dreams. 

However, stammering never holds Ettie back in her 105 years. The 31-page book tells of how she finds work in jobs that involve lots of talking, including at a big insurance company and even, later in life, as a museum visitor guide.

For Ettie, speaking was just a part of who she was but it was not the most important part of her and she didn't allow her fears to stop her from pursuing her dreams. Steven Steinfeld explains that this is what inspired him to write the book: "Ettie's story is intended to be an inspiration to children and any other reader who stutters," he told STAMMA. "I want it to help young people realise that stuttering, or any other challenge, does not need to be an obstacle to achieving their dreams".

Ettie Stutters would be a suitable book to share with primary aged children who stammer or have other speech and language needs. It can also raise awareness amongst a wider audience, as it tackles several myths about why people stammer.

The delightful illustrations by Maryna Salagub are carefully detailed and filled with bright colours which help the reader follow the story of Ettie's life. And what an incredible and adventurous life she led!

'Ettie Stutters: A True Story for Children of All Ages Who Stutter' is a self-published book by Steven Steinfeld and is available to buy on Amazon. 

Sarah Moriarty is a member of the STAMMA volunteer review team and founder of SLCN Stories, a website sharing inclusive stories aimed at raising awareness and supporting children with speech, language and communication needs.