“Emotional, beautifully written, and ultimately uplifting.”
— Amazon customer review
He did not breathe on his own for the first seven minutes of his life.
He Feeds Dinosaurs — An autism memoir of a birth injury and a boy the word couldn't hold, by Daniel & Kristan Dow
He did not breathe on his own for the first seven minutes of his life.
Also at Apple Books & Barnes & Noble · Paperback & hardcover out now.
Daniel stood watching them try to keep him alive until he finally made a sound. Before his parents left the hospital, the doctors warned them that autism was possible. They warned them the day he was born—about a boy who would grow up to run toward strangers with his arms open.
Elijah is nine now. He draws chalk maps up and down his street, runs to meet every passing golf cart, and takes archery lessons on Saturday.
He Feeds Dinosaurs is the story of that boy: a luminous, openhearted child whom adults adore and other children find harder to hold onto—and a quiet, devastating argument about a word that was never big enough to hold him.
What reviewers are saying
Reviewer’s Choice
“Informative, insightful, heartfelt, and a simply fascinating read from start to finish… a unique, very special, and unreservedly recommended pick…”
— Midwest Book Review
“The narrative flows perfectly, making the underlying science easy to follow… This moving perspective leaves you with a deep sense of hope, showing that when we stop trying to overwrite a child’s identity, we can truly begin to marvel at the brilliant, indomitable spirit they were born with. The memoir wraps up with a lovely call for clear, specific language that truly respects a person’s individual mind.”
— Dylan Insch, Readers’ Favorite
“Daniel and Kristan Dow’s He Feeds Dinosaurs is an exceptional memoir, and the Dows write about Elijah with such affection that he very quickly feels familiar, and I soon felt that affection for him too. So much of what the Dows share is helpful to parents in similar situations. Well written and inspiring, readers who are looking for memoirs and lay guidance will embrace this.”
— Jamie Michele, Readers’ Favorite
“A compelling memoir that challenges the medical community to look beyond broad behavioral labels and aim for true accuracy… Viewing a diagnosis as a dashboard of individual gauges rather than a single line, it opens a beautiful discussion on neurological differences. This memoir reminds you that being a parent means loving your child’s spirit unconditionally, not trying to rewrite their biology. Beautiful read!”
— Kamil Wróbel, Readers’ Favorite
“He Feeds Dinosaurs by Daniel and Kristan Dow is a touching parenting memoir that balances medical details with the everyday realities of home life. Watching Elijah discover a passion for singing and archery offers beautiful moments of joy that stand alongside the cold, checklist-driven nature of modern psychological evaluations. …this story of limitless dedication and love—I guarantee it. Very highly recommended.”
— Robert Collier III, Readers’ Favorite
What happened
December 11, 2016. Seven minutes after birth, Elijah made his first sound. The doctors diagnosed hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy — HIE. They said it wasn't severe. They said he'd recover.
There was a list of things that might happen. Epilepsy. Developmental delays. Autism.
Elijah smiled. He laughed. He looked right at you. The commercials said no broad smiles by six months, no eye contact, no connection.
The speech didn't come. Doors got narrated. Toys lined up in rows he called tunnels. Spinning things. At three years old, the diagnosis.
A birth injury. A diagnosis. A kid.
Elijah
First photo
The photo Daniel took in the hallway on the way to the NICU.
The commercials said no broad smiles by six months. Elijah smiled like this.
The signs they said to watch for.
Elijah and his dog.
Every weekend
He asks for a bonfire in the backyard every weekend. He and Isaiah play in the sand on the shore of the lake behind their house, which is their backyard, which is their life.