A Hubert author and his 8-year-old son have recently published a children’s book that they wrote together, aiming to inspire greater inclusion for children with autism. The duo’s latest project is a heartwarming story that both Elton Dean and his son, Brandon, hope will foster understanding and kindness toward neurodiversity.
Elton and Brandon Dean released their book, “Brandon Sets Sail: A Story About Sharing Success,” on Wednesday. This children’s book about autism is designed to help young readers appreciate the importance of perseverance, emotional expression, and collaboration. As the duo explains, their mission is to create a story that teaches children, both with and without autism, the power of overcoming obstacles and the joy of sharing successes with others.
According to Elton, the book is a story that focuses on inclusion for children with autism while also offering a broader message about how everyone can rise above challenges and find the courage to express their feelings. “Brandon Sets Sail: A Story About Sharing Success” not only sheds light on how children can face difficult decisions and challenges but also showcases how success is a shared experience, one that can involve support from others.
The story centers around Captain Brandon and his crew, who embark on a thrilling treasure hunt. Along the way, they face a series of tough challenges that require them to make hard decisions. These struggles reflect the journey that children often go through when dealing with challenges like autism, but they also highlight perseverance, problem-solving, and teamwork. The book’s adventurous plot and positive messages are designed to teach young readers valuable life lessons in an engaging, fun way.
Elton Dean, a retired U.S. Army veteran, is currently a faculty team leader at Post University. Originally from Massachusetts, the Deans moved to North Carolina seeking a warmer climate, away from the cold of the North. They’ve always had a passion for storytelling, and this project is a natural extension of Elton’s long-standing interest in writing.
Brandon, who was diagnosed with autism at just 2 years old, is the driving force behind the book’s creation. According to Elton, Brandon has always shown an incredible love for research and collecting information, which has led to his growing curiosity about different subjects. Elton shared how their interest in pirates began, explaining that an episode of Handyman Hal—which they watched while on their way to meet the show’s host—was the catalyst that sparked Brandon’s passion for pirates. “He has a vastly superior brain and loves to research and collect information,” Elton said of his son.
Elton had already written a children’s book about autism before this one, titled A Yeti Like Freddie: Talking to Kids About Autism. When Brandon read the book, he expressed a desire to write one himself. “I can’t write a book about inclusion, then tell my son he can’t do something,” Elton explained. So, father and son embarked on a joint writing adventure, combining their talents and ideas to create their first book together.
Brandon, who took the lead on much of the story, recalls the creative process fondly. “Captain Brandon has to find all these map pieces,” he explained. “My dad said I couldn’t just snatch the map away. I had to make better choices. I think I did pretty good.” Elton’s role in the process was often one of guidance, offering advice and helping steer the story in the right direction when needed. The book, which seemed to come together effortlessly, is now available in both paperback and Kindle eBook formats.
As a father, Elton says he wasn’t entirely sure how the process of coauthoring a book with his son would unfold. However, he was pleasantly surprised by how quickly they completed it and how well they worked together. Brandon, eager to continue writing, has already expressed his desire to begin the next book, which Elton says will be about space travel. “Brandon is already telling me he’s ready to write the next one,” Elton said. “It’s going to be about space travel—he knows more about that than I do!”
Before diving into their next adventure, however, Elton and his wife are working on a new book together titled Brandon Finds a Bigfoot, which they hope to have published in the next six months. As they continue to pursue their writing endeavors, the Deans aim to create books that foster acceptance and understanding for children with autism and their peers.
Elton shared his thoughts on the importance of early education and creating a world where children are not defined by conditions or labels. “I think it’s important to create acceptance early, and to be able to create a society where people are not defined by a condition or by a title, really highlight their capability to thrive when we create the right conditions for them,” he said.
Elton’s work as an author has been featured in Autism Parenting Magazine and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Over the years, his writing journey has ranged from creating stories for fun to addressing more serious subjects, such as autism acceptance and awareness. “I’ve just been writing for different purposes, from padding my resume to just telling fun stories to being able to create acceptance and awareness, just a cool trajectory that allows me to use literature to accomplish several different things,” Elton reflected.
Both Elton and Brandon are enthusiastic about continuing to write stories together. For now, Elton finds himself researching space travel in preparation for their upcoming project, as Brandon’s knowledge of the topic far exceeds his own. “It’s really cool as an author to come up with a story that helps children understand better solutions to problems, but then also as a dad, to be able to lead to some learning opportunities in that way as well,” Elton said.
“Brandon Sets Sail: A Story About Sharing Success” is now available for purchase in paperback and Kindle eBook formats, and it marks just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting future of collaborative storytelling for this father-son duo.
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