San Jose, California - Children's author Kristina Mausling is sharing her personal journey as a mother navigating her son's developmental milestones and early signs of autism, a story that inspired her upcoming picture book series, Thomas Rides Free, Thomas Plays Too, and Thomas Needs a Tool.

When her son's teachers noticed differences in how he interacted with classmates and handled changes in routine, they suggested an evaluation. The results revealed early indicators of autism, prompting Mausling to reflect deeply on her parenting experience.

"At the time, I didn't realize how important it was to ask more questions,” she says.“Looking back, I wish I had discussed the early evaluation findings with our pediatrician and taken the red flags more seriously. Early intervention isn't about something being wrong - it's about understanding how your child experiences the world and learning how to support and accommodate those differences."

Her experience became the foundation of her writing. Through the Thomas series, Mausling hopes to encourage families to see neurodiversity not as a challenge, but as a different and valuable way of seeing the world. Her books highlight inclusion, empathy, and emotional growth through stories that children can easily relate to.

“Every child deserves to be seen, understood, and supported,” Mausling adds.“If my stories help even one parent feel less alone, then I've done what I set out to do.”

The upcoming Thomas books aim to spark meaningful conversations among parents, educators, and children about understanding differences and supporting development at an early age. Each story reflects Mausling's belief that compassion and awareness are the first steps toward building a more inclusive world.

Thomas Rides Free and the following titles in the series will be available soon, continuing Mausling's mission to promote understanding through storytelling.

About Kristina Mausling

Kristina Mausling is a children's book author whose work centers on empathy, neurodiversity, and authentic storytelling. Drawing inspiration from her son's experiences growing up on the autism spectrum, she writes picture books that encourage understanding, inclusion, and emotional growth in early childhood. Her upcoming series - Thomas Rides Free, Thomas Plays Too, and Thomas Needs a Tool - celebrates the unique strengths and perspectives of all children.

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