Special Needs Children Books

I purchased this book for a class, but it will be permanently added to my library. This book is an easy read, but focuses on the difficult issues of being a gifted student. It contains ideas for lessons dealing with social-emotional issues and testimonials from other gifted students. Great reference.

Some fresh perspectives, especially on underachieving, and very practical. Student's thoughts and input interesting. Good resource for teachers.

As an educational psychologist, I often recommend this book (along with the classic, Guiding the Gifted) to parents whose bright or gifted children are struggling with social emotional issues. This is a well-written, easy to use guide that looks at important issues such as self-esteem, self-image, and gifted underachievement. The authors go far beyond identifying these problems and offer lots of practical advice on how to help gifted kids who are struggling at home or at school. Clearly written with lots of sidebar material, checklists, anecdotes, and quotes from gifted kids, parents, and teachers - this book is a joy to read. Another great book on this topic is Gifted Children: Myths and Realities by Ellen Winner

"When Gifted Kids Don't Have All the Answers" isn't just an excellent book for teachers and parents of gifted children (though it definitely is such a book). I just picked this book up at the local bookstore, and, as a gifted child (well, young adult, now) myself, I can honestly say that this book has been just as much help for me as I think it would be for any teacher or parent, if only because it validates everything about gifted kids that I've known and felt ever since I was little.

I think that every gifted child should have a chance to read this book, if only to understand him- or herself a little bit better, as well as to understand the struggles that teachers and parents of gifted kids go through, trying to teach and parent such children. And I thank the authors very much for writing such an interesting, useful book.

This book is exactly what I hoped it would be- it gives solid information on gifted children and suggests ways to help them talk about concerns and challenges that come with the "gifted" label. This book was a wonderful discovery for me-- a brand new teacher of the gifted. (One chapter is devoted to the teacher.) The information in this book is encouraging for those new to the field and provides valuable insights into some of the general characteristics of gifted kids and the issues they face. It has some questionnaires and material that could easily lead you and into meaningful discussions.

Window Boy is almost an excellent book. 12-year-old Sam Davis is the window boy, a brilliant but misunderstood genius with cerebral palsy, who spends his time parked in his wheelchair in front of his window, watching other kids play basketball. The book realistically highlights the difficulties of cerebral palsy, from the constant annoyance of being ignored or talked over to a very moving scene when Sam is left alone in the apartment and almost attacked by a rat. But everything that happens to Sam only almost happens to him. He is only almost denied an education. He is only almost abandoned in an institution. His mother only almost dumps him. His good luck always bails him out, his extraordinary good luck and great brain. His nurse/nanny gets a job at the institution so she can continue to look after him. He wins a national essay contest worth $1000 - at least $6000 in today's money. His mother reforms her ways.

Nonetheless, White does present fresh and vivid material in Window Boy. How Sam is hampered by his cerebral palsy is very clearly drawn. Miss Perkins, his caretaker, lived through the bombing in London during World War II, and her character is beautifully rendered. Best of all his Miss Perkins' contribution to Sam's intellectual life, her reading to him out of the life of Winston Churchill. Sam internalizes Churchill's words, and Churchill's voice speaks to him during the action throughout the story. The pleasure of reading Churchill's phrases gives Window Boy a unique dimension that will be enjoyed by the more sensitive reader.

Reviewed by Neha Kashmiri (age 13) for Reader Views (7/08)

To me, "Window Boy" was a sad, but strangely uplifting, novel in hectic times. Sam Davis is a twelve-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. His father has abandoned him; his mother is too absorbed with her new boyfriend to notice Sam most of the time. In all this, his three beams of light are his prim, if talkative nurse, Miss Perkins, the imaginary voice of Winston "Winnie" Churchill, and the basketball court almost in his backyard.

Sam gets the chance to go to school with the other children. At first it is a disaster but Winnie tells Sam to keep a stiff upper lip. Soon, as his teacher starts to understand him, Sam writes an essay on his hero, Winston Churchill, for a contest. On his twentieth and last day of school, he gets out the words to tell the captain of the basketball team to appoint Micky Kostov, a Russian boy no one likes, as point guard. Then he is taken to an institution by his mother who is leaving to Europe to marry her boyfriend.

Sam starts to slowly fade away when the news reporter comes to take his picture and write an article about him. The essay he had written long ago had won him the contest and $1,000. Finally, his mother, betrayed and deceived by the man she was about to marry, comes back and saves him. Later Sam goes on to become a basketball coach to the team he helped become tournament champs.

No words I could say or write could convey the impact of the book on me. As a librarian's assistant, I had read to special-need children and this book made me feel incredible guilt and anger at myself for the revulsion I felt at the sight of some of them. "Window Boy" by Andrea White is meant for kids and teenagers, but I think adults could benefit just as greatly from it. I give a high, high recommendation to someone looking for a break from action/horror/fantasy.

Don't you love finding a book that draws you back to re-read it almost immediately? Besides the second read, I've gone back, this month, to the "Afterward" of WINDOW BOY a third time! Like our hero, Sam Davis, I want to learn more and more about the unique strength and humanity of Winston Churchill. So, I'll definitely tune in to the new PBS three part series "Chasing Churchill: Searching for My Grandfather."
I had to laugh seeing that the author, like me, also wanted to follow the fictional characters a few more years, and see them again. Sam and Miss Perkins speak with such recognizable voices (like old friends) when we fast forward and hear them reflect. Almost inspite of myself, I had to love gabby, fussy, old (50 is old through 6th grade eyes!) Miss Perkins and her uplifting love: her vital, relentless devotion to a disabled boy who was, perhaps, less obviously able to "earn" it than most of us. Also heartening, this personal portrait shows how far inclusion for handicapped children has come in forty years, especially in the public schools.

Andrea White has inspired this adult (who has no obvious disability) and will inspire any number of my youthful clients. For, WINDOW BOY is now a much enjoyed addition to our waiting room.

Thank you, Ms. White.

Mark Leifeste, Child Psychiatrist, Boulder, CO.

I read Window Boy over the weekend and LOVED it. Sad and uplifting. The depiction of Sam, locked in a body with an active mind, so misunderstood broke my heart. Add to that a self-absorbed mother and it was almost too much. But the nanny and the comparison to Churchill's heartbreaking childhood brought hope to the story, as did the evolution of the teacher's feelings for Sam. And I liked that Sam is an extreme version of all of us - wishing at least someone would really know us and not just see us. This book was an ispiration to me - a reminder to persevere, to be kind and to look beneath the surface. It will inspire children - especially those for whom school and life are not a cakewalk. I've ordered five for some youngsters in my life.

'Window Boy' is a fantastic introduction into the life of my Great-Grandfather, Sir Winston Churchill. It completely encapsulates the principals of 'NEVER SURRENDER!' and 'DETERMINATION!' that he lived by. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. 'Window Boy' is a must read for any person of any age, especially a Churchill fan.

This was a very good book that gave several view points. I found it extremely helpful with understanding ADHD.

I recomend this book to parents and teachers alike, this book opens your eyes, it makes you understand why your child acts the way they do.

In my clinical practice I treat and evaluate children and adults with ADHD. I always recommend this book to parents who have children with attention problems in order for them to get a complete objective overview of the disorder and the treatments that are available.
This book explains in simple language the current medical definition of ADHD and why you need a complete evaluation in order to receive an accurate diagnosis. It contains a thorough discussion of the treatment options available for the parents and child. It encourages parents to become the "case manager" of their child's treatment. In order to understand how and what treatment is best for your child you need to understand what the scientific research has shown works and does not work in treating this disorder. It is then possible to make educated choices for your child.
This book is published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and they have done an excellent job in bringing a factual and complete guide for parents to understand ADHD. I recommend it as the first book to read when you are researching this problem.

Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics without commercial involvement of any kind, ADHD: A Complete And Authoritative Guide is a "must-have" reference and resource for parents addressing the phenomenon of Attention- Defecit Disorder with Hyperactivity in children. Chapters address identification and diagnosis, commonly coexisting conditions, treatment options, the role of medications, behavior therapy, helping one's ADHD child succeed in school, unproven treatments for ADHD, and much more. A disclaimer warns that the vital information in ADHD: A Complete And Authoritative Guide is meant as a supplement for a physician's diagnosis and recommendations, not a replacement, yet its vital and meticulous accuracy and tested methodologies are a blessing to anyone involved in the raising or care of ADHD children.

If you think you know everything about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), then you should still check out this comprehensive book from the American Academy of Pedia-trics. It's not only a diagnostic and treat-ment reference-covering the myriad of symptoms and heal-ing approaches (i.e. parenting, schooling, behavior therapy, medications, and even experimental techniques)-it also runs the spectrum of services and options available from preschool through college years. Even the most veteran ADHD parent will discover some new avenue to assist their child in growth and societal assimilation.

This is one of the most beautiful and uplifting books I have ever read. Lynley Summers is a genius. It's as simple as that.

Ms. Summers' daughter, Jessica "Jazz," displayed severely autistic behaviors as an infant and toddler. Refusing to give in to the misguided so-called "experts" who held out minimal hope for Jazz, Summers worked diligently with her child. Instead of institutionalizing her (this was in the early 1990s, not the Dark Ages of the pre-1980s) or relegating her to special classes where she would have to wear protective headgear, Summers implemented some very clever and creative programs for Jazz.

She took each behavior as an individual area to challenge. Just as many with autism process and follow information when it is presented in manageable amounts, Summers used this same approach with Jazz. Since her child adhered to routine, she decided to introduce chaos. In lay terms, she explains the chaos theory (and did such a good job that it piqued my interest and I started learning more about it) and how it could be applied to Jazz. She threw the girl's schedule into total chaos; every night dinner was served at a different time; Jazz did not know if she was taking her bath before or after dinner. The same approach was used throughout their day. Some afternoons they might take a walk; others they might read inside. Over time, this "chaotic method" paid dividends and was applied throughout various aspects of their lives.

I like the way Summers was honest with Jazz; I love the fair approach she took when administering discipline. If Jazz broke any rules, she could count on some repercussions. Similarly, if Summers broke an agreement she had made with her daughter, then she, too had to do without something she especially enjoyed.

Their horizons expanded; Summers graduated from college and moved out of state with Jazz. Jazz even spent her 4th and 5th grade years in Japan because of Summers' job transfer. Her performance exceeded any the so-called experts had predicted for her. Instead of special classes, she had occupational and speech therapy at home. Each activity outside of school was therapeutic. Jazz discovered that she had high reasoning skills; became conversant and literate in Japanese and, by 2002 became a loving sister to two step-brothers who all complemented one another well.

Averie, the younger brother was also on the autistic spectrum. The chaos method worked with him as well. He and Jazz have demonstrated extraordinary musical prowess and both have impressive academic track records.

I love this book; I especially love Jazz' insights about her nonverbal days which she called The Void. A gifted writer, she is at the time of this review working on her own book. I am looking forward to reading it. The trust in God both mother and daughter have beautifully underscores the triumphs they have enjoyed. Their faith stands out like a shining beacon throughout this stellar book.

This highly inspirational book makes me think of the 1962 song Elvis sang, "Follow That Dream" because Lynley, Jazz, Steve and the boys followed their dreams wherever their dreams led them. I love this book!

This is an incredible book for which I HIGHLY recommend to ANYONE! This book is applicable to anyone and should not be limited to Autism alone.

This book tells the story of a family that has autistic children. Artistically written, Dr. Summers shows that autism is not necessarily a bad thing; it's not a disease; and that people overcome it.

I would have liked to been able to read a few more "Jessica Speaks" and maybe have added an "Alex Speaks" to tell how he feels about his autistic siblings.

All in all, this is an amazing book that everyone should read.
Dr. Summers has done a great job.

Initially upon reading the cover and starting the book I thought this was an "I know how to cure autism" book. As the mother of three children with autism spectrum disorder/Asperger Syndrome, I am hypersensitive and probably overreactionary when I perceive that message. But I was wrong, this isn't that kind of book at all! This is an inspirational story of a mother and daughter as they face the daily challenges of living and loving through autism. Indeed, necessity is the mother of invention, and Lynley took it upon herself to invent some very creative ideas for helping her daughter, Jazz. I enjoyed her thoughts on chaos theory and how she implemented it as a tool for helping her daughter be able to adapt more readily to a changing schedule. Plus, I could so strongly identify with the emotions she expressed as a mother and this greatly endeared this book to me. There were moments that touched my heart so deeply, particularly the story of her daughter having a major meltdown at the grocery store because it is a common experience for so many parents, including myself. A public humiliation. And yet, Lynley held her head high, continuing to put items in her grocery cart and checking out despite being an absolute mess. As a mother Lynley embodies the, I'm down but I'm not out, and I'm fighting back spirit. She's not fighting against autism, she is fighting FOR her daughter. And with her dedication and the grace of God, she has helped Jazz grow into quite a charming and successful young woman. This book will inspire many to follow their hearts and not give up even when things seem hopeless.

Kristi Sakai, parent of 3 children with ASD and author of
Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family

Lynley's daughter was a beautiful infant that laughed walked sang and danced. She talked and played and then disappeared. Her mother refused to give up and and worked with her. Her methods are proven. Jazz is now 16 years old and is a 4th generation National Honor Society Student. Highly recommended for parents and caregivers of Autistic Children.

Ballerina Dreams is an absolutely beautiful book for both children and adults. It illustrates the human spirit to best insurmountable challenges through determination, hardwork, dedication and love. The pictures and text capture the wonderful spirit of these beautiful dancers as well as their tenacious teacher, Joann Ferrara. Read this book, keep it near and when you are having a bad day and think life is tough, pull it out and get inspired!

This is the story of 5 special girls who dream of being ballerinas. They all have some sort of physical ability that they have to try and work around. This is the story of their amazing class and how they work so hard to put on a great show!

This gave me a chance to talk with my daughter who takes dance classes about how blessed that she is with good health.

This astonishing book tells the story, through pictures and a straight-forward narrative, of five little girls who work hard to fulfill their dreams. The determination of these beautiful children, their teenage helpers, and their low-key, high-voltage teacher is an important -- and most assuredly delightful -- lesson for everyone.

What a stunning book in so many ways. It's touching and moving and beautifully put together. These little girls should be inspiration for everyone. When you're faced with a seemingly impossible task, you should take note of these little ones with physical disabilities and what they can do and nothing will seem impossible again.
It's a book for people of all ages, and it really focuses on your abilities rather than inabilities and these girls look like they are having the time of their young lives. Joann Ferrara started teaching them ballet four years ago with only five students. She was a physical therapist and wanted to make childrens dreams of becoming ballerinas come true. She's done a terrific job and with the help of handlers for these girls, they perform to standing ovations.
With the holidays coming up, this book will make an excellent gift. It's heartwarming and beautiful and I highly highly recommend it to everyone.

Featuring gorgeous photography by Pulitzer Prize-winning team member James Estrin, Ballerina Dreams: A True Story is a picturebook following five little girls who wanted to become ballerinas and dance on stage. Each girl had cerebral palsy or other physical difficulties, which affect their control over their leg muscles; some use leg braces, wheelchairs, or walkers to get around. Yet with practice, hard work, and the aid of a committed teacher, they were able to realize their dream. A truly inspirational picturebook especially recommended for young girls of all backgrounds.

Just read this to a group of four year olds. "They got to be friends!" shouted Anil. "They was so different - they got mad - but they got to play" was Melissa's comment. Kids LOVE this book. And it's one of the rare ones that portrays kids with special needs as kids first - disability second. Terrific!

I am a ECSE teacher and plan on reading this book next fall to my students. This will be a great book to open up discussion about so many things such as friendships, how to work out differences with your classmates, how everyone is different (including children that are differently abled) and that it's ok if you don't get along with your classmates ALL the time, you just have to be able to work things out and treat people the way you want to be treated.

This book would be great to share with ANY Elementary classroom. It has great photographs, big, bold print and easy to read text.

This is a great book to share with students. I shared it with my 2nd grade class as an intro to talk about a student in our class who has downs. My students loved the book and saw how alike the girls in the book were to them. Read this book to your class!

I enjoyed reading this book to the 1st graders at my daughter's school. The children at this age are searching for friendship but are still hesitant to embrace it when they find it. The book gave me many opportunities to talk about how Moira and Marina had problems to work out in their friendship but when they worked on it, spoke honestly to one another about how they felt, they were able to have fun and enjoy being together. The disabilities of Marina and Moira also gave the children even more to discuss about differences - not just disabilities but it let to discussions on race, color, weight, family composition, religion and other perceived obstacles to friendship.
In all, the many photos of the girls made the book interesting for the children and the flow of the story made it a great tool for discussion and learning.

Illustrated with the black and white photography of Laura Dwight, Kirsten DeBear's Be Quiet, Marina! is an engaging picture book for very young children with a different look, as it tells the story of the noisy four-year-old girl Marina and the much quieter four-year-old girl Moira. Marina has cerebral palsy, and Moira has Down syndrome. At first Marina and Moira could not play because Moira was frightened of Marina's noise. But eventually Marina and Moira become best friends, in a story to be treasured. The text consists of simple sentences printed in big, bold black letters, making Be Quiet, Marina! the perfect book on a sensitive social subject for young people just beginning to learn how to read.

This book is easy to read, in down-to-earth language, and Question & Answer format. Presents ideas from a teenager's 1st person perspective. Covers a variety of relevant topics. Besides helping parents and teachers, I think high schoolers, college kids, and maybe junior high kids will find this book to be useful.

I bought this book on the advice of my son's psychologist and it was worth every penny. I am also a special ed teacher and will recommend it to every teacher I know.

I ordered this book at the recommendation of the psychologist who tested our daughter for ADD. It is written for older children and teenagers who have ADD or ADHD. My daughter, age 17, found it interesting. It helped her know that she was not the only one with this condition and gave her many tips for coping with life. Although I found much of it redundant, the book helped me see ADD from the perspective of a teenager.

This book is a must for parents of ADHD children as well as educators. As both a parent of an ADHD child and a teacher, I found this book enlightening as well as practical. It is a very easy read, in fact, I read it in two days. It is easy to understand and is written in layman terms not scientific/medical jargon. It explains so many aspects ADHD is language that parents can understand and offers some sensible solutions to everyday problems. This book has become by ADHD bible.

this book is the best insight for a parent dealing with the frustrations of a bright teen struggling with ADD issues. The opportunity to read the words of teens who have dealt with the struggle give moral support to parents that there is hope. This is a must buy!

Reviewed by Dr. Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (3/08)

One of the things we mothers have is an incredible sense of things going wrong with our children. Barbara Coppo was no different. She and her husband Ken already had a beautiful healthy girl, when she found out she was pregnant again. She wasn't sure how she felt about being pregnant again now that she had a great career and her daughter was a teenager, but as time went on she was very excited and hoped that this pregnancy would bring her husband and her closer together. On February 1, 1978 she delivered a healthy boy whom they named Kenny. Kenny was the center of attention for his first year of life--adored by everyone. When it came time for Kenny to have his eighteen-month shots, Barbara got a "feeling," and wasn't sure what was causing the apprehension. After several lengthy discussions with her pediatrician, her husband and family members, she finally decided to get him his boosters.

On September 6th, 1979, Kenny got his last series of the d.p.t. booster - his life would change forever. After a few days, Kenny wasn't able to talk, walk or respond in his normal happy way. Even the doctor's were stumped as to what had happened-- they continued to explain that vaccines for children were very safe. And again the next day Kenny began to have convulsions -- still no reason why.

This was Kenny's life to this day-- seizures, mobility problems, no friends and he has characteristics of autism. Doctor's even had the gall to tell his mother that he was retarded. With numerous evaluations, behavioral schools, special classes and countless hours of care and research by his mother, it was realized Kenny would never be a normal child again.

Even through the years, pediatricians kept telling Kenny's parents that vaccines were safe. Yet one doctor finally told Barbara that through research it was indicated, after the d.p.t. vaccines, that some children became autistic, mentally-challenged and some even died. This is a parent's worse nightmare - all of us today think about the effect of vaccines on our children. Yet never once did Kenny's parents, friends, therapists give up on him. They continued to push him to the point that he was finally able to talk through the use of facilitative communication. No one even imagined he had all those thoughts and intelligence in him. He was very aware of his challenges and knew he was different. He was also very mathematically inclined.

To this day, Kenny is a loner, but has many friends and supporters. He loves to watch people through his upstairs window. He has a set routine that no one can upset or his violent behavior will come out. But he has made great strides even though he came across many obstacles with very little support from the school systems.

How does a mother do this? You do what you have to do to save your child, never take no for an answer. Many parents of children with special needs have been through this high and low road.

Having worked with family members who have children or adult children with special challenges for over 25 years, Barbara Coppo's story is the same for many of them. The frustration, anger and trying to figure out what they did to cause this. My personal and professional opinion is that everyone involved with children; teachers, coaches, school boards and therapists should read "The Boy in the Window" to get a first-hand knowledge of what families go through.

This story is moving and tragic. The book is about Kenny who is born healthy and develops normally until 19 months old, when he is given the DPT shot (which stands for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertusis). The next day he goes into seizures, which continue on for the rest of his life. He is eventually diagnosed with autism. Amazingly, early on, one of the doctors in the hospital tells Kenny's parents that it was the vaccine that caused the seizures. That would never happen today.

They eventually go to court and sue the vaccine manufacturer, which you can't do today. She says she learned a lot in the lawsuit that most people don't know, such as after a vaccine death the pharmaceuticals will plant false stories of a pertusis outbreak.

Kenny's parents are passionate advocates for their son and fight to get him into appropriate programs, which is quite difficult, because his condition is so severe. He is practically non-verbal, has violent outbursts, and runs like a cheetah. They go from one program to another for various reasons. They usually start out looking promising, but then staff changes, or they loose funding, or Kenny gets too old.

One of the more interesting sections is the one on facilitated communication (fc), which is almost 200 pages long. Fc is a method of assisting non-verbal people to communicate. The non-verbal person guides the facilitator to letters. Like most things in the autism community, it is controversial. In his fc, he expresses likes and dislikes, such as he wants more puzzles, he's bored at school, he wishes people wouldn't talk to him in baby talk, and he has a passion for stars. Stars are one of his past times, and he makes up exotic names for them. Some of the names he gives them are the correct scientific names, and they can find no way that he would have known that.

Through fc, they discover that Kenny is telepathic. Yes, I realize this sounds absurd in today's modern world. But this isn't the first time I've heard someone say that a child with autism knows what people think. On some level, we are all able to tell what people are thinking at certain times, maybe not as specifically as Kenny, but we've all known that someone couldn't be trusted, or that they liked us, or numerous other things. It's certainly an interesting twist in the story.

Unfortunately, he looses interest in fc somewhere along the line, so we quit seeing inside of his head. He also graduates from school at 22, because that's as far as the school system will support a disabled child. His mother definitely feels like he this was a big loss for the whole family, as he then only wants to sit and look out the window.

Barbara, Kenny's mother is the author, and like many other parents of children on the spectrum, her whole life has revolved around recovering and caring for her son. She has a couple of respite care workers that make it possible for her to have a little bit of time to herself, but now at the age of 65 she dreads the thought of her death, and Kenny being left behind. She has someone who has agreed to take him that she is as comfortable with as she can be in this circumstance. But, it is still a frightening proposition, the prospect of leaving behind an adult-child, that is so disabled, and that needs so much intense supervision and care.

This is a story that touches my heart. Not only do we have 1 in 150 children with autism, we have a growing population of adults suffering the devastating effects of vaccine damage. The brother of an autistic boy recently said "If I could just go back in time, and stop that doctor from giving him all those shots everything would be different, but I can't."

There is a book that focuses on the DTP vaccine and all the damage it caused called A Shot in the Dark. Many people unfortunately believe the newer DTaP is safe, but there is evidence to the contrary in such books and DVDs as Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective and Vaccines: What CDC Documents and Science Reveal.

Luckily there are stories out there of full recovery, such as Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism and He's Not Autistic But...: How We Pulled Our Son From the Mouth of the Abyss. Both women acknowledge the roll vaccines played in their son's illness.

When Kenny Coppo, Jr. was born on February 1, 1978 he was a healthy, thriving baby. He developed normally until he received a vaccination from the Wyeth Labs on September 6, 1979. From there, he developed autistic behaviors and his cognitive abilities were not as readily apparent. His 16-year-old sister Rhonda, always loving and protective of her brother was especially devastated. In addition to the autism, Kenny became epileptic and to this day takes anti-seizure medication.

Kenny's behavior appeared to be severely autistic and he made the rounds of special programs in the Bay Area. One especially good placement in the Spectrum School was where Kenny's cognitive abilities and special skills shone. Marginally verbal since 1979, Kenny worked with a team of dedicated and kind specialists on Facilitated Communication (FC), where he pointed to words or printed them out on a computer. It was at Spectrum where Kenny's telepathic abilities were uncovered. Those working with Kenny would think of a word and he would immediately print or point to it. From June 15, 1993 until August 7, 2000 transcripts of Kenny's sessions with his teachers have been provided. Readers get to travel with Kenny and take in his incredible progress.

Kenny also had a facination with stars and even named several. Some of the stars such as Vegas were ones he recognized and whose names he knew. This has yet to be explained. So far, the only explanation came from Kenny who said that he knew the stars' names and that the names came from space. He also demonstrated incredible mathematical skills and could point to the correct answer out of a list of multiple choice questions.

My favorite parts were when Rhonda sang with the Beatles as a toddler (good early cultural exposure) and Kenny's strong spirituality. During several of his FC sessions, he told his teachers that he knew Jesus; that Jesus would help him and made other deeply profound and poignant statements about the Lord Jesus Christ. I found that especially beautiful and moving. I also loved the part about a priest known for his healing ability developing a deep bond and rapport with Kenny.

This is an excellent book that will leave a lasting impression on readers. Kenny's behavior remains severely autistic, but he is clearly an intelligent person who, as he said can't talk as he is trapped in his mind. His attraction to windows seems especially a propos in light of his remarkable intelligence and interest in things celestial. Once he was able to express himself, he provided a window to galaxies (not Fords) that few ever imagined possible.

I found his expressions interesting and very a propos; I was also impressed by the fact that he taught himself to read. Kenny traveled down quite a Long & Winding Road and his story makes me think of the Grateful Dead classic, "Truckin'," because what a long, strange trip it's been!

This is an excellent reminder to all that talking in a normal fashion to a person who is nonverbal at worst, marginally verbal at best is an excellent way to show respect and to recognize that the person comes before the autism.

This book is a real page turner. I was totally enthralled. Barbara is an excellent author. The book is well written, easy to follow, and very entertaining. Barbara tells a tragic story, however, it's done in a very comprehensive, compassionate, and humorous way. It's filled with love, showing the great lengths and perseverance that a mother will go through for her child. Although it's a personal journey for Barbara and Kenny, it will totally engulf you emotionally. Not only do you get the challenges and successes of Kenny... you also get to read about his thoughts and unusual abilities. It definitely left me wanting more. A must have piece of work.

I loved, loved, loved this book for so many reasons...
o it was a great adventure that started right away, you want to keep reading because you can hardly wait to see what happens next
o it's not a sickly sweet, sugar coated kids book...it's funny using words and expressions that will crack up the kids who read it
o my kids loved it even though my 12 year old said "There was a sad part but then it turned out OK."
o in a very compassionate and yet totally entertaining and clear way this adventure helps explain some of the seemingly quirky and sometimes startling behavior of kids with Aspergers
o you truly love the characters!
A great read for yourself, your kids or maybe a favorite teacher!

My son loved hearing a story about someone else with Aspergers. This may not be award winning literature, but it was certainly entertaining enough to keep my son's second grade class interested. The kids enjoyed the story, and learned about Aspergers in the process. This was the perfect story to open up discussion in the classroom. The teacher tells me that the class was much kinder and more understanding of my son's behaviors afterwards. The main character is very likable, and the reader is left with a sense of understanding and compassion for her quirky behaviors. I plan to read it again to his 3rd grade class.

Although the author may not have Asperger Syndrome, she seems to understand the syndrome very clearly. While showing the differences of AS for everybody she also shows the benefits for everybody. Once I started the book, I wanted to read it without stopping.

This is a delightful book about a young girl who has Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's Syndrome is a neurobiological condition that is on the same spectrum as autism and the accompanying behaviors are as varied as there are individuals who have it.

Daisy, the young protagonist is fully aware that she is on the a/A spectrum. She is easily distracted by noises; a classmate's hair-chewing annoys her; certain sounds, tastes and smells upset her. A grade-schooler, Daisy enters the story as a newly-mainstreamed pupil from a self contained program for persons with autism. Her previous school carries the sad name School of Social And Developmentally Delayed, which automatically screams stigma. Instead of being a helpful program, Daisy's previous school does not appear tailored to meet her academic and social needs. At Ocean Vista, where she is mainstreamed, she has a very understanding teacher who explains her behaviors, e.g. hand flapping, noise sensitivity, verbal outbursts, uttering non sequiturs as well as esoteric words to her classmates. Daisy often tended to use stilted utterances such as "powers of darkness" when describing bullying and her spontaneous display of affection when her principal sympathizes with some of her social difficulties. Daisy also makes good use of the Resource Room when stimuli become too overwhelming.

Even with good back up, Daisy is targeted by a group of bullies, some of whom are her classmates. In time, she learns to defend herself and makes friends with a boy named Cody who had also attended Daisy's former school. A girl named Lauren takes Daisy under her wing and is amazingly accepting of Daisy's explanation of what it means to have Asperger's. Indeed, a very funny exchange occurs between the girls when Lauren mispronounces Asperger's, thinking Daisy was making a rather rude joke. That part was truly hilarious!

In time, as the girls bond with Cody, Daisy demonstrates her skill at animal training. She had been working with the class rabbit Buster and had trained him to perform tricks. It is through her work with Buster and with her two new friends that Daisy becomes empowered to act as a friend and step up to the plate for someone who really needs her help.

This is a wonderful book and a treat for all ages. Please read this and share it with someone. The acceptance of the principal, Daisy's teacher and Resource Room teacher point up to just how important inclusion really is. I also like the resorces that the author lists at the end of the story. Hats off to this book!

This is a home run in my opinion. Easy to read and better yet, easy to learn from. Buster and the Amazing Daisy allows the reader to peek into the life of a child who is different than their peers. I found my emotions swelling as I entered into the life of this little child who overcomes the challenges many children face by simply being different. Certainly children with Asperger Syndrome, families, friends and teachers can all benefit from reading this book, in addition, any child who feels they sometimes just don't fit in can enjoy and learn from Buster and the Amazing Daisy. I hope to see more books by Nancy Ogaz out soon.

This is an excellent book. ...I would recommend this book to those suffering from an eating disorder, or to the friends and family of a sufferer as it gives great inssight.

eating disorders are often romanticised; few know of the realpain which they cause, and courage which they demand, in both thesufferer and the family members and friends. this touching documentary of a young girls struggle with, and eventual defeat by anorexia nervosa is openly told by her mother and accompanied by excerts from her diaries. as the book so truthfully details catherine's behaviours, it may be disturbing to the unaware, tear-wrenching to those directly/indirectly affected but yet also so critical to the understanding of the seriousness of these psychological disorders.

This book tells of the reality of anorexia nervosa. The stress on the family; the ineffectiveness of treatment (which still goes on today); the states of the Catherine's mind. It's one for the parents of eating disorder children.

I thought that I would be shocked by this book, and touched to a new level. I was. I was shocked by how any person could ever feel the way Catherine did and also shocked that there was a book written by a Mother about her daughter dying. Howvever, it was so incredibly moving and it reduces me to tears every time I read it. Bettered only by Love Story (Segal).

I read the novel 'Catherine' a few years ago, and it deeply saddened me. 'Catherine' is written by the mother of a twenty-two year old girl who died of anorexia nervosa in 1984.

The testimony is a brave and frank account of Catherine's terrible illness which gripped her from the age of fifteen years old. It intersperses extracts from Catherine's diary, which show the tragic mental and physical effect this illness had on her. Her diary records her food intake, and her weight, which tragically plummets to 3 stone when she dies.

It touches on her childhood days, where Catherine was a happy and bubbly child, and continues throughout the development of her illness.

I would recommend this book to anyone, especially young girls considering dieting. It shows how out of hand dieting can be, and certainly a great help to those suffering from anorexia. I myself suffered from this illness, and this book gave me some strength to battle with it. I didn't want to die like Catherine, and the many other girls who die each year from this horrifying condition.