Special Needs Children Books

My daughter is 3 and we got her this book awhile ago. Nothing like having a book of things she is needing to learn anyway...with kids that look like her. She loves it. The pictures are high quality and there is much variety in it.

This is a very special book for me, not only because of the wonderful children and pictures, but one of my students is on the cover and in other pictures throughout the book. Now everyone can share in the joy of seeing his beautiful smiling face. Behind that beautiful face is a wonderful, kind, and caring young boy who can lift your spirits with his jokes and loving hugs. I think it is wonderful that Meg Girnis protrays children who have Down's Syndrome in her books. I hope she continues to write more children's books.

This is a great book about numbers. It has clear, colorful, beautiful pictures of children with Down Syndrome holding objects to represent the different numbers up to 20. The children in it all look happy and it is a wonderful, cheerful book. It is simply a number book, but the items are easily identifiable and my son (who has DS) really enjoys turning the pages and counting each object. (especially the little girl with the hats!) I would like to see this book on the shelves of every elementary school library. It would be a big ego-booster for children WITH Down Syndrome, and a wonderful learning tool for children without DS.

What an amazing story! Not only does Jayne Lytell give step-by-step practical advice for parents, but she shares her intimate and personal journey. This is no fairy tale. After her second son was diagnosed with autism, the devastating news wreaks havoc on Jayne's family finances and relationships. But Jayne won't give in. Her determination and courage leads her and her family going through all the storms that are raging around them. Reading Jayne's inspiring story made me feel like I was having a cup of coffee with an old friend. -- Sally Stewart, author of Media Training 101: A Guide to Meeting the Press

Jayne's book about Leo, Lucas, and David shows us the power of love, commitment, and intelligence while giving families the necessary tools to come to grips with and even, in this instance, claim victory over a barely understood menace to the most defenseless among us, our children.

Hi all,

I'm the author of Act Early Against Autism, and just had my first book signing in DeWitt, NY, near Syracuse, where my journey began. Jennifer Chimber, a mom who attended the Barnes & Noble event, sent me this comment to my personal email address, and she gave me permission to post it.

"First, congratulations on a fantastic book! I am a mother of an autistic son, and this is the first book I read that was candid, open, informative, raw and inspiring. I know you are a talented writer but I believe it is your unconditional love for Leo and refusal to give up the fight that sets this book apart.

I do have a question, not about treatment, clinics, the court system....During the reading today you made a comment that knocked me to my feet. It was in regards to your other son Lucas and the "pairing off" in your family. I have an older son as well....I was curious if Lucas has ever made any comments regarding Leo, or the attention Leo receives. There are not many books out there about the sibling side. Honestly, I am hoping that is your next gift...and really, I was in the back today and watched parents moved to tears while you were sharing your story--it is a gift. Thank you."

I was informed by the publisher that a second edition is due to go to press. Is this correct? I hope so, as this is the best text ever written to detail ADHD, the current research, treatment methods, etc. This book is perfect for parents, educators, the medical profession, and psychologists who need an easy to read, informative review of the disorder and the current literature.

This is a great book. I purchased it from Amazon and received it before it was on the shelves. The book is clear and concise and helpful. My wife has ADHD and I am perplexed at her behavior quite often. This book has helped me understand her and may lead to a successful treatment approach. Thank you Dr. Lisa Weyandt.

This book is fabulous! I have been interested in ADHD for years but have never been able to find a single source that answers all of my questions - now I have. Extremely well written and a joy to read.

This book opened my eyes. I am an educator and this happens to our children everyday. I would love to meet the author.

This little text is so very informative. The author expertly refutes the major arguments prevelant among the conservatives that our children are deficient. I am convinced.

I'm an educator who works with middle school children. This book was an excellent read and provided more understanding for me as I work with children. I highly recommend it to caring educators!!

Alandra's mother makes a compelling narrator for this story about raising a deaf child. Her words will make important reading for any hearing parent who has just been told that their child is deaf, and it examines some of the issues that have to be considered, including the decision to learn sign language or wait for the child to learn to speak. This last is a decision that will have consequences for the entire life of the child, and will affect the relationship between parent and child for the rest of their lives.

A great read for everyone interested in the challenges facing hearing parents of deaf children. Alandra's Lilacs was engaging to read and I did not put the book down until I was finished. This book really demonstrated that deafness only creates a new way to communicate and is not a disability. EXCELLENT!!!!

This book is a beautiful insight into the real life trials and choices that are faced when raising a successful deaf child. A must read for all hearing parents of deaf children as well as all deaf educators.

Written and photographed by Ellen B. Senisi, All Kinds of Friends, Even Green! is an adventurous picture book for beginning readers about a real-life pet iguana. Expertly taken color photographs of a boy and his beloved reptile companion, along with whimsical text, make All Kinds Of Friends, Even Green! unique, distinctive, and highly recommended.

I really liked this book, and so did my 6 year old son. I have a boy with special needs who is 5, and this author captured the curiousity and excitement of a small child so well, and then revealed the disability of the boy in the book in a very positive manner. My son had fun reading it, and I know that the ideas that were in the background are what I want my son to "get". I would definetely recommend this book.

"All Kinds of Friends, Even Green!" is written and photographed by Ellen B. Senisi. The text and photos tell a story about Moses, a disabled boy who gets around in his wheelchair. At school, his class is given an assignment to write about friends. Moses is inspired to write about a very special friend: Zaki, an iguana. Zaki is also disabled, having lost her back toes after a mite infection; Moses has a special affection with her.

This is a wonderful portrait of a multiethnic school environment that includes disabled youngsters. The acknowledgement section of the book thanks the participants at Zoller School in Schenectady, New York. After the main text there are three interesting supplemental articles: about disabilities, about young Moses, and about iguanas. The colorful, lively photos are enjoyable to look at. This book effectively reminds us that disability is an issue that affects both human and non-human beings. Moses and Zaki are likeable and admirable "characters," and the book movingly celebrates the special love a child has for a cherished pet.

It's nice to have a book that displays how individuals can be very different, but at the same time, live very similar lifestyles. This story helps one to understand and accept these differences.

I can't wait for more books like this!

Finally an author that realizes all children are special! You can look high and low for a children's book that represents children with disablilities. The only one you will find is this one. We need more books that show special need kids in everyday situations that all children can relate to. They can participate in track, gymnastics, swimming and any other sport that they wish to participate in. I hope this is the beginning of a trend. I will certainly be looking out for future books from this author.
Note to author: Keep doing what you are doing!

It is refreshing to have such an inspirational story written for children with disabilities. This story encourages children with disabilities to dream BIG and outside of the "norms" that our society places on us.

After searching high and low for books specifically for children with disabilities I came up with nothing, until I came across The All Star Wheelers. What a find!

The All Star Wheelers gets 5 STARS *****

I can't wait until she releases her next book!

Adam and Jeremy Krasner are brothers who share a common love for baseball. Adam, the younger brother has concerns about Jeremy. Jeremy is one year older than Adam and is partially mainstreamed in the local school the boys attend. Jeremy's social development is quite delayed and his behavior is described as having autistic overtones. He is also behind his peers academically.

Adam sometimes finds Jeremy's behavior embarrassing, such as when Jeremy pitched a fit in a restaurant after Adam did well in a baseball game. One can feel Adam's justifiable resentment and shame and also Jeremy's anguish at not being able to fit in with his peers.

One child accepts Jeremy. Tommy, a 3rd-grader in the neighborhood, looks up to Jeremy and the pair enjoy imaginative role playing (not a behavior readily found on the autism spectrum); joking and sharing a love for gardening. Jeremy is also a Beatles' fan, which I think speaks to excellent taste and cultural appreciation.

Tommy sounded like he was good for Jeremy and I was really disgusted with Jeremy's mother for threatening to punish him for playing with a younger child. Tommy was the one person who accepted Jeremy and enjoyed him, so I think it would have been beneficial to all to allow those boys to enjoy their friendship. I thought it was a good thing that Jeremy did not obey this draconian edict and continued his friendship with Tommy.

Adam is having problems with a boy on his team. Eddie, a rather rough boy takes his anger out on his peers. Unable to confront his abusive father, Eddie makes baseball a blood sport. Eddie also creates other havoc and it is up to Adam to go to bat for Jeremy when Jeremy is being charged with vandalism.

In the end, fraternal love proves strong and will leave readers cheering and rooting for the Krasner Brothers, the baseball fan and the Beatle fan.

The Krasners moved a few months ago to the town of Glen Haven, an hour drive from where they previously lived. Although it is not mentioned why this move took place, I assumed it was related to the father's employment. Adam's older brother is Jeremy, in the seventh grade and attending the junior high school. Jeremy is neurologically impaired and needs tutors in the home plus takes special classes in school. After playing baseball at the neighborhood field Adam caught the attention of a seventh grader named Eddie Gordon. Adam is flattered that someone wants to be friends with him since his brother's outbursts usually cause others to bypass him.

Mr. Gordon is the coach for the Little League team where Adam and Eddie are both pitchers. Adam's Mother encourages him to have his brother involved in the same things, so Jeremy ends up on the Little League team, even though he hates it, but his Mother wants him to be around his peers. Eddie has been picking on Jeremy since they moved into town, but Adam is not really aware of this due to being at different schools, so he ignores his brother's constant complaining of how Eddie calls him a retard on the bus and looks at him with mean eyes.

Throughout And Don't Bring Jeremy are many conversations with Adam, Jeremy and their parents at the kitchen table. It is quite funny to read how the author was able to convey just what a sixth and seventh grader feel and how they describe certain aspects of their parents in detailed observations. When Adam remarks how when his Mother makes a certain noise with her nose when she is exasperated I chuckled and tried to imagine such a noise! It is clear that his Mother has the last word all the time, but on the other hand she tends to push Jeremy off onto Adam and that seems unreasonable at times. I felt as a parent there was a lack of parental involvement on her part as she was always busy fixing and decorating the new house.

Jeremy likes to take his bike and ride around the block and this worries Adam, but as Jeremy says he is older and can do it too. But there is a third grader down the street that Jeremy stops and plays with to the discord of his Mother. She has repeatedly warned Jeremy to not go there and try to make friends with kids his own age.

Adam has described his brother as walking funny, eating gross and dressing sloppy with frequent outbursts that always caught him off guard and waiting for the next one to happen. He could feel when they were in stores and shopping that people were looking at them as the family with that boy.
And Don't Bring Jeremy is a quick and easy read for an Adult and geared to those who are between the ages of nine and twelve, especially anyone in the sixth and/or seventh grades. This would help those that have a child that is different in preparing for what is ahead once the child is at this age or grade level. The author has really captured the feelings of Adam and what he goes through on a daily basis because his brother is different.

Much of the story centers on the baseball game and how they make it to the All-Star Game as well as the friction between Eddie and Adam over pitching and the fact that Jeremy is jealous of his brother. Adam is cautious around Mr. Gordon as well because he is Eddies' Father and thinks he looks like a Sergeant.

I was very pleased to read And Don't Bring Jeremy, highly recommending this for anyone who has a child in this age range to teach about compassion and understanding of those who are challenged and different. I loved the way the boys transformed through the pages and really got a sense of being there with them in the town of Glen Haven. This would make a wonderful summer read to introduce a young reader to the trials and tribulations of living with a sibling that has a disability

I am the author of JEREMY GRABOWSKI'S CRAZY SUMMER IN STORMVILLE!, a children's book. In "And Don't Bring Jeremy," Adam Krasner has the burden of having to deal with his older brother Jeremy who is neurologically impaired. I highly recommend this book. I decided to read "And Don't Bring Jeremy," because my older brother Kevin has a brain disorder called autism. A number of the situations in the book between a "normal" kid and his handicapped brother I can relate to. The characters are well developed and are realistic. The story is not predictable and I didn't lose interest, as I wanted to find out how things turned out. Young readers, with or without handicapped siblings, would find "And Don't Bring Jeremy" a good book. Those without a handicapped brother or sister might have a better idea of what life would be like with one. Great book Marilyn!

If you are the parent or educator of a child with autism, this book should be required reading! Well-written and informative both the professional and the non-professional alike can learn so much from this multi-disciplinary approach to treating this difficult and heartwrenching disorder. Edited by two esteemed and experienced professionals, this book answers any questions you may have, and even questions you never would have thought to ask. I cannot more highly recommend this book!

The subtitle of this book--"From Research to Individualized Practice"--really doesn't do justice to the succinct, yet really comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the syndrome that is Autism. This book is a must, especially for parents with recently diagnosed children who need both a reality check on possibilities and hope for the future. For those parents who have been struggling for years and haven't given up, the book presents an overview of therapy interventions in very concrete and practical terms, breaking down possible interventions for both children and adolescents. The book is well researched and is highly readable.

I have worked for over twenty years with children and adolescents in private psychotherapy practice and as the director of a non profit family clinic. Working with children with a broad spectrum of Developmental Disorders is a tremenduous challenge for the family and the clinician. As the author, Robin Gabriels often states in her book, the disorder is complicated in nature and requires a multifaceted approach to treatment. Children with autism do not have one identifiable "trauma" or chemical imbalance or an interpersonally toxic environment that would make therapeutic treatment tangible and focused. Robin Gabriels has undertaken the difficult task to match a broad spectrum disorder with a broad spectrum treatment approach. As a clinician, I loved her book, since it is the best integration of seemingly contradictory clinical venues I know of. In integrating sound research data with clinical outcome and experience she has given me an excellent guideline for my own work with children with Autism Spectrum. I am very happy that I finally found a comprehensive approach that includes medication, working with the family, the school, and the therapist individually. I have recommended the book to several of my colleagues, already, which is very helpful, since here in rural Middle Georgia we have virtually no clinical training opportunities or non-profit services for children with Autism. I can wholeheartedly recommend her book to professionals and parents alike.

Excellent resource for children. My daughter has enjoyed answering questions in the journal section and has taken in interest in learning ways to help herself. (fourth grader)

I have a 13 year old boy that has had trouble with behaviors for years. This book helps him understand that he is not the only one and talks to him in a way he can understand. We usually sit down and discuss his answers and this helps him stay focused. It also helps bring us closer together and opens the lines of communication.

Wonderful!

I like the way you can use a compliment or request sandwich. Somtimes I have somthing really important to say or ask somebody, but I just can't get the words out. Compliment or request sandwiches can help me do that. Just one thing though. I like mine with mayo.

I also thought of confession sandwiches. Two compliments with a confession in between, it might make the person who's confessing feel a little better about doing it.

-Patrick, age nine