Cleft-Lip-and-Palate Books

A parent recently asked me (a speech-language pathologist) if there are any books available to read to her child with a cleft palate and lip. Another teacher friend of mine who has a son with a cleft, highly recommended this book and said she will make sure it is read to every class of students her son is ever in. She said it explains very well what the child with the cleft is experiencing, and she does not want her son to be treated differently just because other children do not understand why he looks and sounds the way he does now (he's 3.)

A Special Smile
My daughter's review:
I liked the book because it is like like my cleft lip and palate. It is like I am being comforted if I don't have a friend. In this story it is actually true that i know a little girl who doesn't like me and thinks that I am ugly. This book helped me to understand that there are other people out there who have a cleft lip and palate like me. If you write another book about the cleft lip and palate, i wish you good luck. Also to Claire and Aiden and Duncan.
Andi (6 and 3/4 years; Decatur, Georgia)

For the past seven years I have been looking for a book which addresses the questions my son has about his bilateral cleft lip and palate. Until recently there wasn't one. Luckily I came across this recently published book, A Special Smile, at the pediatrician's office. I immediately bought it for both my son and a little boy down the street who also has a cleft. The book is written so realistically, that my son asked if they wrote it about him. It is a perfect book for those kids entering school, beginining a new school to learn about how to tell others about their scar. Thank you Graham Family for taking the time and finding the right words to write this book!!

I agree. This book is the bible of cleft lip and palate.

This is the best book about cleft lip and palate I have ever had. I highly recommend it for professionals and parents. It is very complete, clear, and the illustrations are phenomenal.

necesito comprar solo el volumen número 5, si es posible manden el precio del mismo a mi e-mail. perrin@elsitio.com

One who dedicate his/her life to the plastic surgery should own this book as a "BIBLE".

This book shows a complete information on how are working diferent multidisciplinary teams around the world. Each controbution author explains the history, scientific bases, thecniques, administrative aspects, protocols, etc. Other chapters explaine genetics, phonetics, social aspects, etc.

In preparation for possibly adopting a cleft-affected child, I started reading. This is the first book that I picked up and it was an excellent place to begin. It's a quick, easy read that explains the basics in plain English. Along with chapters on surgery options, feeding, possible speech and hearing problems, and teeth development, it includes helpful diagrams and photos. I know there are some newer resources out there, but this book was a great introduction. Equipped with some basic knowledge and terminology, I'm prepared to do more in-depth research.

This book talks about being born with a cleft lip and palate. It's an excellent book for new parents and children. An excellent gift for any family members who have a child born with a cleft. It is well written and easy understandable by children.

I'm being very generous by giving this book 2 stars and that's only because I think the author had the best of intentions. That being said, I am returning it and would NOT use it to explain cleft lip/palate to my son who is affected, his sister, or his cousins.

First, the book is just weird in its focus. It is written entirely from the point of view of the mother lion and focuses on her emotions when she learns her baby is born with a cleft lip. Yet it is a book clearly written and illustrated for children -- why would it be helpful for them to hear that their condition upset their parents when they were born??

My biggest objection to the book is that the parents express concern that the other animals won't love their son if his cleft is not repaired. That is the EXACT opposite of the message I'd like my son to get. Then, the mother lion agonizes over the decision to have her baby get surgery for awhile, he gets the surgery and then end of story, he lives happily ever after. So there is also no realism about the process of medical care that is required over several years for a cleft affected child.

The author's good intentions weren't enough -- I'm sending it back.

"The Story of Lippy the Lion" is brilliantly told by author Joanne Green and beautifully illustrated by Marla Verdone.

The birth of a prince is a joyous occasion, except that there is a challenge at birth. Like my own son, Lippy was born with a cleft lip and palate. This sensitive story tells about the experiences a family faces and eventually triumphs over when a child is born under "less than optimal" conditions. The children's story is followed by a helpful index for new parents, including a before/after gallery of individuals who were themselves born with cleft. Highly recommend!

A truly beautiful book that you will want to add to your child's library.

This is a nice reference to introduce you general issues, anatomic structures, and therapeutic and surgical techniques involved in the care of patients with craniofacial anomalies.

I have been teaching a graduate course in cleft palate and craniofacial anomalies for 20+ years. I am thrilled with Dr. Kummer's text. Students love it! It has a strong research base, but the information has excellent clinical application and is very readable with many case studies. Although it is geared toward speech-language pathologists, its multi-disciplinary orientation would make it a useful resource for any member of a cleft palate team. The information is complex enough to be useful to an experienced team member, yet the novice reader is given sufficient background information to be able to grow with the text. Exceptionally thorough and highly recommended!

I haven't read it all yet -- my semester just started. So far I know that this book does not hesitate regarding details. Some chapter sections read almost like an annotated bibliography describing studies in detail. I find it hard to figure out the main point at times, the take home message. Sometimes the section ends with a summary but sometimes it doesn't. When it presents conflicting evidence and doesn't summarize it, that bugs me. Basically though, this is a good textbook.

This book is just what I was looking for. I'm adopting a child with cleft palate but I haven't met him yet. I needed a good description of the condition along with some visual aids. This book provides that. It also provides a lot of information about the latest treatment methods, with plenty of before and after photos. The other books out there for parents of cleft-affected kids were published quite awhile ago and I wasn't sure they'd have the most updated treatment information. This one does. My only complaint is that it could be written a bit more clearly in parts. It gives some good technical information but is unnecessarily complicated at times.

I am the mother of a child with cleft lip and cleft palate and have started a nonprofit called Dylan's Smile (www.dylanssmile.com). I had hoped to find a book to give to new families as they begin their personal journey through surgeries, therapies and the social encounters that ensue. This is a cute book - however, I was confused a little by a few details (the little girl has a scar on her lip, but was only said to have cleft palate). It's one of the better books I have found, and the art is so cute. Thank you to the author, Kate Gaynor, for providing this children's level literature.