Disabilities Books

I am a huge fan of Renee French. Since the day I purchased and was blown away by "Marbles in my Underpants" I've watched her stuff closely. I think she's a visionary. She seems to use a technique of sketching childlike drawings on paper with a pencil (that's it). Her themes mostly revolve around childhood isolation and a kind of sludgy, bottled-up sexual panic.

"The Ticking" traces the life of Edison Steelhead, a child born with a congenitally deformed head (just like dad's) who lives on a secluded island. Not a lot happens. We follow Edison through the years as his life progresses and the possiblity of plastic surgery looms ever-present.

It's really the tone of the drawings that grabs you. French has a way of drawing things that makes them literally seem to reach out and throttle you.

I think it's also important to note that Renee French's work can be approached in a few different ways. If you're looking for a strange avant-garde picture book that wraps you up in melancholy and shows you brand new sights: look no further.

But also, if you're just looking to be scared, to read something that will creep you out, this will do the trick. However, "The Ticking" doesn't have the same shock factor as "Marbles in My Underpants". It's more subdued and contemplative. There are some chilling moments, as when Edison's father introduces Edison to his "new sister", where the horror seems to lurch up out of some undefined place. But for the most part, this is pretty restrained.
If you're looking for something to frighten you, check out "Marbles in my Underpants", now THAT one is freaky.

A penetrating treatise on modern canoe paddling and not an unbeautiful description of software development in an unspecified language. The more astute interpretation is that The Ticking is simply a collection of extremely puerile scores for a weaponized euphonium. Ms. French gives her authoritative stand that "Gravity is to water containment as drawing is to l'eau couleur peinture ." (Witnessed by the municipal utilities district while gathering field data for non-towel oriented absorbent theory.)

Renee French's book shows the beauty of the grotesque, but is it really grotesque? The ambigious pencil shading softens what could potentially be unnerving visuals, but her eye for cotton candy-like drawings brings out the beauty of Edison's Steelhead's life. Renee's drawing melts into my eyes and sweetens my sweet tooth for the poetry of comic.

ticking - A strong, tightly woven fabric of cotton or linen used to make pillow and mattress coverings.

Edison is weird and is fascinated with things just as strange as he is. He turns out to be well-adjusted as everyone else, except he has a chimp for a sister. That makes him cooler than most people. He ponders a way to change his life, his deformity, with a superficiality like a ticking...

As an artist and visual story teller myself; this is one of those exquisite books that I wish I had done. Telling a story with words and pictures requires a fine balance. Many very wonderful stories use text to highlight pictures or pictures to highlight text. Renee French has authored one of those extremely rare books where lines between text and image blur and the story becomes even more powerful as we touch it with our eyes and experience it rather than just reading it. It was after the third reading that I was finally able to go back and enjoy the book simply on the visual level. Each panel could be enjoyed on the levels of surface, texture, pattern, and craft. The mystery and seeming simplicity of the imagery can't help but draw one in.
There are many incredible illustrators, authors, and artists out there but very few succeed in creating a unique language with their work. Ms. French has. THE TICKING reaffirms our need for master storytelling, the experience of books, and the importance of the visual as language.

Renee French, The Ticking (Top Shelf Productions, 2005)

I am sure there is someone out there-- in fact, I am sure there are a lot of someones out there-- who can read through The Ticking a few times and tell you all sorts of things about the subtext, the symbolism, and all sorts of other under-the-surface stuff about this book. I am not one of them. I'm just here to tell you that The Ticking is one of the flat-out oddest productions I have encountered in the universe of graphic literature.

Edison Steelhead's mother dies in childbirth. His father sees that Edison has inherited his own deformities, and sets about trying to get Edison plastic surgery to make him look more normal. Edison himself isn't sure about all this, and flees from the necessity of these confrontations into his career as an aspiring artist. Edison's father then brings home a sister for Edison-- Patrice, a chimpanzee, and Edison and Patrice begin down the road to siblinghood, one not smooth at the best of times. And that's just the beginning. Things get odder from there.

This is a book both amusing (how amusing you will find it depends largely on your capacity for appreciation of black humor) and horrifying, often in the same panel. French's panorama is the world of the deformed, but just as Katherine Dunn in Geek Love or Tod Browning in Freaks, French approaches her subjects with a warmth and humor that translates to the audience's ability to better relate to the book's subjects-- always a wonderful thing.

If the book has a problem, it's that it could have been longer. French's impressionist style is wonderful, and the holes that are left are done with an obvious sense of planning, but I'd still have liked to see a little more of... well, everything. The relationship between Patrice and Edison's father in particular stands out as not quite covered enough, but the Patrice-and-Edison scenes, some of the best in this always-strong book, are too few.

Great stuff. Highly recommended. ****

This is a wonderful book relating human resiliency and the good of which people are capable. Should be mandatory reading in all college human service programs.

This book is a love feast. Story after story of Bill and the "frens" who were fortunate enough to be a part of Bill's circle, including the regulars on the bus who were cheerfully greeted upon boarding, the day care children who had a happy transition from parents dropping them off for day care, the nice lady prostitutes who enjoyed his happy harmonica tunes when he was in Washington, DC to be honored for his achievements. Not only does the book make you glad to know about Bill's magnificent gift of loving, it gives hints about how to nurture that in life. The book is for everyone who celebrates the great diversity of gifts that make life wonderful

This uplifting story will appeal to anyone who is interested in how the human spirit overcomes great adversity. It is also of local interest to residents of Iowa City, as it recaps events that happened in this town and on this campus. A thoroughly enjoyable read that I would highly recommend.

Dr. Walz tells the life story of Bill Sackter's triumph over disability. The book is written from Bill's perspective and tells of his journey in a Minnesota mental institution to being named Iowa's Handicapped Person of the year. There is a wonderful Christmas story which makes this book particularly timely. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages.

The story of the life and times of William ("Bill for short") Sackter is as remarkable and inspiring as any in American history. Bill's story is re-told by his good friend Professor Thomas Walz (now retired from the social work department of the University of Iowa) in such sharp, believable detail as even to go so far as to write the majority of the book from Bill's point of view, using the sort of speech, broken perhaps but very gripping, as Bill had used; this aspect brings a great deal of accuracy to the book. The Bible says in I Thessalonians 5 to rejoice always and to give thanks in all circumstances. Bill Sackter took these principles to the extreme, and as a result, made everyone who knew him take a much closer look at themselves and the world around them. His life still has that effect on people today.

I'm not going to say here what all happened in Bill's life; the book will do a much better job of that than I. However, I will simply say that this book will open your eyes to an incredible sense of optimism little known in the world we live in today. I can't imagine someone reading this book and being disappointed.

One thing more: for those of you who have seen and loved the movies "Bill" and "Bill On His Own" (which have been out of print for who-knows-how-many-years), they are available from the very good people at Wild Bill's Coffee Shop at the University of Iowa.

Facing chronic disease myself, I've turned to books like this for information, comfort, challenge and ideas. Nancy Mairs is the best I've found for writing honestly about what it means for people (women in particular) to face chronic, degenerative illness. She writes from her personal experience, but I see myself in her struggles. A book to read and re-read.

Nancy Mairs writes about the human condition with humor, compassion, and ruthless honesty. This is a book of personal reflections about disability, embodiment, marriage, religion, and lots of other things, but fundamentally about the possibility of honestly acknowledging all the pain and confusion in our lives and at the same time--within that pain and confusion--living fully, gratefully, joyously.

Wow. What a gift. Thank you, Nancy Mairs.

This book and "Ordinary Time" are my favorites by Mairs.

I had to read this book for one of my women's study's classes nearly 7 years ago. It has been too long to remember much of the detail but what I do remember is the depth of the impression that was left upon me. It is a very difficult task to look at someone's life, through their eyes, and experience their total destruction of being...slow....poignant...and startlingly real.

As we discussed this book in class, one of the girls ran out in tears, later coming back and disclosing that she, too, suffered from MS, making the book that much real and impressionable for me.

Reviewer: robert dorroh from Sonora, CA United States Nancy Mairs, with devastating honesty, chronicles life as a cripple (her choice of word) in poignant essays in "Waist High in the World."

Beset with multiple sclerosis and bouts with clinical and situational depression, she offsets these stumbling blocks with joy, candor, eloquence, and cultural and political insights. It is a book for everybody, not just the disabled, for it challenges our fears, cultural hangups and citizenship: "The more perspectives that can be brought to bear on human experience, even from the slant of a wheelchair or a hospital bed, or through the ears of a blind person or the fingers of someone who is deaf, the richer that experience becomes." She attacks the stereotype that cripples must be passive and unfailingly polite in a culture that doesn't want to deal with them: "Beyond cheerfulness and patience, people don't expect much of a cripple's character."

Pondering her husband and caretaker George's battle with cancer, she offers a balanced look at suicide in the face of his death. Though she has attempted suicide "more than once," she questions the right-to-die movement, which extolls "rational" suicide: "Since hopelessness is a distinctive symptom of depression, which is an emotional disorder, actions carried out in a despairing state seem to me intrinsically irrational. This last time I clung to shreds of reason, which saved me." Still, she sees suicide as a possibility: "I want to be the one in charge of my life, including its end."

Why should society pay for the misfortunes of others? people ask. Because it's what human beings do: take care of one another, Mairs says, adding that it's the government's role to ensure that its citizens are entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Mairs notes that the abled-bodied should aim to preserve the dignity of the disabled. This takes in seeing them as sexual beings: ... "The general assumption, even among those who might be expected to know better, is that people with disabilities are out of the sexual running."

As a paraplegic, I admire her advocacy on my behalf. I admire her more, however, for her willingness to work toward the betterment of our society through a rare and gifted intelligence.

Nancy Mairs is painfully, startlingly brave. Her book is something I recommend, not just for people with MS but people, period. She reminds me of just how powerful telling the truth can really be. We all need this book!

I know Alex's Mom and Dad from the Make A Wish 300 mile bikeride, and Team Alex.

I am also a physician and parent. This book is a motivator, a reminder about how to live, and an inspiration to us all.

My life has changed already from reading it! Alex's wish goes on and keeps changing us.

Read this book if you get the chance!!

This book is an inspiring portrait of a remarkable teenaged girl who teaches us how to live while fighting for her own life. I highly recommend When One Door Closes.

As I type this, Frank Sinatra is singing (on his satellite radio "Channel 75") a song written specially for him, titled (What will it matter) "100 YEARS FROM TODAY."

Coincidentally (or maybe not!) I just happened to be reading the final words of this deeply affecting book --- about a Michigan girl, 17-year-old Alexandra Graham and her brave but unsuccessful battle with cancer.

All of us have had this same thought, haven't we? Will my life matter to people, loved ones or strangers, after I am gone? Contributing this book's brilliant final chapter, Michael Josephson offers us a resounding YES. With one little proviso! Consider his words (the best I ever read on this subject) and see if they speak to your heart too.

-----

"Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, minutes, hours or days.

All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned, or what you were owed.

Your judgments, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won't matter where you came from or which side of the tracks you lived on at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success but your significance . . . not what you learned but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence but your character. Not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.

-----

As if to underline these words, this book (subtitled, "A Teen's Inspiring Journey and Living Legacy") culminates with this moving recollection from a Michigan woman, Dorothy Pitsch, who knew nothing of Alexandra Graham's courageous losing battle, until days after "Alex" died. Mrs. Pitsch writes:

"My husband and I had five children and the two youngest were off to college. It was a time in my life when I was looking for something new and meaningful to do.

"I prayed to God, `Show me some work that will make a difference in the world.' That's when I got involved in a Christian outreach program called WHEELS FOR THE WORLD. They gather used wheelchairs, repairing them and redistributing them to those in need around the world. They didn't have anyone in Michigan doing it, so I volunteered to see what I can do."

"Well, I started a wheelchair drive collection program, and they started to come in from all over the state - hundreds and hundreds of them . . .

"Alex Graham's father Bill called and wanted us to come over and pick up Alex's wheelchair at his office. It was a memorable morning [because] I had arranged to pick up a truckload of wheelchairs that day, and had an interview scheduled with THE DETROIT NEWS. When we finished we headed over to Bill Graham's office . . .

"At this point I didn't know anything about Alex. I mean, we had picked up hundreds of wheelchairs and this was one more to add to the effort. Bill handed me a couple of sheets of paper and said, `I want you to read these when you find some time.'

"On the way back home, I read [those pages from Bill] written about Alex by the well-respected journalist Bob Talbert of the Detroit Free Press.

"When I read the article I remembered my daughter talking to me about a local girl with cancer who recently died. At the time I had no idea who she was talking about. Now I realized that it was Alex.

"When I tied it all together, I realized I had a very special wheelchair. I decided I wanted to track it [this wheelchair] to see who got it. [Alex's chair was] loaded into my car and I was driving down the road to my home when I heard this loud, clear voice. The voice urged: `Let's stop by and see my Dad. It will make him feel better.'

"I was alone in the car! Startled by what I'd heard, I sensed the hairs on my neck and arms stand on end. This was something I had never, ever experienced before.

"Then, when I should have made a right-hand turn to go home, I found myself in the left-turn lane. I was thinking, `What's going on here?'

"Before I knew it, I had turned left and was headed for Bill Graham's office. I had no clue what I was going to say when I got there . . .

"Bill came out of his office and I told him I was thinking of tracking Alex's chair . . . to see how it changed the recipient's life. Then I told him about what happened in my car . . . about a young girl's voice that told me to stop by and see him . . . that it would make him feel better.

"Bill started to cry, and threw his arms around me. I was speechless. [Soon] I got back into the car and could feel Alex's presence. I reached over and put my hand on the cushion from her chair. It was sitting on the seat next to me. `You're right, Alex,' I said. `This will make your Dad feel better'."

-----

And just beneath these words from "Mrs. Pitsch," is a 3,000 year old Biblical quotation. [Isaiah 30:21]

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, `This is the way; walk in it'."

Life is sometimes cruel. "When One Door Closes: A Teen's Inspiring Journey and Living Legacy" is Susie and Bill Graham's reflections on their daughter's battle with cancer. Alexandra Graham was diagnosed at the age of sixteen and never let her spirit falter. She knew it was out of her hands and prayed for a miracle, a miracle which unfortunately did not come, but Alex did what she could to leave the world better than she found it. "When One Door Closes" is a touching and inspiring story, highly recommended to any parent facing a similarly tragic situation.

When One Door Closes - which I was lucky enough to read pre-publication - is the honest recollection of a young teenager's battle with cancer as told by her family, friends and medical staff. The book, however, is not a depressing tale, but rather an inspiring journey about how Alex never viewed herself as a victim. To this day, the lessons that Alex taught people about her vigor for life, her positive outlook and her ability to confront adversity head-on still affects those that contributed to the book - and you can hear it in their stories. You don't need to have experienced a tragedy of this sort to relate to this book...you just need to have lived life to be inspired by it.

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 book is invaluable for helping children take in everything related to a loved one's cancer. It helps kids understand that their fears are normal and understandable, and that cancer is something that we can fight. They also learn that the fight is hard and that they are part of the fight when they support their loved one.

It was enormously helpful to my daughter in understanding my father's cancer last year. My daughter was just five at that time. I read it aloud to her, and she listened so intently that she repeated parts of it verbatim six months later!

I gave our (first) copy to a friend when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for her daughter to read. She describes it as "a godsend."

This book was given as a gift to my ten year old niece while her mom was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. I asked her about how she liked the book and she told me that is has really helped her understand what her mom is going through and helped her understand what she (my niece) was feeling. Great choice!!

This very well written, easy to read book is writen from the perspective of a preteen girl whose mother is undergoing testing and treatment for breast cancer. As both a practicing oncologist and a mother of two children (12 and 8 yrs old), I highly recommend this book. The explanations of procedures and treatments were simple, straightforward and easy to understand (my 12 year old agrees). Clare is able to describe feelings and thoughts common to many people in this situation - adults and kids alike - and will let young readers know that they are not alone. This book can also be used as a starting point for further family discussions. The references in the back of the book are quite helpful. The pictures and illustrations are wonderful and make this book unique.

First off, let me say that I would be a lot happier if nobody ready this book. I certainly hope that my kids never have to read this book and that I will never ever have to recommend it to anybody that I know.

"The Year My Mother Was Bald" is written for children ages 8-13 who find themselves in the position of dealing with a parent dealing with cancer. Ann Speltz based this book on the experiences of her own family during the year that she was treated for cancer. What she and her daughter, Amelia, went through is turned into this heart-warming volume from Magination Press, with illustrations by Kate Sternberg, who also endured a year when her mother was bald. Here the story is told by Clare, who keeps a journal about the year her mother undergoes treatment for cancer.

"The Year My Mother Was Bald" is divided into twelve chapters, one for each month, beginning in June (which means the cycle ends in the spring). Clare is looking forward to summer, making a list of her favorite summer things to do, when her mother comes back from her annual physical with the news that she might have a tumor in her breast. In addition to Clare's journal entries, there are articles that have been clipped from other sources explaining things like what happens "When Cells Go Wild" and "Radiation." Accompanying Clare's thoughts and this information are drawings, photographs, and resources that will help youngesters understand what is happening, the same way they helped Claire.

Not only does "The Year My Mother Was Bald" offer answers to the obvious questions that will occupy the minds of kids in this situation ("Will my mom be all right?" "Who will take care of me if she doesn't get better?") but also gives kids some pro-active things they can do to not only help them deal with their concerns and fears, but also to help with the recovery process for their mother. However, the primary focus is on helping kids deal with all aspects of this process, which is why perhaps the most poignant moment in the book is when Claire decides what to do with the box underneath her bed that has the hair that her mother has lost.

The back of this book provides resources that kids will find useful for finding additional information about dealing with cancer in free booklets, organizations and online sites, and other books. More importantly, Speltz reassures kids that there are no right or wrong feelings and their feelings are not only important, but also helpful. She also reminds her readers that scientists keep making new discoveries about cancer and coming up with new methods of fighting cancer all the time.

The only concern anyone could have about the helpfulness of this book would be the gender differences between Clare and her mother and the reader and their parent. "The Year My Mother Was Bald" speaks more to a situation where the mother has been diagnosed (fathers can always claim they are trying to look like Michael Jordan or Yul Brynner), but even young boys should be able to relate to Clare's situation and take comfort from this excellent book as well.

In this story, a young girl, Claire, tells the story of her mother's breast cancer in a monthly scrapbook. It starts in June, when her mother's cancer is first diagnosed. In the ensuing months, her mother experiences surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. In the final month, May, her mother is feeling better and appears to be on the road to a good recovery.

Each month includes Claire's experiences, hopes and fears. She discusses her daily routine and how it has to change when her mother is too ill to pack her lunch or drive her to school. Eventually, Claire learns to manage some chores, such as laundry, on her own. She feels that she is contributing and that she has learned some new skills. Each monthly chapter also includes scientific information explaining facts that a child might want to know. These topics include surgery, surgical drains, chemotherapy, and hair loss. the illustrations include drawings and photographs. They look like the marginal drawings that a girl like Claire might actually do. they help illustrate her reactions.

I liked the way that the book is organized around a specific time frame. A child experiences time differently from an adult. Although cancer treatment often extends longer than a year, the concrete depiction of time passage allows the child or young adolescent to see that there is a progression.

The author and illustrator have both had personal experience with cancer in themselves or in their family. They make it clear that different people experience cancer in their own ways, and that different emotional reactions are all right.

This is an awesome way to communicate to others, of your childs level of control. Awsome for not only ASD children, but also with ADHD, and other Autistic behaviors.

I have used this activity with a wide range of students and have gotten rich information regarding "stressors." This helped me to then work with students on coping mechanisms and work with staff on prevention, when possible.

Being the grandmother of an autistic boy and also a special education paraeducator, this item is a MUST HAVE! It is very hands on and
a great visual tool. It can be used in so many different situations.
You will not be disappointed.

This book is a great visual tool for students on the autism spectrum. It uses colors and numbers to help children understand their own emotions and begin to self regulate. I highly recommend it to parents and teachers.

As a school psychologist working with children with all types of social skills concerns, this book is a must. The children do not have to put things into words as they just put the item in the pocket they feel it belongs. The items are very short and can be read to the children, as well. It is so visual and concrete that a child can express what bothers him without the stress of trying to put it in words is no longer there to bother him. Students seem to really like it. I have had a couple ask to play that control game again. This was definitely worth the money.

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. Love the 123 as well.

As the mom of a child with down syndorme I bought so my son could see other kids with DS in books. I find myself passing this one over due to it's lack of typical kids too! I would like to see more books showing inclusion and acceptance and not exclusivity.

I believe this book is a large step in the right direction for educating the world on Down syndrome, and realizing just how beautiful these children are. My grandson is the first Down's child to ever go through our regular school system and is doing great. You will notice in the book that there are twin combinations, where one twin has Down syndrome and the other doesn't, and there are regular children with the Down's children. All these children are from New York State but various parts of the state, there are a variety of ethnic groups. This book tells a whole other story then just a child learning their ABCs. There is another whole lesson here to be learned. You don't have to have a child with Down's syndrome for your child to get something from this book. Our moto is: They are a child first and Down's second. Another words a CHILD with Down's syndrome, not a DOWN syndrome child. I am very pleased with the positive responses this book is receiving. God bless each and everyone of you who purchased this book. My grandson also thanks you.

Many children's ABC books are so crowded with images that it is easy for kids to miss the main point, i.e., A=Apple. This is a very clear book with great photographs! Most young kids enjoy photos of other children, and this would be a great way to introduce all children to diversity...and disability as a type of diversity to be embraced and not feared.

This is a wonderful ABC book. Each letter has a full page photograph showing a child with Down syndrome in an activity with an object corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. The letter "D" for example, has a young boy with Down syndrome and a dog. The pictures are very colorful and clear. The children are beautiful models. This is a fun book and I highly recommend it. If only they made a hard board edition for little children...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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