Children’s Literature Joey Pigza swallowed the Key
by Jack Gantos
(Corgi Yearling)
Joey doesn't mean to be a pain, to disrupt lessons and cause havoc at home. He only swallowed the key because he could and he certainly didn't mean to cut off the tip of Maria's nose. But he did it all the same and the fact it was an accident didn't stop him being suspended from school. Well written from Joey's point of view, this book will give those who live, work and go to school with ADHD children an idea of what's going on in their heads as well as providing the children themselves with a character with whom they can truly. Ages 8 up
Blue Bottle Mystery
by Kathy Hoopman
(Jessica Kingsley)
When Ben and his friend, Andy, find an old blue bottle in the school grounds, life starts to change in mysterious ways. The resulting story is exciting enough to keep you turning the pages and so well written that it helps you understand what it feels like to have Asperger's Syndrome like Ben. The subject matter and the clear, well-spaced print could prove particularly popular with children with special needs. Ages 8 up
Best Friends
by Rachel Anderson Illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
(Collins Jets)
When Jessy's sister brings her friend, Becky, home for tea, Jessy feels left out, jealous and angry. If Anna can have a special friend, then Jessy wants one, too. Rachel Anderson is such a sensitive writer, and gives us a warm, involving story with a satisfying ending. The equally sensitive illustrations reveal what Rachel omits from the text - Jessy has Down's Syndrome. This story explores the feelings and reactions not just of Jessy, but of Anna, Becky, and Mum, too and shows how such a situation can be difficult for everyone. Moonbird
by Joyce Dunbar, illustrated by Jane Ray
(Doubleday)
Young Prince Orla is unable to hear the sounds of the earth so he doesn't learn to speak. No matter what his parents and their advisers do, he remains locked for five years, in a bubble of unearthly silence. Then one day as he plays in the palace garden, the silent prince is visited by a moonbird with magic in its song. Thanks to this moonbird, and with the help of a silver monkey who cares for him, Orla learns to listen with his eyes and speak with his hands.
In this parable, Orla, who is deaf, is portrayed as differently abled, indeed gifted, and, with the help of the Moonchild, he is able to unlock the King and Queens's inability to understand and communicate with him.
Jane Ray's glowing illustrations, which set the story in a magical, mythical kingdom, are intricately patterned and exquisitely ornate
Looking After Louis
by Lesley Ely, illustrated by Polly Dunbar
(Frances Lincoln)
Told from the viewpoint of a girl in newcomer Louis’s class, this story relates how her classmates and teacher gradually discover how best to accommodate the particular needs of Louis who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. It’s not only Louis’s uniqueness that is brought out in Polly Dunbar’s quirky illustrations of school life; her drawings are a celebration of the individuality of each and every member of the school community.
There is an informative postscript written by a psychologist and a page of teaching ideas at the end of the book. Every primary school should invest in at least one copy.
Stoner and Spaz
by Ron Koetge
(Walker Books)
This book is about the relationship between Ben, who has cerebral palsy, and Coleen, who's hooked on drugs. As I lack personal experience in either field, Josh (who also has CP) kindly agreed to help. He says "I like the way Ben was just an average boy doing the stuff that kids of his age do. I also like the relationship with Coleen, as she was able to bring him out into the world away from the strict strain of his grandmother. This produces humour mixed in with pressure. Even though Coleen is a drug taker, her intentions are good, but at the same time she doesn’t feel sorry for Ben - she like’s him because of his character. Ben is intelligent and can use his brain, whereas Coleen is able -bodied so their relationship is based on helping each other. At the time when I was reading the book I was going through a difficult stage in my life. The book helped me realise there were other sociable teenage boys out there who like being in the middle of the action and it helped me feel I wasn’t on my own. Prior to reading the book I had just finished reading Ben Elton’s Gridlock and this is about a professor with ‘Cerebral Palsey’. I could make the comparison with Ben and the professor as they were both happy to get on with their life, no matter what difficulties they had. For teenagers (contains explicit language)
Ian's Walk : A Story About Autism
by Laurie Lears
A young girl realizes how much she loves her brother, who has autism, when he gets lost at the park.
Joey Pigza swallowed the Key
by Jack Gantos
(Corgi Yearling)
Joey doesn't mean to be a pain, to disrupt lessons and cause havoc at home. He only swallowed the key because he could and he certainly didn't mean to cut off the tip of Maria's nose. But he did it all the same and the fact it was an accident didn't stop him being suspended from school. Well written from Joey's point of view, this book will give those who live, work and go to school with ADHD children an idea of what's going on in their heads as well as providing the children themselves with a character with whom they can truly.
Ages 8 up
Blue Bottle Mystery
by Kathy Hoopman
(Jessica Kingsley)
When Ben and his friend, Andy, find an old blue bottle in the school grounds, life starts to change in mysterious ways. The resulting story is exciting enough to keep you turning the pages and so well written that it helps you understand what it feels like to have Asperger's Syndrome like Ben. The subject matter and the clear, well-spaced print could prove particularly popular with children with special needs.
Ages 8 up
Best Friends
by Rachel Anderson Illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
(Collins Jets)
When Jessy's sister brings her friend, Becky, home for tea, Jessy feels left out, jealous and angry. If Anna can have a special friend, then Jessy wants one, too. Rachel Anderson is such a sensitive writer, and gives us a warm, involving story with a satisfying ending. The equally sensitive illustrations reveal what Rachel omits from the text - Jessy has Down's Syndrome. This story explores the feelings and reactions not just of Jessy, but of Anna, Becky, and Mum, too and shows how such a situation can be difficult for everyone.
Moonbird
by Joyce Dunbar, illustrated by Jane Ray
(Doubleday)
Young Prince Orla is unable to hear the sounds of the earth so he doesn't learn to speak. No matter what his parents and their advisers do, he remains locked for five years, in a bubble of unearthly silence. Then one day as he plays in the palace garden, the silent prince is visited by a moonbird with magic in its song. Thanks to this moonbird, and with the help of a silver monkey who cares for him, Orla learns to listen with his eyes and speak with his hands.
In this parable, Orla, who is deaf, is portrayed as differently abled, indeed gifted, and, with the help of the Moonchild, he is able to unlock the King and Queens's inability to understand and communicate with him.
Jane Ray's glowing illustrations, which set the story in a magical, mythical kingdom, are intricately patterned and exquisitely ornate
Looking After Louis
by Lesley Ely, illustrated by Polly Dunbar
(Frances Lincoln)
Told from the viewpoint of a girl in newcomer Louis’s class, this story relates how her classmates and teacher gradually discover how best to accommodate the particular needs of Louis who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. It’s not only Louis’s uniqueness that is brought out in Polly Dunbar’s quirky illustrations of school life; her drawings are a celebration of the individuality of each and every member of the school community.
There is an informative postscript written by a psychologist and a page of teaching ideas at the end of the book. Every primary school should invest in at least one copy.
Stoner and Spaz
by Ron Koetge
(Walker Books)
This book is about the relationship between Ben, who has cerebral palsy, and Coleen, who's hooked on drugs. As I lack personal experience in either field, Josh (who also has CP) kindly agreed to help. He says "I like the way Ben was just an average boy doing the stuff that kids of his age do. I also like the relationship with Coleen, as she was able to bring him out into the world away from the strict strain of his grandmother. This produces humour mixed in with pressure. Even though Coleen is a drug taker, her intentions are good, but at the same time she doesn’t feel sorry for Ben - she like’s him because of his character. Ben is intelligent and can use his brain, whereas Coleen is able -bodied so their relationship is based on helping each other. At the time when I was reading the book I was going through a difficult stage in my life. The book helped me realise there were other sociable teenage boys out there who like being in the middle of the action and it helped me feel I wasn’t on my own. Prior to reading the book I had just finished reading Ben Elton’s Gridlock and this is about a professor with ‘Cerebral Palsey’. I could make the comparison with Ben and the professor as they were both happy to get on with their life, no matter what difficulties they had.
For teenagers (contains explicit language)
Ian's Walk : A Story About Autism
by Laurie Lears
A young girl realizes how much she loves her brother, who has autism, when he gets lost at the park.
Home