Editorial Review

So what if he's legally blind? Even with his bottle-thick, bug-eyed glasses, Paul Fisher can see better than most people. He can see the lies his parents and brother live out, day after day. No one ever listens to Paul, though--until the family moves to Tangerine. In Tangerine, even a blind, geeky, alien freak can become cool. Who knows? Paul might even become a hero! Edward Bloor's debut novel sparkles with wit, authenticity, unexpected plot twists, and heart. The writing is so fine, the story so triumphant, that you just might stand up and shout when you get to the end. Hooray! ... Read more

Reviews (441)

Tangerine Book Review
This bookis outstanding.it talks about reletionships and tradgedy as well as disabilities and the truth. I gave this book a five star rating because of the apparent time, thought and effort put into the creative text. My absolute favorite part of this book is the very ending because it shows remembrance of a lost freind. I would recommend this book to people with interests such as soccer, and ages 11-14 because of the setting at a Tangerine Middle School and Lake Windsor Middle School.

Ummm...Fantastic!
Tangerine was an "read catching" book. When my language arts class read it I couldn't help but pay attention.
A Student's Review
I think kids from ages 10 and up could read this book. I think this because there is some swearing in it, and this book has kids of this age in it, so it will probly be easier for them to conect with the characters. The author made it clear that she likes to leave her readers on the edge of their chairs, because this book was very mystrious and suspensful. That was the one thing I liked about this book. Over all the book Tangerine was very good! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/All Ages    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family - Siblings    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Social Issues - Adolescence    7. Social Issues - Special Needs    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Special Needs   

Editorial Review

When 8-year-old Kate meets a boy who seems somehow different, she feelsfunny inside. After talking with her mom, though, Kate begins to understand thatTimmy is just like her in many ways. Timmy has special needs; he takes longer tolearn than Kate, and can't walk or run as well. But he also "loves his family,he wants friends, he goes to school, and he dreams about what he wants to bewhen he grows up." Kate and Timmy meet, and the seeds of a friendship areplanted. Read more

Reviews (26)

Great book for church library
I am a Lutheran Church librarian in Florida who bought this book for our church library.It stresses that though we may have different traits and characteristics we are all worthy of love, respect and human dignity.It discusses a mentally-challenged little boy and how he can be a good playmate even though he is a little slow.So what?He is still a persdon worthy of dignity and acceptance.This book stresses kindness on a personal level and a live-and-let-live attitude.This is a vital life lesson for our children to learn early on, and is a great conversation starter.This book will help cut down on bullying, marginalization and dehumanization of the mentally and physically challenged among us.After all, who among us doesnot have some sort of shortcoming?Children need to know that perfection is an impossibility and so they should expect people to do the best job they can but not expect perfection in themselves or others.The illustrations appear to be done in pastels and are very attractive.Great Job, Maria!Keep them coming!

What's Wrong With Timmy?
Just as with What's Heaven, this story has Kate as well.I think every parent that has a child with special needs would hope that friendship and acceptance would come as quickly to them as it does to Timmy in What's Wrong With Timmy?
What's wrong with the author?
This book is a real nightmare for children with disabilities. Maria Shriver does attempt to impart the message that nothing is wrong at all- unfortunately, she's already planted the seed in the young minds of her readers with the mere title of the book. She then spends an exhaustive twenty pages trying to be sure she'd convinced them of it.I'd recommend "Russ and the Almost Perfect Day" by Janet Elizabeth Rickert instead. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Friendship    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mentally handicapped    8. People with mental disabilitie    9. People with mental disabilities    10. Social Issues - Friendship    11. Social Issues - New Experience    12. Social Issues - Special Needs    13. Social Situations - Friendship    14. Social Situations - Special Needs    15. Disability & illness    16. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship    17. Picture books   

Editorial Review

In this endearing story by Newberry Medal-winner Sharon Creech, a wise old Italian granny skillfully imparts life advice (and cooking lessons) to her winning but sometimes obstinate 12-year-old granddaughter.Read more

Reviews (40)

Soup? Did someone say soup!!
Just a few chapters of Granny Torrelli Makes Soup By Sharon Creech and you will fall in love with it right then and now. I love it I give it a 10-10, because it's the best book ever. (Grades5-7) and (Ages8-10).
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup (and she'll make you laugh, too!)
If you're looking for a quick read that will make you feel good inside, I have the perfect book for you: Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech.
Secret Recipe
I would recommend Granny Torrelli Makes Soup to someone who enjoys books that deal with life, friendship and especially soup. I think that the protagonist Rosie is jealous because Bailey who is blind, gets all the attention. I thought that this book was okay because I couldn't understand some of the words. The author of this book is Sharon Creech. Another book I will probably read by this author is, Absolutely Normal Chaos.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Best friends    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family - Multigenerational    5. Fiction    6. Grandmothers    7. Italian Americans    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Social Issues - Friendship    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Multigenerational   

Reviews (1)

Best of the series!Clear, easy signs & cute pictures
"Get your spider-fingers ready...!" (wiggle, wiggle)
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    2. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Language Arts - Vocabulary & Spelling    6. Poetry - Nursery Rhymes    7. Social Issues - Special Needs    8. Social Situations - Special Needs   

Reviews (8)

For all ages
I am mom to a toddler, aunt to a 12 yr old girl and 8 yr old boy, and reading tutor to three kids ages 6, 11, and 15.We all love learning from this book.Heller's Baby Fingers Teaching Your Baby to Sign board books for babies and toddlers have also been great for my toddler.

Excellent introductory book!
This book has clear, easy to follow pictures. There is enough information in the first few pages to begin signing to/with kids!!Great book!

Excellent book!
This is a WONDERFUL book and an excellent place to begin signing with your baby. Lora Heller is an expert in signing as well as children. I signed with my baby from about 9 months, and he picked it right up. He is now a very advanced talker at 2.5 years of age. He loved signing, and so did I - it gave us a way to communicate before he could talk. I knew what he wanted and what he was feeling/thinking so much more often with signs! I can't say enough good things about it and about Lora Heller. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Juvenile literature    5. Language Arts - General    6. Sign language    7. Social Issues - Special Needs    8. BG-HUMOR/GAMES - BG-HUMOR    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Language Arts / General   

Reviews (5)

Great book for infants!
I'm an occupational therapist and I absolutely loved using this book with my daughter.We used it from the age of 6 months to 17 months,when my daughter started to use more verbal language.I've read the other reviews and they state that the book is BSL, which I didn't even realize (not being a speech language pathologist, I'm not exposed to sign language as much).The book was great for what I think it's intended to be.It seems to be appropriate for infants to toddlers that are learning sign language as a precursor to verbal language.The children that would benefit from it won't communicate with other people who use standard ASL and won't use sign language as their main form of communication.My daughter learned approximately 20-25 signs to communicate to me things that she wanted and it cut down on a lot of frustration.I also noticed that if the word that she wanted to communicate wasn't in the book or wasn't something that I taught her, she would make up a sign...she even made up a sign for The Wiggles.This book is great for an infant/toddler because the pages are cardboard (they won't tear), the pictures are age appropriate for a baby, and it's easy to understand.I've seen several baby sign language books and none were appropriate to sit down and look at with a baby.This book was actually the first book that my daughter wanted to "read" before she went to bed, because she could "read" it.Again, a wonderful book for a infant/toddler who isn't going to use sign language as their main form of communication.My daughter is now 20 months old and has been talking for awhile and I really contribute it to her use of sign language prior to verbal language.Even if there's not a word that your baby wants to communicate in the book, just make it up.You're the only one that is probably going to use it with them...they won't be using the signs for long anyhow.

Important signs are missing.
What I like - This book is easy to understand.Large pictures and easy to understand illustrations are great.
British Sign Language vs. American Sign Language
My children and I love the illustrations and size of this big board book, but were disappointed upon receiving it and noting the signs were based on BSL (British Sign Lanugage) not ASL (American Sign Language).Although many signs were similar, there were also quite a few that were different.We're in close contact w/many deaf friends, so its not acceptable for us to learn BSL, when we're trying to learn ASL.I wish that I had known in advance regarding the translation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Language Arts - General    5. Social Issues - Special Needs   

Reviews (3)

Great ideas
This activity book is full of great ideas and I have been using with my younger children that I counsel with ADHD. It has helped them focus and learn useful things about ADHD. It is a great resource

Indispensible Resource For Those Dealing with AD(H)D Student
This book is an invaluable aide for parents, educators, and professionals dealing with the challenges faced by AD(H)D students in school. It is a book that can be given directly to students as well. Written in a clear,visually appealing format, it presents worksheets and quick exercises thatguide the late grade school, middle school or high school student to anunderstanding of how this disorder affects their ability to learn. Itprovides information such as how to choose and adopt various studytechniques that will help children with AD(H)Dbecome successful students.It coaches students in using active study techniques to remember what theyread, or to develop written reports. Students are not resistant to usingthe concepts because of how they are presented and is a book that hasapplication to non ADHD students as well. I highly recommend this workbookand have found it much more much more useful that the "Putting on theBrakes" book by the same authors. Of all the self help books I havelent out to people, this is one that people use so much they forget toreturn it! I just keep buying more copies because I don't want to bewithout the book.

It makes sense to my students!
"Putting on the Break" has helped several of my students/clients understand what is really happening when they can not stop.One student'smom said, "This is the first time I see Laura interested in a book,any book.She explained why she has trouble paying attention like a pro.Thanks."The book gives the children a perspective they can relateto.Adults can be too wordy, the books helps them "see" and"feel" about ADHD.Thanks for making the book available inSpanish.We need more for the Spanish- speaking population. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - General    2. Attention deficit disorders    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Cognitive therapy for children    6. Hyperactive child syndrome    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Problems, exercises, etc.    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Study Aids - General    12. Interactive & activity books & packs    13. Life Skills & Personal Awareness, General Studies    14. Study guides, home study & revision notes   

Subjects:  1. Blind    2. Children's 9-12    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Contests    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Golf    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Sports & Recreation - Miscellaneous    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (27)

Great book for discussion purposes
My 8 year old daughter was just recently diagnosed with AS and so I began a search for a variety of books to read myself and read along with my daughter.I chose this one, hoping it would give her something she could relate to.Reading along with her, it served to be a great tool for discussion.In addition, I plan on bringing it with me to the school as well.

Good starting point
This book is a good place to start.It has very remedial information on how Asperger's Syndrome (AS) appears to others.In this way it can be informative to those who don't have AS (why is he doing that?) as well as to those who have AS (how am I different?).The book is very short and only seeks to explain the perceptions and actions of a person with AS.It does a very good job of not condemning the behavior, merely pointing out that it is sometimes outside of the norm.

Excellent Resource
This book is an excellent resource for teachers who have students with different learning capabilities in their classrooms. It helps explain to other children that people are different, and see the world through different lenses. "This is Asperger's Syndrome" tells a child's life situation, from his eyes. I have used it in my classroom to help my students understand what it is like to be different. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 4-6    2. General    3. Health & Daily Living - Physical Impairments    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile Nonfiction / Health / Diseases    6. Medical / Nursing    7. Social Issues - Special Needs    8. Asperger's syndrome    9. Children's 9-12    10. Coloring books    11. Health - Diseases    12. Juvenile literature   

Reviews (4)

very good but not inclusive enough
i picked this up because it's the sort of thing that wasn't available to me when i needed it years ago and i was curious. i'm impressed with the career advice given, although far too many pages are devoted to getting into college. every gifted kid (possibly every kid) is going to be inundated with grades/college stuff without this book. i particularly like that the authors address subjects which can be touchy or entirely skipped over in some environments, such as drinking, drugs, sex, depression and teen suicide.
Excellent Book
This was truly an excellent book for any teen who is gifted. I've been gifted since I was very young and I've never fit in with any of the other kids. I've always been much more mature and on a much higher level than the rest of the kids my age. This book showed me that I should be proud about being gifted, and shouldn't worry about fitting in. This is a must read for any gifted teen.

Robert's Mom
My son was thrilled to receive this book. He immediately began to see himself described in every chapter. He has always felt different and out of sync with his peers. This book helped him to understand himself and feel good about his "gift". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Gifted children    4. Gifted teenagers    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    8. Social Issues - Special Needs    9. Learning & study skills    10. Teaching of gifted children   

Reviews (20)

Zainy Zipzer is a great read!
Hank Zipzer is such a fun character for boys and girls. The plot is clever, the character real, and a real page turner. This book will definitely inspire reluctant readers into Hank Zipzer fans.

An Excellent Series--Even Better on Audiotape!
This series is wonderful!While we enjoyed reading each of the books in this series, EVEN BETTER was listening to Henry Winkler read them aloud on the audio version.
From a future educator - what a wonderfully written book!
I was required to read this book for my college class - "Assessment & Identification of Students with Exceptionalities." We were required to read the book, and then assess Hank for a learning disability. This book was VERY well written, AND it turns out it takes place at MY elementary school!!!
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Humorous Stories    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Learning disabilities    7. Magic tricks    8. School & Education    9. Schools    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Juvenile Fiction / School & Education   

Reviews (9)

For starters
The children in my classroom are learning ASL from me. I have many books and books/cds or videos about it. This book is great because children can look at and get the infomation without the sign, it can be read and use as a normal picture book. There are pictures of each item and next to it the sign for it. So they can learn about it on there own without a teacher always having to say "this is the sign for dog". Also they are signs for every day things which I think helped bring interest to the students in my young preschool classroom. There are better books out there for teaching ASL but this book is a great one to have that can be use as a non ASL book and ASL alike. I liked it so much I have gotten it for family members to use with their children.

great simple book
My 2 1/2 year old son hasn't mastered the English language yet so we're teaching him sign language, which he has picked up on wonderfully. This book is great with wonderful pictures and how to diagrams. He loves this book and it's easy to understand.

ENJOYABLE PUFFINS
I TRUELY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. IT IS A HANDY QUICK REFERENCE BOOK TO KEEP IN YOUR VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE LITTLE ONE AS i DO WHEN ME AND MY GRADSON TAKE A DRIVE, WHETHER IT B TO THE STORE , PARK OR LONG DISTANCE TRIP. IT'S A HANDY GREAT LITTLE BOOK. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Sign Language    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Juvenile literature    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts - General    8. Sign Language    9. Social Issues - Special Needs    10. Social Situations - Special Needs    11. Early learning / early learning concepts    12. Juvenile Nonfiction / Language Arts / General    13. Sign languages, Braille & other linguistic communication   

Reviews (14)

Check this out!
I have a daycare with children who use & do not use sign language. Personally i have used signs for a long time. This book is not only a teaching tool, but fun for the kids to use. I have created a memory game with some of the basic signs that children use everyday. With the other teaching books i have & use this is the one the children flock to to learn new signs. I only wish i had bought it a long time ago. After i bought it i had an instant request from a parent to buy one!

great
This book is great for children. The pictures of the signs are very easy to understand and the pictures illustrating the words are wonderful. My four-year old doesn't need to be able to read the vocabulary word to understand the book herself.She loves this book. I'm a sign language interpreter, the book shows ASL signs, but no grammer rules. It's basically a sign dictionary. I agree it's missing a few key signs, but overall I really like this book. I just recently used this book to teach a Parent/Toddler sign class. Everyone in the class liked this book.

not that useful
I found this book to be a poor guide to learning beginning signs. It has no verbal directions for each sign, just a picture. And a lot of times, the picture is just inadequate. I think it would help most people to understand the signs much better with written descriptions alongside each picture. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Sign Language    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Deaf    5. General    6. Glossaries, vocabularies, etc    7. Glossaries, vocabularies, etc.    8. Juvenile literature    9. Language    10. Language Arts & Disciplines    11. Means of communication    12. Nonverbal Language    13. Sign language    14. Social Issues - Special Needs    15. Social Situations - Special Needs    16. Sign languages, Braille & other linguistic communication   

Reviews (2)

very helpful for my daughter
This book was very helpful for my daughter with selective mutism.She realized for the first time that she was not the only kid with this problem.When we received it she read it every night and started to talk about how she felt.We shared this book with her teacher and her best friend, they too had no idea that this was how she felt.My daughter is 8 years old and this book was maybe a bit on the young side for her.It would be great for younger children with selective mutism and for those who need to understand how they feel.

Helpful for parents, teachers and child
I have found all of Dr. Shipon-Blum's materials to be very helpful in the treatment of SM. It is hard sometimes to explain this condition to others in the family, school, etc....this book gives a basic story of a little girl with SM, how she feels, how she acts and how her parents and teachers work to help her. My SM 6-yr-old and his sisters enjoy reading this story, too, and although he does not experience all of the same symptoms, he does relate to Katie, which I think has been helpful. It is a good springboard for discussion with your child. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anxiety in children    2. Child behavior disorders    3. Children with Special Needs    4. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Emotions & Feelings    7. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Special Needs    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Mutism, Elective    10. Shyness    11. Social Science - Psychology    12. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    13. Social Situations - Special Needs    14. Social phobia    15. Special Education - Socially Handicapped   

Reviews (69)

a wonderful book
I had to read thhis book this summer as a millville g.t. assinment. i loved it. at first i thought o great a book thats called the door in the wall. but by the time i was finish i thought don't judge a book by it's cover.

Great Read-Aloud
This book was a fantastic read-aloud book for my second-grader.We both thoroughly enjoyed it.I know he would never had made it through the story (because of the difficult language) if he had read it himself.It was a little tough getting into the plot, but once in, it was hard to put down.

The Door in the Wall
A Newbery Award Medal Winner and winner of the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, The Door in the Wall is an excellent book about finding your own way.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. Historical - Medieval    7. Middle Ages    8. Physically handicapped    9. Social Issues - Special Needs    10. Social Situations - Special Needs    11. Juvenile Fiction / General    12. Modern fiction   

Subjects:  1. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder    2. Attention-deficit-disordered children    3. Body, Mind & Spirit    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Juvenile Education    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. School & Education    11. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    12. Social Issues - Special Needs    13. Social Situations - Special Needs    14. Advice on parenting    15. Life Skills & Personal Awareness, General Studies   

Reviews (3)

Great to see everyone else's point of view...
I am one of the 81 siblings who answered the questions in this book, and although it was nearly 3 years ago and I've changed a lot since I wrote my answers, it still feels good to go back through and know I'm not alone.That was really our intended goal behind this book, and it came off well.Seeing that others share the same joys and frustrations of being a sibling as I do will never cease to help me get through the difficult life that we, as siblings of special needs kids, will live forever.

The Sib couldn't put it down
My daughter, the twin sister of a boy with Down Syndrome, couldn't put the Sibling Slam down.She quickly got taken up into the many comments and it definitely stimulated a number of good, open conversations between us.A great and important read for a sibling, and a parent.

Brutally honest, and brilliant!

Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Brothers and sisters of people with disabilities    3. Children with disabilities    4. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Family - Siblings    7. Family relationships    8. Home care    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Juvneile literature    12. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    13. Social Issues - Special Needs    14. Family & relationships   

Editorial Review

The loveable, disaster-prone hero of Read more

Reviews (113)

Joey Pigza Loses control
Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos was a great book. This book was very funny because of all the dumb things they did in the story. You will have to read the story to find what they did. Joey's dad and grandma are very weird. They are not like your normal parents. This book makes you just want to keep reading and reading. It is excellent for kids of all ages.

Joey's baseball connection with dad
I have 3 main statements two say about how I liked this book.
6th Grader's Review
During his summer, Joey Pigza goes to visit his dad who he hasn't visited in a very long time. His mother, no longer being married to him, does not trust Joey's father for he has had many addiction problems and was very childlike and immature. From his father, Joey inherited ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), which he has dealt with by using patches that supply him with his medications. When he visits his father though, his father doesn't believe in the patches and flushes them down the toilet. Here start the constant wacky events of Joey Pigza's summer with his father.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Alcoholism    2. Attention-deficit hyperactivit    3. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder    4. Baseball    5. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    7. Children: Grades 4-6    8. Fathers and sons    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    12. Social Issues - Special Needs    13. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    14. Social Situations - Special Needs    15. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    16. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Special Needs   

Reviews (3)

A father and son go to watch Jackie Robinson during his rookie season of 1947
You should know going into "Dad, Jackie, and Me" that this story is a work of fiction, but as Myron Uhlberg explains in his Author's Note at the back of the book parts of it are based in truth.That fact does not take away from the power of the story and when you understand the truth behind the story you will understand why Uhlberg comes up with the perfect ending that he does.Uhlberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, the hearing child of two deaf parents.This story begins on Opening Day in 1947, when Jackie Robinson became the first Negro player in Major League baseball with a young boy listening to the game on the radio and rooting for the Dodgers and Jackie Robinson (and against the New York Giants).Then one day the boy's father comes home early from work and announces that they are going to Ebbets Field to see the Dodgers play the Giants.The boy's father is deaf, and so he signed the words with his hand instead of saying them out loud.
Myron rocks!
"Dad, Jackie, and Me" is a fabulous story about a father and a son, about prejudice and triumph.Myron Uhlberg subtly creates a parallel between the unfair discrimination against his father for being deaf and Jackie Robinson for being African-American.This is a touching book with lovely illustrations...not to mention so many dimensions for a classroom teacher to explore with students!Plus, I met Myron today, and he is one of THE most warm, friendly, wonderful authors I have ever met.I give him and his works my most glowing praise!

Great author
Myron Uhlberg is a prolific author, having published 7 books after his 65th birthday.He has many others in the works.He choses his words carefully and meaningfully.Most of the storyline is based on some aspect of his life, having been raised by 2 deaf parents.He builds a sense of deep, caring for the characters which will connect you to them.The illustrator has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of the storyline. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baseball    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Children: Grades 3-4    6. Deaf    7. Fiction    8. Historical - United States - 20th Century    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile Historical Fiction    11. Robinson, Jackie,    12. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    13. Social Issues - Special Needs    14. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    15. Toleration   

Reviews (2)

Great Book About Differently Abled
My son and I loved this book, particularly the fact that one of the characters just 'happens' to have Asperger's Syndrome.This is presented in a very matter of fact way, conveys some useful information, and helps to demystify this syndrome.The characters were believable, and likeable, and the plot was indeed predictable.But it was a nice book to read and discuss with my son.

On the mark
David Patneaude has a bead on the push-and-pull of middle-school society. His main character is realistically torn between the flattery of a popular bully and the cameraderie of new friends who are way outside the in crowd. That alone will cause young readers to buy into this story. Patneaude adds suspense, some memorable characters, and drama, along with a satisfying conclusion. Young readers will almost certainly forgive the preachy and over-long finale wherein the bullies get their due. If you like this book, though, don't bypass this author's earlier novels Someone Was Watching and Last Man's Reward. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Interpersonal relations    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Overweight persons    7. School & Education    8. Schools    9. Social Issues - Friendship    10. Social Issues - General    11. Social Issues - Special Needs