Editorial Review

Despite recent media attention, obsessive-compulsive disorder remains perplexing to those who haven't experienced the illness firsthand. In her compassionate debut novel, Terry Spencer Hesser skillfully and credibly explains exactly what OCD feels like, as well as the effects it has on surrounding friends and family. Tara Sullivan first encounters her compulsive behavior at age 11, when she hears of the sidewalk game "Step on a crack, break your mother's back." Most people have had the experience of toying with this rhyme, but for Tara, it becomes something worse: "I couldn't not think the thoughts. And I couldn't not count the cracks." In one of several compulsive rituals, she must count every sidewalk crack between her house and school. If she is ever interrupted or loses her place, she must run back to the beginning and start over, or her mother's spinal health will be endangered. She recognizes this as absurd behavior, and gets absolutely no pleasure from the exercise, yet nonetheless feels inexplicably compelled to perform it.Read more

Reviews (84)

Kissing Doorknobs
Kissing Doorknobs discussed a disorder that prior to reading I knew very little about. The main character Tara suffers from O.C.D. where tyrants as she refers to them control her mind. This book discusses the issues that Tara goes through to ease her anxieties. The book not only gives a first hand account from fictional Tara, but you can feel the frustration and pain that Tara and her family went through. As the book progresses the reader becomes more attached to Tara and her disorder.
OCD Book Review by Amanda Harris
I've never really knew the meaning of OCD, but the novelist Terrer Spencer Hesser mad me feel as though I were in the body of a girl named Tara. She was different from all her friends in that she was a chronic worrier who was obsessive in her behavior. The story shows her family and friends dealing and reacting to her disease and is told by the main character, Tara from her point of view.
Wonderful, Sad
Story about a girl's downward spiral through obsessive compulsive disorder.Realistic details that anyone suffering OCD can relate to.It's a wonderful book.I cried after the first page because I knew how this girl felt.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Family life    4. Fiction    5. Health & Daily Living - General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mental illness    8. Obsessive-compulsive disorder    9. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Special Needs   

Reviews (14)

Tumbs up!
Truesight is one of the better sci-fi books, not that I've read many!Even if you're just interested in the history of blindness, I'd recommend reading this.Jacob is a realistic 12 year old boy, which with many can relate to. He's not particulary brave, which is a challenge to him when he's faced with his biggest burden of all- starting with minor headaches and turning into something extraordinary. Two thumbs up, all the way, and if you're 11 years or older, but this and enjoy reading!

Truesight
Fantasy and science fiction often get so caught up in trying to explain the world in which the story takes place -- characters and setting are so key to the expository information within the novel -- that the plot suffers in the first half of the book.
Best Sci - Fi Novel Ever!!!!
This was an amazing book! It's about a boy named Jacob who lives in a colony of people who genetically engineered themselves to be blind.They believe that blindness brings purity and innoscence.They live by the philosophy of Truesight.It states that sight brings shallow and materialistic lives.Something strange starts happening to Jacob a normal 13-year-old boy.He starts having headaches and feeling sick. Read the book to find out what this all means. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blind    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Science Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. People with disabilities    7. Science Fiction / Fantasy (Young Adult)    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Science fiction    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (6)

Excellent!!
This book is good for any student to read.Students need to know that just because they have a mild/moderate disability does not mean they can't be personally successful at something they love.It is often the disability that leads an individual to their success... and this book points that out.It should of course be noted that success doesn't necessarily equate with riches or fame.Non-disabled students should read this book so they can have a greater appreciation for their disabled classmates.Disabled students could use this book to do a 'hero' report on an individual in the book.I can also be a springboard for discussing well-known individuals with disabilities living today.

Beautiful and useful book
Those who ask why the book doesn't concentrate on the difficulties faced by those on A/A spectrum almost seem to answer their own question by illustrating those difficulties.People who know someone with Autism - or more importantly, those people themselves- are bound to be all too familiar with the difficulties posed by everyday life.That's what makes this book so useful.In a society that seems geared up to deny opportunities, before anyone even has a chance to prove themselves, a book that shows autistic children something to aspire to is incredibly useful.No, not every autistic kid can grow up to be Kant or Einstein, but not every neurotypical kid is going to become the next Neil Armstrong.We still, however, give them books about space, and encourage them if they say that they want to an astronaut when they grow up.
Let's remember AUTISM and ASPERGERS are very different!
I think this book is discouraging and mistitled. It should be my ASPERGERS friends. As a support group leader of an ASD group for many years, and a parent of an ASD child, I can tell you there is a WORLD of difference between a child with AUTISM and a child with ASPERGERS! HUGE differences. Don't be mislead by this book. Although you should not give up hope when you have a child with autism, you need to remember the child with aspergers IS higher functioning. Let us love our children for who they are, not what they can accomplish - or not. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Autism    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Celebrities    4. Children's 9-12 - Medical    5. Children: Grades 3-4    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile Social Problems (General)    8. Juvenile literature    9. Pediatrics    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Specific Groups - Special Needs    12. Coping with disability    13. Self-awareness & self-esteem    14. Special needs & learning difficulties    15. Teaching of those with special educational needs   

Reviews (11)

Huffy
I thank Hellen Keller isgood for kids of all ages.MY favorite
First Chapter Book
This is the first chapter book I ever read. I am now 13 year olds and when I was in 1st grade I learned to read. In first grade I read this book and was hooked on reading forever after that. So thank you to the author! Two generations loved this book
My 8 year old just finished this book and was fascinated.I realized as I looked through it that I read it as a child and loved it too (as an 11 year old).My daughter is now eager to learn more about Braille and the consequences of being blind--though I had to ask her not to walk through the kitchen with her eyes closed.She loved the photos and can't wait to read about Annie Sullivan.A great book to show the triumph of the human spirit over adversity--and without pity! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    3. Blind-deaf    4. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 3-4    7. Deaf    8. Juvenile literature    9. Social Issues - Special Needs    10. Social Situations - Special Needs    11. Biography: general    12. Blind    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Keller, Helen   

Reviews (2)

On target!
The author is right on target to assume that kids are interested in making learning easier and more fun. This book includes many specific strategies for building confidence in reading, writing, spelling, math, etc. There is help in organizing time, setting goals, standing up for themselves, coping with testing, etc. This book has reproducible masters to help reinforce learning.
LD Students CAN Help Themselves in School
Kids with learning disabilities often feel like failures in school. Their past experiences tell them that they are helpless to find ways to compete and succeed in the classroom. This book gives many practical, helpful suggestions that can turn a student who feels like a loser into a winner! The best thing an LD student can do is become his or her own best advocate. The ideas in this book make that possible. It is easy to read (about a third grade reading level) and organized clearly. Some of the chapters are titled: You CAN Get Organized, You CAN Learn in Different Ways, You CAN Handle Testing, You CAN Get Along with Others, etc. This emphasis on "you CAN" is just what people with learning disabilities need! The authors also include lists of suggestions for becoming a better reader, speller, more organized, etc. If you know someone with a learning disability, do that person and yourself a favor and get this book. Read it together, if possible. Rhoda Cummings and Gary Fisher have written several books about what they call Learning Differences (LD), and this is one of the best! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Education    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Education    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc.    6. Juvenile Psychology    7. Juvenile literature    8. Learning disabilities    9. Learning disabled children    10. School & Education    11. Social Issues - Special Needs    12. Social Situations - Special Needs    13. Special Education - General    14. Study Aids - General    15. United States    16. Coping with personal problems    17. Teaching of children / adults with specific learning difficulties   

Reviews (5)

Refreshing, fun
You might expect a book about a girl in a wheelchair to have some socially correct message -- something about how the "differently abled" are people, too, so we should all be nice to them. Or maybe how we should try to imagine life from their perpective, so we can count our blessings. Yada yada yada.
Great Book!
My daughter adores this book!She checked it out of the school library so many times the librarian asked me if she would consider reading something different.I decided to purchase her own copy to avoid conflicts.She reads it constantly.I adore the fact that Robert Munsch has the foresight to reflect real life children in his books.The star of this story is a little girl in a wheelchair.As soon as I see Robert Munsch as the author of a book, I know that we are in for a great story with good humor and the story will take us on a fun ride.My daughter knows this too.Keep up the great work!

Another Great Munsch Book
Once I saw a Munsch book that dealt with a child in a wheelchair, I just had to get it for my daughter.We just got her first wheelchair and it was a great book to not only have her look at the pictures, but to read to other friends and family that see her in her chair and I see they are curious about it.It was a fun book and it's great to see a book out there that shows children with a disability having fun.I'm sure once she outgrows the wheelchair she has now, she will want a super fast one just like the girl in the book!Umm, thanks.:) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 1-2    6. Fiction    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Munsch, Robert    10. Preschool Picture Story Books    11. Social Issues - Special Needs    12. Social Situations - Special Needs    13. Speed    14. Wheelchairs    15. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (3)

AWESOME!
My little boy who is Autistic and almost 10 years old loves this book. It is very lovingly written and has such a positive attitude about children no matter what their differences are. This is a must have book for parents, teachers and librarys in schools everywhere. We must teach children that being different is okay, that there is nothing wrong with it. Great illustrations too! My son brings me this book to read nightly and has for months. When this one wears out we will get another one to replace it...

What an adorable boy!!
I loved this book! Especially the cute little boy on the left-hand corner of the cover. That's my adorable friend Jon!!

Someone Special, Just like you
I volunteered to put together a group of books for my daughter's preschool (ages 3 1/2-4) which dealt with the topic of diversity and disabilities. I have ordered and read about 15-20 children's books on the subject ofchildren with handicaps. By far this was the very best one that I cameacross. It had beautiful photographs of children with all types ofdisabilities and the message in this book (unlike several others which Iread) was 100% positive. What I mean by this is that while some other bookson disabilities may deliver a message that says "don't be mean, ortease children with disabilities" , etc., this one was totally focusedon all children as being lovable and worthwhile people -- very focused ononly a positive message. I really enjoyed it and my daughter's class alsodid. The message is simple, straightforward and very warm. Compared toother books on the subject, this onereally was written at a good levelfor the 3-4 age group. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. General    4. Handicapped children    5. Juvenile literature    6. Mentally handicapped    7. Physically handicapped    8. Babies & children    9. Illness & disability: social aspects   

Reviews (34)

Virginia 5th graders review The Trouble with Tuck
Our summer school class just finished reading this fun book.It is about a thirteen year old girl named Helen and her dog, Tuck.Helen and her family live in California in the 1950s.The trouble mentioned in the title is that Tuck, a Labrador Retriever, is losing his sight.Helen does not want to give Tuck away because he has saved her life twice!Even though he starts to act strange, Helen knows that there is a way to help him.Want to find out how?Read the book!
Great book at a great price!
My sister recommended this book to me, and, surprisingly, it's difficult to find in our local bookstore.Therefore, I was happy to see that it was available on Amazon.com.I love the story about the little girl and her dog, and, if you're an animal lover, this book is definitely a must-read for all ages!

'Tuck' shows no sign of imagination
Why do people write books so uninspired and idiotic such as this one? And why do they think kids will like them? "The Trouble With Tuck" tries to be heartwarming but never succeeds. There's a fork, but no meat.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Dogs    2. Animals - Pets    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 3-4    6. Dogs    7. Fiction    8. Guide dogs    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Social Situations - Special Needs    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Dogs   

Reviews (11)

A Very Worthwhile Read
"Rules", by Cynthia Lord, is told from the perspective of Catherine, the 12-year-old sister of David, an autistic 8-year-old.Catherine, at 12, is dealing with finding a place in a family that seems to be centered around coping with David's needs for comfort and development.Catherine's mom is divided between managing a home business (leaving Catherine to care for David) and providing David the care and developmental therapy he needs.Catherine's dad seems to be mostly coping with his own difficulty with accepting the parenting cards he's been dealt and possibly with his own austistic-like tendencies.Neither parent, though they both clearly love Catherine, appears to have the emotional resources to cope with any of Catherine's issues.In a sense, she is expected not to have any and to participate in a semi-adult capacity in therapeutic care for David.Meanwhile, Catherine is confronting her own, normal, 12-year-old girl issues--how far should she go against her own needs and wishes to go along with her friends, who should her friends be, how to cope with mean kids, what to do with her summer when her best friend is away.
Wonderful
As an avid reader, the daughter of a writer, and the older sister of an autistic teenage boy, I have waited a long time for a novel as good as this one. The writing is excellent, the story really resonates, and the writer is able to create characters that can teach without ever sounding preachy. This author clearly knows both the challenges and the unique rewards that autistic children and their families encounter. Putting the subject matter aside, this is an excellent read; the fact that it treats this difficult subject with so much care and warmth--and realism--is an added bonus. I hope this book makes it onto many a person's reading list.

Rules of the road
When you read a bad book, the aftermath of the experience can leave you shell-shocked for quite a long period of time.Not too long ago I came across the regrettable "The Boy Who Ate Stars" by Kochka and I had a hard time recovering.Kochka, in my view, approached the subject of autism in children as a kind of wild kids-in-touch-with-their-animal side type of story.The whole project left me disappointed and wary of any books written with child audiences in mind that dealt with autism.But then I saw "RULES" and I became sorely tempted to give it a go.From its thoroughly engaging cover (you hear me publishers?) to its incredible characters, smart plotting, and all around classy style, I would recommend this book to any and every child I ran across.This is how it's done people.This is how you write a first novel.
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Subjects:  1. Autism    2. Brothers and sisters    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Family - Siblings    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. People with disabilities    10. Social Issues - Friendship    11. Social Issues - General    12. Social Issues - Special Needs    13. Social Situations - General    14. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (2)

My Daughter related to this book
My six year old daughter has had tourette's for nearly three years and I have never been able to find a book written on a child's level that is honest and realistic.In addition, she identified with the physical and verbal tics in the story.I appreciate how the author mentions several of the ways tics occur and the reactions of people in their world.My daughter is now practicing telling others "I can't stop, my brain's making me do this"

My son "can't stop."
I have an 8 year old son that was recently diagnosed with TS and I was having a hard time explaining it to him as well as other people in our life....until I ordered this book."I Can't Stop!" is a wonderful story about a boy dealing with his TS.It helped my son understand what his brain was doing to his body in an easy to understand analogy with marbles.The story gave simple suggestions to help control tics and/or learn how to deal with them personally as well as socially.It also validates the parents of TS kids, by pointing out feelings that you initially go through.I passed this book around to everyone that was involved in my son's life and I can't thank the author enough for giving us something to help explain the complicated Tourette Syndrome.Thank You. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Health & Daily Living - General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - Special Needs    9. Tourette syndrome   

Editorial Review

The best adolescent fiction offers more than an escape from teenage turmoil; it instructs as it entertains, giving young readers a view into lives--fictional though they may be--outside their own. Without sentimentality or preachiness but with clear awareness of this power, Michael Dorris tells the story of Walnut, a young Native American boy. Because Walnut can't see well, he has difficulty meeting the challenges, especially feats of skill with bow and arrow, that prove he is ready to receive a new name and become an adult. When a sympathetic uncle invents a new contest to "see what can't be seen," the boy's other senses bring success and earn him the name Sees Behind Trees. Dorris could easily stop there, but he nudges the youngster onward through a series of trials that show adulthood is about more than getting there. Read more

Reviews (39)

A nice alternative to other kids' books
We read this to my son when he was 5. It is very well written and has an awesome message (something to the effect of "we all have great and useful gifts to offer no matter what we seem to lack"). My only complaint is how it ends. I get the feeling the author ran out of time and had to quickly wrap it up in any old way. Still worth reading though. Just make up your own ending!

Seeing What Can't Be Seen! GMC
This book is written by Michael Dorris.It is about a Native American boy named Walnut, who wins a contest and shows everyone that he has a special skill of seeing with his ears.This means that he thinks with his eyes closed and has good listening and concentration skills.Walnut then earns a new name,"Sees Behind Trees", by the weroance who also pronounces him a young man.Then he is invited to go on a journey into the forest with the tribes elder, Gray Fire (brother to the weroance) to find a beautiful and mysterious land of water by using his special skills.It is a place that Gray Fire once visited as a young boy, but has never been able to find again. Their adventure is filled with challenges and dangers.Sees Behind Trees listens and eventually finds the beautiful land of water for Gray Fire.Sees Behind Trees eventually finds his way back to his village, still needing to understand many things, and yet returning as a wiser man than when he left.He also brings home a new stranger and when Sees Behind Trees feels ready, they will eventually return to the forest.I think the moral of the story is to not be afraid of trying new things, and to have courage.So I recommend reading this book, and you'll find out for yourself!

A Great Book About a Young Indian's Life by NK
This book is about a young native American boy coming of age.It tells the reader about the different ceremonies native American kids go through on their way to becoming young adults. Read more

Subjects:  1. Blind    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fiction    5. Indians of North America    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. People & Places - United States - Native American    8. Social Issues - Adolescence    9. Social Issues - Special Needs    10. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Native American   

Reviews (2)

(Bet you can too)
What a find! With the limited choice of books available in which children who happen to have Down syndrome are depicted in normal, everyday experiences, encountering such an appealing little keeper as I Can, Can You? is heartening.
A simple and jubilant read-aloud experience
I Can, Can You? is a board book featuring bright color photographs of babies and toddlers with Down syndrome, exploring the world and sharing new experiences. Playing tee-ball, learning sign language, drawing, finding one's feet, each activity is happily related in a phrase "I can... can you?" A simple and jubilant read-aloud experience to share with the very young.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Preschool    3. Concepts - General    4. Down syndrome    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Preschool Concepts    8. Social Issues - Special Needs    9. Disability & illness    10. Picture books   

Reviews (3)

Great concept, bad title
This would be a much better book if the author would change the title. While the title may accurately reflect the feelings of some siblings, the book might get left around the house and generate some hurt feelings. Because of this, I keep it in my closet bookshelf, not in my waiting room. My Brother's a World-Class Pain:A Sibling's Guide to ADHD/
This book did not quite meet my expectations.I have a daughter who is almost six and a son, who has ADHD, who is eight.Perhaps for an older child, this book would be appropriate.However, I found that I skimmed pages to try to find something that my daughter could relate to.More illustrations, in color, and less text would be more appropriate for children ages four to six.Perhaps more of a story line.Overall, I think she did get some useful insights out of it, but reading it to her was not an easy task.It is very wordy and comes across as written by an acadamician for a child. If I could, I would rate it 2.5 stars.I think the need is great for a book that addresses the siblings of children with ADHD. Perhaps one aimed at the younger child would help fill the need.

This book is great!
The big sister in this book is a great story teller!She explains in kids' words the condition her brother has and how they handle it.She iscandid in saying it often bothers her,which is good because siblings canoften bear the brunt of ADHD family/home problems.It's important thatkids know what happens if they have a brother or sister with ADHD, what toexpect, and how they can even help.My seven-year-old daughter has gaineda lot of wisdom from it in trying to understand her cousin who has thiscondition!I recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's All Ages - Medical    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Special Needs    5. Parenting - Hyperactivity    6. Pediatrics    7. Siblings    8. ADD    9. ADHD    10. Attention deficit disorder    11. Attention-deficit hyperactivit    12. Children with Special Needs    13. Juvenile literature    14. Social Situations - Special Needs   

Reviews (7)

Excellent Book for Beginning Reader
Because of my husband's work, we have unfortunately had to move around quite a bit.I was looking for English books for my 8 year old that would be at her reading level yet would be engaging.This fit the bill.
The brave deaf and blind girl
It was about a girl name Helen Keller. She was born on June,27 1880. She lived on a farm in Alabama. But one day she had a high fever and cause her to go blind and deaf. Her parents couldn't tell if she was hungry,tried, or thrist. When she wake up in the middle of the night she thought it was moring and cryed for her breakfast. Finally her parents ask for help then this young lady ask name Anne Sullivan. Anne was once almost blind but she had several operations to help her see again. At first Helen gave her problems. Whatever Helen did to Anne she would do the same to her. Later Helen learned to listen to Anne. She also learned how to do sign language to deaf people or people that can see and hear. Helen's parents were very proud of her because she learned how to do many things that a person like her couldn't do. Helen later went to college and became famous. Then she passed away before eieght-first birthday. so-so story about a great woman
Any information children get about Helen Keller is probably better than none.The title Courage in the Dark, is oh so cliche.If she was only blind, she wouldn't have been so well known.Blindness only cut her off from objects, it was her deafness that isolated herfrom communication.The combination of being blind and deaf defined challenges for her.The book gives the play-by-play about her life with little details.She earned a college degree reading fingerspelling into her palm.This was a period few when women even went to college.An enormous deal should have been made about her never giving up. There are probably better books about Helen Keller and I would encourage anyone to learn more about Deaf Culture.It is quite amazing how they fought for the same rights everyone else had. If you are looking for information on people like Helen Keller, try the deaf-blind lions club in your area. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1880-1968    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    4. Blind    5. Blind-deaf women    6. Children's 4-8 - Biography / Autobiography    7. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    8. Children: Kindergarten    9. Deaf    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Keller, Helen,    13. Readers - Beginner    14. Social Issues - Special Needs    15. Social Situations - Special Needs    16. United States    17. Disability: social aspects    18. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Historical    19. Keller, Helen    20. Sullivan, Annie    21. True stories   

Reviews (16)

Poor
I understand how some AS children would relate; however mine did not.She was horrified at the thought of being viewed as "not normal".Also the way the father treated his son before the diagnosis and after was, quite frankly, nystifying to me.My daughter has many of the same quirks that Ben has (hand flapping, obseesions, etc) I would never and never have put her down or got angry over those quirks.
Wonderful human behavior
My 8 year old son has AS. But we have never told him about it. He knows something is different with him, but we treat him as normally as we treat my younger daughter.
My son loves it
I read this book myself, and I'm now reading it with my 8-year-old son with AS.Besides having an entertaining story line, it's given us opportunities to have some rich discussions.
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Subjects:  1. Asperger's syndrome    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fiction    6. Health & Daily Living - General    7. Health & Medicine - Diseases    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Schools    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Social Situations - Special Needs    12. Fiction dealing with specific issues    13. Illness & disability: social aspects   

Reviews (3)

The Alphabet War
Hi...I am the illustrator of The Alphabet War!...I worked over a year creating the pastel illustrations of Adam and his struggles and triumphs over reading!....I used a family friend and his cousin for models for Adam!....I worked in pastel on Strathmore Bristol Vellum 500 series....Some people are very surprised to hear that the illustrator often never speaks to the author during the creative process of illustrating a book!..Please take a look at my website for more info about creating illustrations for children's books!.....Also, if you are interested in buying The Alphabet War, in the NEW AND USED section, I am selling signed limited edition prints of the art from the book, plus signed copies of The Alphabet War.

Learning disability from a kid's perspective
This book, about a child overcoming his difficulty in letter recognition and reading, is about more than dyslexia.The story is also about believing in yourself and succeeding. Lends understanding of dyslexia to not only children but to people of all ages. Beautifully illustrated and skillfully written, I'd suggest this book for anyone concerned withlearning disability/education/teaching/youth etc. This is a one of a kind children's book.

Give a child hope by giving them this book!
This exciting new book, a story about Adam, a young dyslexic boy learning to read, is an expert portrayal of what many children face when they begin the battle between desire and disability.Adam represents the creative, talented and imaginative spirit in all of us and Robb expertly describes Adam's frustration and near defeat as he learns to overcome his shortcomings with the help of his mother and tutor.Its impossible not to cheer him on as he learns to stop pretending and feeling behind and breaks the "code" to win the war against words.The confidence he gains in himself is emphasized by the colorful, life-like illustrations.This book is a must-have for anyone who knows a child struggling with dyslexia. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Dyslexia    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. School & Education    8. School stories    9. Schools    10. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    11. Social Issues - Special Needs   

Reviews (1)

Clear, easy signs demonstrated by cute illustrated babies!
"Hold out your Teddy Bear arms...!" (hug, hug)
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Subjects:  1. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    2. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    3. Children's songs    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Language Arts - Vocabulary & Spelling    8. Poetry - Nursery Rhymes    9. Sign language    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Social Situations - Special Needs    12. Songs and music    13. Teddy bears    14. Texts   

Reviews (12)

Or Give Me Death
This novel of Patrick Henry's family, written by Ann Rinaldi is a fascinating story.
A Great Book
This book was "required reading" for this past summer. I fliched at it before I read it. (Last years reading was horrid) I thought it was great though. (I do love history) It is very descriptive, and a farily easy read. I enjoyed it so much I picked up some other titles by Ann Rinaldi. I like the second half (Anne's) better. But never try to explain it to someone it becomes to complicated, but is still easy to read. I din't really like the ending, it was to abrupt for me. This book does take a while to get going, but once it does,it never stops!!!!

I didn't feel the history part of this story.
"Or Give Me Death: A Novel of Patrick Henry's Family" is an Ann Rinaldi book that did not feel like an Ann Rinaldi book.I became confused with the book starting out with the protagonist as Patsy, and then switching to Anne.I think it would have been better to stick with one and go with it (Anne being the best choice).The ending was much too abrupt for my liking - as if Rinaldi reached her page quota and ended it right there.I'm also used to her having epilogues - I wanted to know what became of these people, since you rarely learn anything about Patrick Henry.I "sorta" recommend ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biographical - United States    2. Causes    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Family -