Children's+Literature+Books

__Andy and his Yellow Frisbee__ Author: Mary Thompson Summary: A sympathetic view of childhood autism from a young person's point of view. Sarah, a new girl at school, sees Andy by himself on the playground and is curious about his preoccupation with spinning a yellow frisbee. His sister Rosie watches Andy protectively from her soccer game and is fearful that the new girl will disturb his fragile composure. As Rosie thinks of Andy's problem, she explains autism to readers. This book can be utilized in the classroom to help youngsters see how those with special needs may be different but deserve tolerance and kindness just like all children do. The author also offers factual information about autism in simple terms, it's different degrees and characteristics as to help your student's understand the disability further.

__Dina the Deaf Dinosaur__ Author: Carole Addabbo Summary: Dina, a deaf dinosaur, runs away from home because her parents will not let her learn sign language even though it would allow her to communicate more complicated ideas. In the forest Dina Otto the owl, Camilla the chipmunk, and Moliere the mole. Fortunately, Otto learned some sign language years before when he lived below a deaf dove. Dina teaches them the sign language alphabet and a few words. They invited her to stay with them. This children's book will delight both children who can hear and those who are deaf because of the sign language that is taught as a tool one can use when reading the story in a creative and memorable way. This book can be integrated into the classroom to introduce how hearing is a vital means for learning and in education and how some students are effected by this disability. It can be used to talk to kids whose parents don't learn sign language even though it would allow them to communicate more complicated ideas and how they can cope with these issues. __Be Good to Eddie Lee__ Author: Virginia Filling Summary: In this touching picture book, a girl discovers a new capacity for friendship when she spends some time with a neighbor boy who has Down's Syndrome. Christy's mother has told her to "be good to Eddie Lee," because he is "lonesome" and "different." Christy, however, would rather go wading with her friend JimBud than be pestered by Eddie Lee. But when Eddie Lee, uninvited, follows the two kids, Christy reluctantly includes her neighbor and is pleasantly surprised at how the afternoon turns out. This can be a great book to use when introducing the theme of stereotypes and acceptance to your students. The book captures the attitude and behavior children often adopt when it comes to accepting peers who are different. For this reason, you can allow children to experience the appropriate ways they should interact with people who are different than them and accept them for who they are, not how they act or what they look like. This book also carries a great message about friendship and getting to know your peers for who they are and thus making your own decisions as opposed to succumbing to peer pressure.

__Eukee: The Jumpy, Jumpy Elephant__ Author: Clifford L. Corman and Esther Trevino Summary: Eukee is a smart little elephant who likes to chase butterflies, blow bubbles, and do cartwheels. He always feels jumpy inside, however, and can never finish the march at school. Unhappy that he doesn't have any friends, he consents to a visit to the doctor where he learns he has ADD. This book a simple and entertaining way to tell a child about ADD in terms they can understand. Many children are plagued by this learning disability so this book is a great tool to bring into the classroom to help youngsters who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder realize they are not alone. This story can offer young students who are struggling with ADD/ADHD a wonderful opportunity to learn more about themselves and what they can do to help their condition. __Danny and the Merry Go Round__ Author: Nan Holcomb Summary: Danny, who has cerebral palsy, is faced with another frustrating day at the playground watching the other children play, until a friendly gesture from another kid gives him an unexpected adventure and helps him feel better about himself. This book is great for working on the concepts of self- and social acceptance. This book could also be used a resource to help your students who are not disabled learn how to approach a person who has a disability. Children can also learn about each other with the implementation of this book, and that even though they may be very different in appearance and abilities, that everyone still shares similar fears and frustrations, regardless of their current situation. This is an excellent book to help the person who is not disabled learn how to approach a person who has a disability. __Lee: the Rabbit with Epilepsy__ Author: Deborah M. Moss Summary: This tale tells the story of Lee, a young rabbit who has her first seizure during a fishing trip with her grandpa. Once home, her parents take her to the doctor, who examines her and discovers that she has epilepsy. Lee's doctor explains epilepsy in clear, reassuring terms and gives her special medicine. Once Lee's seizures are controlled, she and her family discover that she can do everything she used to do, including her favorite pastime, fishing with her grandpa. This would be a great story to read with young children to explain epilepsy because it is put into simple terms and gives a good general explanation. This book, if utilized properly, could be a great teaching technique for a child to learn that there should be no 'stigma' attached to epilepsy- it is a disease that can (in most cases) be helped with medicine. Whether they themselves or a family member or friend is plagued with epilepsy, it is a great way to explain to children what epilepsy is and make it easier for them to understand what is happening. __My Brother, Matthew__ Author: Mary Thompson Summary: This book is about David, a young boy who describes life with his younger brother who was born with a mental disability. This book is a wonderful story to teach your students about children with mental disabilities and the characteristics of those people plagued by them. It is a great way to introduce students about what it means for that person's family and friends when they are diagnosed with such a disability. It should also be emphasized and used to teach children about showing compassion to those who have similar disabilities and the appropriate ways to interact with these children. It is vital that students have a background of why their peers might be different than them, but to still reinforce the importance of treating them with respect and kindness regardless of their disabilities. Because the book is written from the perspective of older brother David, it is a great way for young children who have siblings with disabilities to understand why they are probably treated differently by mom and dad and why they should feel special to have a brother or sister with special needs.

__What Do You Mean I Have a Learning Disability?__ Author: Kathleen M. Dwyer Summary: Jimmy, 10, has one friend and a cat with whom he likes to spend time, but is uncomfortable around people, doesn't always do his homework, and is disruptive and generally unhappy in class. Finally, testing reveals that Jimmy has a learning disability--although no specific name is given--and he goes for tutoring; in the end he is proud to take home a good paper. This brief book clearly expresses all the feelings that most learning-disabled children experience: fear, anger, discouragement, and lack of self-worth. The book is a good choice for sharing with them as well as with their classmates without special needs. It will help put in perspective the certain attributes associated with learning disabilities and how students can recognize them in themselves or classmates. This is a great book for you students to relate to when dealing with learning disabilities in themselves as well as how to handle it among other peers and let them know that they are not alone in the struggle.

__Luna and the Big Blur__ Author: Shirley Day Summary: Nearsighted Luna hates wearing glasses. One night, she dreams she can see everything perfectly. But when she tries doing without her glasses the next day, she bumps into things and has several near misses. When her father tells her that she is special and that she was actually named after the moon, she immediately cheers up and announces that she doesn't mind wearing glasses anymore. This book is especially appropriate for the classroom environment. It can be utilized to explain why some people have to wear glasses in order to see and accomplish things on a daily basis. Chances are there will be students in your class who require glasses to enhance their vision, and a story like Luna and the Big Blur is perfect for explaining why some children need additional implements to suffice in certain areas that will aid in their learning and comprehension. Much like hearing, sight is a vital means for learning and understanding new information in education, and if we can portray it's importance through quality childrens' literature than perhaps those are the means to which it should be rendered.

__Leo the Late Bloomer__ Author: Robert Kraus Summary: Leo is a tiger cub who just can't keep up with what the other animals are doing. He can't read, write, or speak, and he is a sloppy eater and his father is concerned. But Leo’s mother isn’t. She knows her son will do all those things, and more, when he’s ready. This is a lovely portrayal of how you can explain to your students that it is okay to be different. Your students will be able to relate to some of Leo's childhood frustrations that many of us are all too familiar with such as being not athletic or artistic or being ostracized by your peers. Unfortunately, too many of our students experience this type of rejection from their peers and a story such as this can truly put into perspective for your students that no matter what others think about them, it's perfectly okay to be different. Overtime, Leo absorbs what the others have been doing and eventually blossoms with a new found love for life. This is an excellent book to use in your classroom to convey the revelation about a child finding his or her place in the giant world in which we live. The implementation of this story in your classroom will serve as a great self-esteem builder for your students as well and make them aware and feel better about their imperfections.