This must be one of the strangest
kids books ever and what may be
strangest of all, my son really
likes it. Confusing type sizes and all.
Perhaps Stinky meets the nonsense
standard, and he thinks no one will
ever question him about the content.
Perhaps he enjoys the familiarity,
since he read it in school and
has a copy at home. Perhaps
the high meta factor with
characters commenting on the
story and the creation of the book
explain its appeal. Maybe he just
likes the (to me) bizarre pictures.
In any case he often chooses to read
it in preference to newer, "better,
more useful, more appealing"
(only in my opinion obviously)
books.
Such as Toon Books' collection
of kids comics. See elsewhere in
the blog for why I and my son like
the titles in the Toon series.
This massive tome collects 20th
century gems from the familiar
(Dennis the Menace, Little Archie,
Scrooge McDuck) to the almost unknown
but utterly charming (Sugar and Spike,
the Three Mouseketeers) to the weird.
(curious? check out the book).
Strong picture support, nonsense, meta
references, there's something here for
every child-or so I thought. My four
year old loved reading this with me.
My child with autism-not so much.
Which is why libraries are so great . . .
He really liked
the originals in this
series though -
Keep on guessing!
-Spectrum Mom
Long before I started blogging I was
a freelance (or perhaps guerilla) book
advisor for kids. You know, the crazy
lady who pops out of the book stacks
and insists your child must read The
Book of Three?
My favorite advisee is a friend's daughter,
age 10, the same age as my boy with autism.
She's my favorite because she devours
fantasy books just as I do. But when my
friend told me she had read all my picks and
was ready for more, I started thinking about
how the books we read shape us.
When I started blogging I realized that one
of the reasons I hadn't found many book
lists for kids with autism is because autism
is only one factor among many to consider
when choosing books for a child, like age,
grade level, ability, interests, etcetera.
But there are book lists based on each of
those factors. So if I have to have a hundred
subcategories to make this blog useful, I will.
Today's post is specifically for the
3rd - 5th grade reader who reads
independently but has narrow interests
- perhaps a child with Asperger's.
The New Way Things Work is a great
book for those with an interest in
machines and those you want to interest
in machines. The mammoth illustrations
may be enough to hook those kids with
interest in animals (strong for many kids).
Next, a
few titles aimed
at that same group
but especially useful for
girls with social skills
issues-
Cleary writes clearly
about what being a kid
with a sibling is like, what you should
and should not do when you're upset
and other relevant topics.
A special chance for one of your
favorites to become one of your
child's.
The Cobble Street Cousins by
the wonderful Cynthia Rylant
(Lighthouse Family, Henry and
Mudge, Poppleton) is another
series that gives some of the basics
on the give and take of being a
friend and being in a family.
What book choices seem unique
to your kid? What book choices
remind you a kid is a kid?
Comment or e-me @
autismreads@gmail.com.
-Spectrum Mom
When I started this blog I expected a lot of comments
with great ideas. So far the comments are few,
but precious. Here's one from Boo's mom on
my last post:
Today's post again takes advantage of the blog title's double meaning.
These books try to explain autism to children and may be useful
to give to peers or even to your child with autism. The first
three titles come courtesy of Dr. Brigham at the Vanderbilt
Kennedy center from their resource list.
The other stuff? Amazon. The images at top are what
you get if you type in "Autism Rocks" but you can
click on them if you want to buy the album or the
rock around (which looks like a lot of fun)
Full disclosure: if you do click on them and
buy them and if I ever get my account set up,
they might give me 25 cents or so if I buy something
at Amazon. Actually if you already have either of
these, or get them, email me what you think and
I'll post your review.
I know, neither of them are books. But hey, it's
my blog. And I want to know if kids like that
rock around and what that album sounds like
and my son's too old for the one, and I'm
far too cheap and lazy and cautious to get
the other.
Wow. My longest digression yet.
Shall we return to the books? We shall.
I know none of these, but if they're
good enough for Vanderbilt . . .
Amenta III, C. A. (1992). Russell is extra special. New York: Magination Press.
Bishop, B. (2003). My friend with autism. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc., Inc.
Katz, I., & Ritvo, E. (1993). Joey and Sam. Los Angeles, CA: Real Life Storybooks.
(no picture available for Joey and Sam)
Amazon offers these other options too.
I love the "Being a Friend to Someone with Autism"
Has someone written "Being Someone with Autism
and a friend"? Shout out to all you writers with
autism - which is not me, though I remain your
friend and
Spectrum Mom
The other night my exhausted, over-worked
husband told my son they would skip the
nightly reading of Frindle. Instead, my
boy could read whatever he wanted by
himself.
He chose Jubal's Wish, a picture book
long since moved to his little brother's
room read it that night and has referred
back to it for several days now in his
preferred reading posture-on floor with
feet rhythmically kicking and often lifting
and let fall some large object or small
piece of furniture.
What appeals to him about this book and
how can I find others he would gladly
choose to read? I talked to him about
this and still don't know.
Me: Why do you like Jubal's Wish?
Him: I love the music that might go with it.
Me: What's the music that might go with it?
Him: (hums new tune for a minute) That's
the music.
I often wonder about my boy
and synesthesia. What senses
do books engage for him?
Too many perhaps? Or is
there a way to make extra
perceptions work with
reading?
As usual, I have more
questions than answers
and welcome your experiences.
Did I do well in dreaming
up this blog?
-Spectrum Mom
"Dreams and wishes,
wishes and dreams,
you never know how
they'll turn out"
-Audrey Wood
samandboo.blogspot
posts alerted me that this
week is Book Blogger
Appreciation Week
Fellow book bloggers,
I appreciate you.
Black Lagoon Adventures
