That's Like Me!

Written by Jill Lauren. Lauren received both her B.A. and M.A. in Learning Disabilities from Northwestern University.  She has been teaching students with Learning Disabilities in the classroom for 25 years.  Her expertise has led to her ability to be an on-call consultant today in New York City, where she will also give the occasional lecture.

Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: Learning Disabilites
Ages: 8 and up

Summary: Includes the first hand account of 15 children and adults that learn differently. Each is uniquely successful in their endeavors, yet faced with challenges in school.







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Susan Laughs

Written by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Tony Ross.  Willis was born in the UK, in St Albans, Herts.  She was very close with her grandparents growing up, she wrote her first novel on her grandmother's manual typewriter.  She was married at the London Zoo and lives with her family today.  While Ross is best known for his illustration, he also has written several of his own books, including the Little Princesses series.

 

Genre: Fiction
Themes: Disability
Ages: 6 and Up

Summary: This is another sweet children's picture book which begins with a simple repeating structure of 'Susan rows, Susan throws, ect...” Susan can do anything a typical child can do. This is a surprising story because you do not know that the protagonist is anything but typical until the very last page. You discover that Susan is physically handicapped and needs to use a wheel chair but you only know that from the picture, the story ends with the words that she is just like me and you. This text sparks great discussion for not underestimating the abilities of those with special needs.

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My Friend Has Down Syndrome

Written by Amanda Doering Tourville and illustrated by Kristin Sorra.  Tourville lives in Eagan, Minnesota with her husband and her pet bulldog.  Sorra is an avid painter, having illustrated two other books as well. Today, she lives in New York with her husband (who is also an artist) and pet dog.

Genre: Nonfiction
Themes: Friendship/Relationships
Ages: 5 and up

Summary: This is another book from the "Friends with Disabilities" Series. See entry on "My Friend has Autism" for more detail.






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My Friend Has Autism

Written by Amanda Doering Tourville and illustrated by Kristin Sorra. Tourville lives in Eagan, Minnesota with her husband and her pet bulldog. Sorra is an avid painter, having illustrated two other books as well. Today, she lives in New York with her husband (who is also an artist) and pet dog.

Genre: Nonfiction
Themes: Friendships/Relationships
Ages: 6 and up

Summary:  This is a cute children's story helping to describe what people with autism may be like. It is the short story of a young boy who is friends with another young boy from an airplane club. Each page includes a little 'did you know?' note that helps to explain common characteristics of people with autism. It is a great beginning book for introducing this condition to children. This text also offers other books and even web sites to consider for looking for more information.

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Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes

Written by Jennifer Elder with illustrations by  Marc Thomas. Jennifer Elder was born and raised in San Francisco, and continued through college there as well studying at the San Francisco Art Institute.  In addition to writing two children's books on Autism, she is also an assistant editor at a large publishing company.   She writes on topics like autism because she has a child with Asperger's Syndrome.

Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: Historical Figures with Special Needs
Ages: 8 - 12

Summary: This story introduces children to famous historical figures, their accomplishments and their characteristics.  What is different about this story is that it is told by a young boy with Asperger's Syndrome.  He tells the readers about heroes with autism. It includes famous figures from Albert Einstein, Dian Gossey and Wassily Kandinsky to Lewis Carroll, Benjamin Banneker and Julia Bowman Robinson, and many other.  What links all of these important figures together is that they all struggled to fit in.  The book also has a list of other stories about people with special needs for further reading.

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