Book Description

Joey's dad just roared into town on a motorcycle, his mom is chasing her ex-husband away with a broomstick, and his grandma's camped out on the couch behind a plastic shower curtain. What's more, Joey's chihuahua has been dognapped, and his mom insists that he be homeschooled with a mean blind girl and her super-religious mother. Welcome to Joey's world.

With his new self-assumed role as "Mr. Helpful," Joey's on a mission to make everything and everyone better. Can Joey accomplish all this or will his wild, wired behavior spin him out of control all over again?

Reviews (5)

Use Caution
This book is intriguing and captivating BUT for kids that are not hyperactive, it is disorienting. My daughter is reading it for the second time. When we discussed it after she had already started, she said that she thought that two of the main characters acted strange and bad. She also mentioned that she thought that pretty highly of the medicated "patches" the child in the story uses and that she would like some.

This isn't good. I am very uncomfortable with books that make medication the answer to problems. For a kid on medication, this might be reassuring and positive. For a non-hyperactive kid, I think the message is very troubling.

I wish I had been more on top of what this book was about, BEFORE she had started reading it.

Whats with the language?
My daughter is enjoying the book, but came to me the other night and asked about what a word on pg. 43 meant. Even if Grandma is a crusty old person who curses, should we expose this type of language to our children over 10? I was appalled to see this language used in this book. Any other concerned parents out there?

A engaging story told through the eyes of "Mr. Helpful."
When I first began reading this book, I was immmediately drawn in by the main character, a boy named Joey Pigza. Joey leads what appears to be a complicated childhood -- his parents are divorced & for a time his mother moved out and left him with his aging grandmother. Not only does his grandmother smoke too much, she speaks often of death and dying. Joey's only "friend" besides his dog, is a blind girl named Olivia who is always getting him into trouble. Joey's father doesn't make his life any easier -- he's constantly riding around the neighborhood on his motorcycle starting fights with his mother. Talk about a dysfunctional family! It's a wonder that Joey only needs a med patch for his hyperactivity disorder!

You would think that this is all too much for a kid to handle -- I do! But throughout the book, Joey manages to maintain strength and perserverance. Joey's qualitites include honesty and living life with a little humor. In his neverending quest to help others, Joey learns to help himself.

MyParenTime.com recommends "What Would Joey Do?" - I couldn't wait to read more of Joey's antics and see how he survived his next crisis. Even if you haven't read the previous two books in this trilogy, you won't want to miss this one.

Humorous misadventures of an ADHD child
"What Would Joey Do?" is part of the continuing saga of Joey Pigza, a young boy with ADHD. In this book he is ready to try being "Mr. Helpful" and focus his energy is positive manners. The problem is figuring out how he can help everyone while still moving forward with his life. His parents fight regularly and engage in dysfunctional actions, his homeschool partner is a blind girl who is full of mischief, and her fundamentalist mother has a total inability to deal with reality as every contact is focused on "What Would Jesus Do". His Grandma wants him to have a good friend other than his dog and seems to be the only one really concerned about the Joey within. However, she is dying and won't be there for him very long.

A real survivor, Joey's story is one of struggling and perseverance that pays off in the end. A story with several twists and turns it can be humorous reading. The greatest value of this book would be for parents to read the book and use it as a springboard for discussion of kids with ADHD. It teaches some things about children with ADHD as well as some aspects of how to deal with them. However, the book should be used as a catalyst for family discussion to prevent misconceptions. Before writing this review I let two fourth and fifth graders read the book to see what they thought of it. I found that they were getting some wrong impression from the book. It seemed that they thought that Joey's antics were in large part due to his family problems and that kids with ADHD all had dysfunctional families. Joey is a kid who tries as best he can to do the right thing and struggles through his problems to rise above them and that is a good story, just be careful of inappropriate inferences that children can make. It is a great platform for opening up a discussion about children with ADHD.

a hyperactive child's refreshing look at life
Dad is back in Lancaster, Pennsylvania causing problems for poor Joey Pigza, who worries that his dad Carter returned by roaring motorcycle to abduct him. However, he revises his theory to that of his father using him because he wants to either irritate or get close to Joey's mother. Joey's grandmother knows the world is coming to an end perhaps because of her emphysema, but more likely because Carter, who drives her nuts, is back.

Due to the game of my kid is better, smarter, or whatever than your kid, Joey finds himself, at is mother's insistence, joining Olivia Lapp at home schooling. With the urging of his "dying" grandma, Joey tries to befriend the sight-challenged Olivia, but his bratty teammate just wants to keep him in trouble. Between her and his family, Joey learns why a dog is a boy's best friend and wonders if hyperactivity out of control is better than trying to relate to these normal maniacs.

Apparently WHAT WOULD JOEY DO? is the final novel of the JP trilogy to the dismay of this reviewer because this tale, like its predecessors, is a refreshing look at life from the perspective of a preadolescent child coping with hyperactivity. The support cast is a distressing yet delightful group of lunatics, but the story line belongs to the title character, who makes reading fun. A personal plea to Mr. Gantos: please turn Joey into a teenager with hormones running amok because he is too good an individual to be shelved.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Book Description

Losing Stinks!Even losing a toy or a game feels rotten. But when a friend moves away, a parent leaves home during a divorce, or a loved one dies, sometimes it seems as if the hurt will never go away. So how is it possible that loss can be an important opportunity?

Reviews (2)

Spark Great Conversation in Your Home!
My 7 and 9 year-old sons love this book. It talks to them about real experiences they have to deal with every day in real life such as losing stuff, games, and confidence. I had thought we would skip the parts that do not apply to our experiences, such as losing a body part or a loved one, but they want to hear it all. We read this book aloud and it generates great family conversation. The boys kept having me renew the library copy I had, so I had to get my own.

Lost and Found: A Kid's Book for Living Through Loss
Talks about the good that can counter balance loss in life. It starts with minor loss (things), then pets, friends, (moving, etc.), then death. It says it is good for someone as young as 8 years old, but mine would not listen to the first chapter. Is has a "lecturing" quality to someone less informed. It also makes some good points. Contains black and white illustrations. I would recommend this one to students from the 4th grade up, as well as teachers and parents. ... Read more

Book Description

A biography of the 19th century Frenchman who developed Braille.The book spans Braille's life from childhood through his days at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth and into his final years, when the alphabet he invented was finally gaining acceptance. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

"Out of Darkness"
Out of Darkness is a story about Louis Braille. Louis Braille was blind in the year 1812. It happened when he was a little boy. Louis was playing with a knife from his father's tools. He was trying to make holes in a piece a strong leather. The knife slipped and it stabbed his left eye. Louis had to stay in a dark room to help his eye heal. An infection spread from his left eye to his right eye. In 1812 there was no way to control his serious infection. 15 years later Louis Braille invented braille lettering for all blind people. I think that this is a good book for young readers to read because it shows good friendship between people.

Louis Braille
This is a great book! This book tells you about a real person name Louis Braille! Louis Braille is the person who invented books for the blind people.Louis invented braille when he was just a little boy.He was blind because he was playing with his father's tools while his father was talking to someone.When Louis was playing with the tool it poked one of his eye and it started bleeding badly.The eye that was poked by a tool had a hole in it.The eye started infecting the other eye.Later on Louis was totally blind.

Inspiring!
This fact based biography is one of the best I have encountered for children starting at about grade three. Adults will also enjoy. The book documents the life of Louis Braille. Born and raised in a small town near Paris, Louis suffered a tragic injury at the age of 3, which rendered him blind for life. The story captures the true essence of courage and the triumph of the human spirit; to meet even the most seemingly insurmountable obstacles with dignity, tenacity and unshaken faith. Louis did not give up. Despite many frustrations and setbacks, his attempts at creating and perfecting the Braille system were successful and accepted and distributed world wide. Unfortunately, Louis died in his early forties and was not here to witness the magnitude that his system bestowed on the world of the blind, their families, loved ones and associates. But he did pass away in peace and in the knowledge that his mission had been fufilled. Louis opened a door to the visually impaired, and in this way significantly transformed and enhanced many, many lives by providing this invaluable means of reading, writing, and communicating. Louis Braille was a true hero and will remain so for all time.

GREAT BOOK!!!!
THIS BOOK TELLS HOW LOUIS GOT BLINDED AND WHAT HE DOES TO OVER COME THE OBSTACLE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO READ. HE REVISES AN ALREADY MADE PLAN OF RAISED DOTS AND DASHES MADE BY A SEA CAPTAIN-NOW KNOWN AS BRAILLE-AND BECOMES AN ASSISTANT TEACHER, PROGRESSES AND THEN EVENTUALLY RE-FOUNDS THE SCHOOL!!

It is a wonderful book
Out of the Darkness is a sad but wonderful story about Louis Braille I would hily recamend this book to people of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Lisa Shilling is 16, smart, attractive--and she is losing her mind. Some days are "light," and everything is normal; during her "dark" days, she hides deep within herself, and nothing can reach her. Her teachers ignore what is happening. Her parents deny it. Lisa's friends are the only ones who are listening--and they walk with her where adults fear to tread. This classic novel of a teenager's descent into madness, in the tradition of Go Ask Alice and I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, has remained a best seller for close to thirty years.

"Compassionate and tragic, an indictment of adults who refuse to get involved."--The New York Times ... Read more

Reviews (64)

Bright and Dark
A Review by Nicole

This book is about a girl named Lisa who is 16. She starts to think that there is something completely wrong with herself. She tries to everyone that she is going crazy, but no one believes her. Some days she has good days and others are even worse she acts horrible, like no one is around. Her parents laugh and tell her she's fine; and her teachers don't believe it either. They don't want to admit that there is something wrong with Lisa. Her friends start to believe her. They try to help her but it's just not working out. Finally something happens and it just pushes her to far her friends know that she needs better help.

This book had it's up and downs but one thing I didn't really like that much was, it was not really how things are dealt with in these times, Teachers would have noticed it right away and they would have taken care of it as soon as possible. Her parents would probably noticed something wrong was going on. I feel bad how Lisa had to wait so long to get help. I liked how her friends cared so much about her and no matter what happened they stuck through thin and thick she should be so great full for good friends like that. They really over all help her out so much in getting her help.

I think that this is an okay book not to great or not to wonderful but, like I said before it had it's ups and downs. It always had something happening or going on in this book. I think people who like nonviolent action would really like this book. It's not really a book I think guys would like to read. But over all this was an ok book.

A gripping story that will stick with you forever
When I was a freshman in high school (1984), this was the first book assigned to me for reading in my honors english class. This story is about a young girl who is losing her mind and struggles with the sense of it all. Her friends try to save her while her teachers and parents turn the proverbial cheek to her downhill spiral. I have never forgotten the details of this book and you won't either if you read it. I highly recommend it to all readers of all ages.

Bright and dark and gripping
I first saw this novel in a bookstore a long time ago (when I was about nine years old), and although I didn't know anything about it, the title stuck in my mind for years afterward. Only just last month did I finally read it!

Lisa, Bright and Dark is a well-written and thoroughly gripping read. It chronicles the story of sixteen-year-old high schooler Lisa Schilling's descent into mental illness. Although Lisa's mother and father and teachers are inclined to ignore her, her trio of girlfriends recognize that something is wrong with her and decide to help her out. After learning everything they can about schizophrenia and other various mental disorders, the girls meet with Lisa for a series of amateur psychiatric sessions. Although of course they cannot give her all the help she needs, their determination to save her is touching and will likely make the reader wish he/she had those same friends.

Set in the sixties (and originally published in 1969), the tale is narrated by Betsy Goodman, the most reserved and sideline-sitting of the three girls. This was, in my opinion, an interesting and well made choice on author John Neufeld's part, for as a result we get to learn things about the character of Betsy that we would not have been able to know otherwise. I have seen some reviews of this book where the reviewer complains that it seems antiquated (i.e. the girls' use of the word "groovy," Betsy's lusting after Paul Newman, etc.). I personally didn't find this bothersome at all. Instead I thought it had the effect of making the book seem like a period piece, not unlike the movie "Mermaids" - and also like that movie, the majority of its qualities are indisputably timeless.

Lisa, Bright and Dark
"Lisa, Bright and Dark" by John Neufeld. Is a great novel.I would recommend this book to any teen or pre-teen.
This book taught me just how important friends can be, especially when no one seems to understand or believe you.
sixteen year-old Lisa Shillings had everything and almost anything. She was; popular, smart, pretty,and was dating the most popular guy in school.
But Lisa wasn't so normal; she begins to develop mental illness. Her family didn't believe her; Lisa's teacher denied it. Her friends Besty Goodman, Mary Nell Fickett, and Elizabeth Frazer are the only ones who seem to be listening.
Taking matters into their own hands, Lisa's friends walk with her where adults refus to go. This book will grab you by the heart, I had problems putting it down.
The way John Neufeld chose to write this book keeps you on your toes, you are constantly wondering what's going to happen next.

Just a great book!
Lisa, Bright and Dark is a spectacular book. It is so truthful and teaches you what to do if you find these symptoms in another friend/family member. It gives you a mental picture of what her life is like and what she is going through. In my perspective, it is one of the most outstanding books of any I have read. This book is just fablous for kids to learn about different problems and that we should be thankful that we have our common sence. ... Read more

Book Description

Dear Diary,

...Until today I was Holly Lawrence-Jones. But starting tomorrow I'm going to be Yvette Lawrence-Jones. My family doesn't know that yet, but I'll tell them tomorrow, and that's the name I'll tell the people at school, too. Yvette's going to be sophisticated and grownup-feminine enough to have white ruffled curtains, and maybe even a boyfriend. She's also going to have a NORMAL family. Kids are not going to make jokes about her and say mean things, because there won't be any reason for them to do that...

The reason for "The Plan," as Holly refers to the creation of her new self, is primarily to hide from the schoolmates in her new hometown the fact that she has two mothers who are gay. But trying to hide something so big proves to be a daunting task. Nancy Garden has written a novel infused with humor, but one that also tackles prejudice and reinforces an old saw: Honesty is the best policy.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Holly's Secret
Holly & her younger brother Will were adopted as babies by their two mothers. They were raised understanding that their moms loved one another and them. Although they faced teasing in their home in NYC the family was very close and happy. And Holly had her best friend Kelsey by her side. When the family moves to Harrison Mass. Holly & Kelsey create a plan in which Holly will become "Yvette" and won't have lesbian parents. As she starts school Holly finds that being "Yvette" is both hard work and hurtful to her family. In the end she does the right thing with her new friend and her first boyfriend by her side (as well as her family). Once again Garden has chosen lesbianism as her subject, but unlike past works the main character is not gay herself. The story is sweet and the plan of a new start perfectly reasonable, but Holly's moms are too understanding for me. A good read for young teens on a subject rarely approached well for children. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A much loved book!
We purchased this for our son who has Down Syndrome. At 18 months he was only saying a few words and our Speech Pathologist recommended we introduce him to sign language. We immediately began teaching him sign language (ASL) and he learned very quickly. So quickly, that we could no longer rely on the Speech Pathologist to supply us with copied pages of her edition. It is an excellent books for children of any age to learn sign language. The cartoon pictures of the children doing the signs in the book are adorable. The only drawback is that it does not include "polite" words such as "thank you", "you're welcome", "please", etc.

Great book for young learners...
I am a Deaf woman who uses ASL both at school, at work, and also at my church. I bought this book for a family with 3 children of a variety of ages with the youngest boy being six or seven. He is very interested in signing, and watches both me and my interpreter like a hawk. When I sign sing or teach the children at church to sign sing, these 3 would always consistently sign and do it well. To encourage those who want to learn how to sign, especially children, I tend to buy books or CD-ROMs for them. The need for decent interpreters is tremendous, and just as those who are activists in the Deaf/disabled community are pushing for ASL to be taught as a second language in schools, we try to encourage those around us who express an interest. The drawings are great. The vocabulary is more than a beginner's ABC book. The book will not teach syntax or how the Deaf community uses their language, but it is a good place to start. Again, I have to emphasize the difficulty in teaching a 3 dimensional language with a book which is limited to 2 or 1 dimension. But anything that encourages children to learn a language and perceive the Deaf as equals with a different language (and interesting) is to be lauded. I always tell children and adolescents that signing for the Deaf is a great way to put themselves through college...in Pittsburgh, the rate is between $25-$35 an hour, and ASL is used at schools, in courts, at hospitals and doctors. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

An Adequate Book For Children
If you are searching for a sign language resource to help your child learn to sign (I would say younger than thirteen), this may be very helpful and meet your needs. This book has signs separated into categories, then, to help the child understand the concept as well, it has an illustration of the item or action and another illustration of that word being signed. All of this is adequate to teach your child or pre-teen basic sign language vocabulary.

Notice, I did not write "American Sign Language." Why? That is not taught in this book. It does have many ASL signs (it also has many English-based signs), but it does not teach the language. That is why I do not recommend this for anything other than teaching a child some vocabulary.

I own this book and, being Deaf, tried to copy some pages and have kids color them...to see if this stimulates interest. I found that the children did not hold interest for a long time, but, when I cut out each word and taped it around the room, vocabulary use was increased marginally. Recommended for children -- NOT adults.

Not for me
I thought this book would be good because of the title, but the illustrations were in black and white and hard to understand the hand movements. The book is very busy with an illustration to the side and then the sign on the other side- it is very distracting. I am a beginner and need something more simple with bigger pictures so I can really see how to do the sign.

Best Book Available
As a teacher of the deaf, working with families of deaf children from birth to age three, this book is an invaluable resource. The sign pictures are very clear and represent the signs used in "real life" in the community; however, written descriptions accompanying the pictures and/or "memory cues" would be helpful to many parents (e.g., sign "girl" by tracing the thumb along the jaw as if tracing the ribbon of a 19th century bonnet from ear to chin). The greatest downfall is the vocabulary chosen. I could live with the "categorized" vs. "alphabetic" organization IF the signs presented were more representative of vocabulary pertinent to the lives of children, birth to age 5, but they're not. BONUS POINTS, though, for the multi-lingual index in the back. A BRILLIANT idea! ... Read more

Book Description

Read by Mandy Siegfried
Approx. 5 hours, 4 cassettes

Izzy's never been one to complain. Izzy's the nice girl, from a family that believes good manners and a stiff upper lip are key to facing any situation.Even after a car accident leaves her disabled, she's determined not to show how much she's hurting.It takes Rosamunde, a girl who seems to care nothing about good manners, to forcibly disrupt Izzy's life and help her face her changed existence.





... Read more

Reviews (79)

Wonderful story of a coping amputee
I read this book as a summer reading assignment, and I was totally amazed at how good it was. It is about this high school girl named Izzy who is involved in a drunk driving crash caused by a senior named Marco. Izzy's lower right leg is brutally injured and she is forced to have it amputated. She feels really depressed, and her friends don't seem to want to visit her. Then this girl named Rosamunde who isn't as popular as Izzy comes by to visit often and they become friends. Rosamunde, who is a very straight-forward person with a unique sense of humor, helps Izzy get back on her feet and cope with her disability. I highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you don't like to read. I enjoyed it very much.

** For ALL high school students!**
Izzy, Willy-Nilly is a good, thought-provoking book directed to high school students. It deals with issues that teenagers face everyday, including drunk-driving, friendship, and indifference. Izzy, Willy-Nilly is about a sophomore in high school, Izzy, who accepts a date with a senior, Marco. They go to a party and Marco drinks too much. On the drive home, they crash into a tree. Although Marco recieves minor injuries, Izzy loses a leg, and her life is changed forever. At 15, Izzy was the pretty, popular cheerleader from a rich family, but the accident changes everything. Her friends and family start treating her differently, and everywhere she goes people stare at her. She is no longer the once popular cheerleader, but the object of everyone's pity. Through hard work and perseverence, Izzy learns to cope and adjust to her disability. This book is definitely for every high school student to read. I could relate to many of the issues discussed in this book. This book totally made me think about how lucky I am to be healthy and fit.

If u read this book, you'll be as depressed as the Izzy
do not read this book. i urge you not to. even if someone is holding a gun to your head, and the only way they wont fire is if you read this book, and your life depends on it, dont.It's awful. It's painful to read. I truely can't say enough bad things about this book. Girl looses leg. Girl is sad. There. Now you can say that you read the book, cause you know the entire story.

bookreport
I think this was a good book. I think this because it shows the concequences of drinking and driving. Also not to rush to get older because the older you get the more responsibility you have. Having responsibility isnt always fun. People expect a lot more of you and it is a little stress full. In this book Izzy gets into a car accident after a party. She begs her mom to go out to this party with an older guy Marcus. She thinks this would be cool, you know her going out with an older guy. She thought that it would make her friends jealous that she was the one that got to go with an older guy. Izzy was the quite one of them. When she goes to this party she finds out that it isnt really that cool. The next time she wakes up she is in the hospital. She doesnt remember why though. She find out later in the book that she is disabled and tries not to show how much it really does hurt. Every day is harder for her though, because she realizes that nothing will ever be the same. Izzy doesn't want to realize that she is not going to be able to do the things that she used to do anymore. This really bothers her but she doesn't show it because she comes from a family who thinks that you need to be strong all the time. When she hurts the most she wont let it show.
I really liked this book. I liked it because it showed the meaning of friendship. For example, her friends now how much pain she is in and call her in the hospital and go visit her. Even though seeing her like this scares them they are still there for her through it all.As you can see this was a really good book and I would recommend anyone to read it.

Excellent, excellent, excellent
As a high school and middle school English teacher, I have read lots and lots of books for young people. I seem to have read a lot of novels lately about teens who become injured or disabled or ill in some way -- it is a difficult genre to write well without being overly sentimental or unrealistic. Izzy, Willy-Nilly is the best book of this type I have read. I didn't want to put it down, and after reading it, I wanted to read everything Voigt had ever written. ... Read more

Book Description

Little Rainman is a picture book writen by a mother as if her child is speaking.It describes how a child with autism feels about his environment and its sensory challenges.Excellent for educating classmates and siblings about the world the child with autism faces each day. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Waste of Time
This could have been much better. I admire parents who use their experiences to write stories to help us learn about children with disabilities. However, in this case it seems like it was only done to make a buck. More thought should go into a book than what appears to have happened here.

A mixed review
I applaud the author for her attempts at telling a story through the eyes and words of her son. The concept is correct, the method is not. The story rambles, often jumping from topic to topic. The "handwritten" font is creative, but actually hard to read. It could have been so much more effective to have this book written by someone with more legible printing. The photos are at times compelling, but others are too obscure for children to interpret. I bought this book for my seven-year-old son, to help him understand my four-year-old autistic son. There were some helpful thoughts, but this book seemed to create more confusion and questions for him.

Wonderful for relatives of autistic children
This is a terrific book! It helped my in-laws understand my son better. They had thought autism was as it is in TV movies - silent, non-responsive, unreachable children. Their grandson certainly wasn't like that, he got good grades, so he wasn't autistic. Now they realize that when I say my son is autistic I'm not insulting his intelligence, but refering to the way his mind works.

HAVING AN AUTISTIC CHILD, THIS BOOK IS EXTREMELY SOBERING.
WE HAVE AN AUTISTIC 9 YEAR OLD CHILD, DIAGNOSED AT AGE 3. TO DATE, WE HAVE YET BEEN ABLE TO FIND A BOOK THAT IS NOT OVER-ANALYTICAL, NOT TO MENTION WAY OVER OUR HEADS CONCERNING HOW TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE EVERYDAY REASONING AND ACTIONS OF OUR SON. AFTER READING THIS BOOK, I HAVE IMMEDIATELY GROWN CLOSER AND MORE APPRECIATIVE OF MY CHILD AND HIS DISABILITY. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF, SINCE READING THE BOOK, NOT GETTING SO EASILY UPSET WITH HIM. THERE ARE "AUTISTIC" THINGS HE DOES THAT UPSET ME SINCE I KNOW THEY ARE THE BY-PRODUCTS OF HIS CONDITION BUT AFTER READING THE BOOK, I BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS SOMETHING INSIDE HIM THAT IS CAUSING THIS, NOT HIM TRYING TO HURT OR IRRITATE US WITH CERTIAN ACTIVITIES, EVEN DOWN TO HOW HE RESPONDS TO HIS ENVIRONMENT AND OTHERS. OF COURSE I HAVE AM AWARE OF ALL THE "SYMPTOMS" AND I AM LIVING THEM, BUT THIS BOOK IS SO REAL AND INTIMATE IN ITS DEPICTION OF AN AUTISTIC CHILD'S MIND THAT EVERY PARENT OF AN AUTISTIC CHILD (NO MATTER HOW MILD) AS WELL AS THOSE CLOSE TO THEM, MUST READ THIS BOOK! CONGRATULATIONS KAREN FOR A SHINING ACHIEVEMENT! WHAT A REWARD YOU WILL RECEIVE FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

ASL but not as interesting to baby
The "Baby Signs" books are great to go through with a baby because the pictures are very inviting for the baby. I hoped these books would have that same inviting quality but be in ASL. Initially, my baby didn't like them as much as the "BabySigns" books, now at 15 months she seems to enjoy looking at the pictures in these books every bit as much as looking at the babies in the "Baby Signs" books.

This books gives an excellent illustration of the ASL sign with each picture along with a drawing corresponding to the word.

Excellent Sign Book for Little Beginners
We bought this book and its companion, "More Baby's First Signs" when my daughter was 8 months old. What I like about this book is that it's a board book, meant to withstand the abuse a small child can give it. The pages are easy to turn, the pictures are large and very cute and the signs are basic, "need to know" words like "more," "milk," and "bird." Also, diagrams on how to sign are easy to understand, which was important for me since I have no previous ASL experience. This book the perfect combination of a board book and a book to learn sign language. I think to expand on your child's sign vocabulary, you would need to buy additional books as these books have only 6-8 or so signs each -- but these are books are a good place to start, and your child can read them by themselves without ripping them to shreds!

A wonderful baby sign book just right for little kids!
My 14-month old daughter Sarah loves this book, and its companion "More Baby's First Signs". She reads them to herself, making the signs as she sees the picture on each page. She knows most of the signs in the books, and I think she really enjoys the chance to use all those signs as she reads.

I love the books too. The cute illustrations are very clear, showing exactly how to make the signs. Signing with Sarah has really paid off, even though she hears and speaks perfectly well for her age (which is to say, she hears everything and says monosyllables). At least half of what she says I understand only because she signs with it.

I highly recommend these books for anyone who's using sign with their babies or toddlers. (And if you're not -- yet -- check out the "Sign with Your Baby" kit by Joseph Garcia.) ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Tell me the story again, Grandfather...
An Indian boy asks his Grandfather to tell him about the night he was born, and the Grandfather ties another knot in the counting rope. The night was windy, and when the boy was born, they thought he might die. The Grandfather took him outside and two blue horses came by and gave him their strength. The boy lived, but lives in darkness. He begs begs for a promise that his Grandfather will always be with him, to which the Grandfather replies, "I love you, boy; that is better than a promise!" A gentle story of love, blindness, and some pretty illustrations make for a memorable book.

Knots on a Counting Rope
This book is a terrible representation of the Navajo Indians. None of the information that is in this book is a valid representation of their traditions. The information that we are teaching to our children from this book is false and very stereotypical. It should be taken out of every school.

a book filled with everything we hope to teach our chilldren
this is a book that has more intensity and insight with each new reading. it is the story of a physically handicapped child who with the support of his grandfather takes on a difficult challege and competes to his highest potential. the story integates overcoming challenges, uncondition parental love, hard work, and aging while finishing with a realistic outcome. the reader will be moved with pride and hope.

Incredibly powerful
This book explains the passing of the generations in a child's terms. The grandfather explains that he will die, and the grandson does not want to hear it. But the grandfather shows that the powerful love of the family will support and strengthen the child as he faces the challenges of life and growth. This is the only book I've encountered that makes me cry when I read it to my kids. ... Read more

Book Description

At age two, Helen Keller became deaf and blind. She lived in a world of silence and darkness and she spent the rest of her life struggling to break through it. But with the help of teacher Annie Sullivan, Helen learned to read, write, and do many amazing things. This inspiring illustrated biography is perfect for young middle-grade readers. Black-and-white line drawings throughout, sidebars on related topics such as Louis Braille, a timeline, and a bibliography enhance readers' understanding of the subject.

Illustrated by John O'Brien. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Quality read
The book Stoner and Spaz was a very interesting book that could happen in real life. this book was wriiten by Ronald Koertg.
This book was about a 16 year old boy named Ben Bancroft and her friend Colleen Minou. These two are an odd pair of people together but make an iteresting story. What happens is Ben meets Colleen in a movie theater and turns beens life around. Befour Been meets Colleen he is a kid who no one notices is around. Buit once theses two come togethere colleen turs been into a club gower. Gives him his first joint, and causes Been to make a movie.Also Been trys to make Colleen drug free. does been sucseed? read and find out.I thinkn that Ronald Koertg is trying to say that even the most diffrent people come togeher, and that people should have friends. this could be so because with out each other their lives would still be the same and have no point. Thi book is worth reading if you want to read a story about two odd people would be the most unlikly people to come together. ANd if you want an adventure

Tough, funny, realistic...I could go on & on
This is a story about an unusual friendship between a lonely physically handicapped "spaz" whose grandmother makes him wear $70 Brooks Brothers shirts to school and a "stoner" party girl who'll "get high and do anything."

Ron Koertge knows how people -- especially kids -- talk and, for me, hearing his characters' voices is the best part of any Koertge book.

Ben (the "spaz" of the title, he is afflicted with cerebral palsy) is smart, funny, and charming, and when Colleen (the "stoner") tells him that half the girls in her rehab group want to be his girlfriend, I couldn't help but think, "If I were in high school, I'd wanna be his girlfriend too!"

Colleen is also smart -- a fact that shines through her druggy haze -- as well as tough and fascinating. It's easy to see why Ben is drawn to her.

I love the characterization of Ben's proper, uptight grandmother. She's prim without ever being a stereotype.

As Ben and Colleen become friends, they help each other to see themselves more clearly. Colleen says Ben's wasted, atrophied arm is not so bad. Ben says Colleen's "ice-cream habit" is hurting her more than she realizes.

And so Ben attempts to get to know more people at school, and Colleen checks into a rehab program. As they "stand up and fall down, stand up and fall down," as their friend Marcie says, which one of them will remain standing? Can their strange friendship survive?

Check out this fast read to find out.

Life is a Scam
This book is incredibly funny a real down to earth example of the teenage drama and romance we sometimes suffer through. The book is about a stoned-out chick named Collen that stumbles upon geeky-little Ben, after their encounter Ben seems to suddenly fall for this girl and tries to get her attention, he wants only to be with her but it doesnt seem to want to turn out that way for Ben. With an overly protective grandmother that tries to ignore Bens CP or at least tries to act as if everything is normal (like nothing wrong with Ben even though there is), it seems like Ben wont have his way with the careless young youth Colleen. In my opinion this is a kick ass book, I totally fell for it the plot and the comedy, oh the comedy.

Not Just for CP Kids
This was an amazing book, I don't believe I've ever enjoyed reading as much as I did with this book. I'm not someone who pleasure reads a lot, but I truthfully enoyed reading this book, and heard from a friend it was good. It was on our school summer reading list so I picked it up. I read it all in one day, which isn't too much of a big deal since it's pretty short. However I felt, the book was great, and I don't agree with what a few other people are saying. One person said it wasn't realistic, that the main girl Coleen never suffered withdrawls are anything... but comon in the end she winds up being pretty much the way she started. And someone else said that there was to much cursing, however without the swearing would it have accurately portrayed the world i live in? I will admit that my review may be a little biased because I am 15, and I go through all the things these teens went through, but i actually think thats great. The writer did a great job of showing what a lot of teens go through, and anyone that thinks the book was over the top or overexagerated needs to go take a trip to their nearest highschool. The last thing i wanted to address, and what I felt was the best part of the book, the ending: someone said it was half-assed. Truth is it was perfect, the ending was sort of happy but at the same time it was sorta sad, but definitly very realistic. It kind of made me sad, because I have a friend that seems so much like Coleen, and truth is our relationship kinda did the same thing. Overall one of my favorite books ever.

"Stoner and Spaz"
I have CP like the main boy in the book (though nowhere near as severe, you can hardly tell I have it) and I thought it was an excellent portrayal of the everyday challenges people with CP and other movement disabilities face when trying to fit in with "normal" people

"Stoner and Spaz" is about a romance between 2 oddities, Ben Bancroft, a boy with spastic CP and Colleen Minou, a young druggie. Ben is very insecure within himself and mostly just mooches around at the movies rather than face the jeers and taunts of his fellow peers. It is not until Colleen comes into his life that he attempts to go about the usual social activities of a 16 yr old boy. With Colleen he smokes, drinks, goes to dances and has sex. This book is an excellent read which makes the reader cry, laugh and gasp all at once. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

When a childhood illness leaves her blind and deaf, Helen Keller's life

seems hopeless indeed. But her indomitable will and the help of a devoted

teacher empower Helen to triumph over incredible adversity. This amazing true

story is finally brought to the beginner reader level.




... Read more

Reviews (6)

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.

I recommend this book because it tells about how a girl can do something with her life even though she's blind.

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 her from 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.

A Shameful Book!
The authors and publishers should be ashamed. Helen Kellers's life was NOT simply filled with "silence and darkness", as the authors write. She was a fighter for women's rights, including the right to vote. She denounced the murder of coal miners by John D. Rockefeller. She helped found the American Civil Liberties Union. She worked tirelessly for peace. She lived a long, full NOISY 88 years.

This book reduces her to a permanent teenager, and an image on a postage stamp. This book misinforms young people, and gives them a ridiculous idea of what Helen Keller was really all about.

Excellent Book!
I first read this book to my daughter when she was 5 years old, and she has been fascinated with Helen Keller ever since. We have read and reread this book numerous times, and she never loses interest. This led to buying other Helen Keller books and an interest in learning sign language. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a young child. It's a great book for getting a child interested in true stories/biographies!

Excellent book on communications
I used this book with my second grade children in a unit on communications. They were fascinated by the story and learned a lot of new vocabulary words. The book's content was such that my children were able to try to imagine what it would be like to be deaf, blind, or both. The book was also a springboard for discussion on courage, perseverance, determination, and achieving goals, as it gave concrete examples of these abstract concepts. We also used the book to learn a little geography as we traced the path of Helen's travels on a map. It includes a picture of the Braille alphabet, which we used to write and "decode" messages, an exercise the kids loved! Contrary to the opinion of another reviewer, we really liked the artwork and the content. Obviously, I recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Lucky Hart loves Christmas. She loves making garlands and wreaths, baking spice cookies, and deciding on just the right presents for her family and friends. This Christmas, Lucky is also excited about singing in front of all the people of Cobtown. But the festivities take an unexpected turn. A lost blind man, lonely and far from home, arrives speaking "gibberish" no one understands...the pump organ breaks...a sick dog is found and Lucky and Oinkey the pig tend to him.

Saddened by these events, Lucky wonders what kind of holiday it will be. Little does she suspect that the town's annual Christmas Eve party will bring a bounty of surprises to fill her heart--and the hearts of everyone in Cobtown--with the joy, magic, and music of the Christmas season. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Cobtown Christmas
A great granddaughter discovers a family diary from 1845. The story of a special Christmas in Cobtown unfolds. Art is a cartoon-like character with excellent illustrations in lively colors. A great read - includes receipes for dog soup! I highly recommend this family type, holiday book for students from K through 5 grades.

An instant classic
The Van Nutts bring us instantly back to a lost era full of magic. Somehow they have mastered the art of historical accuracy without boredom or cheesiness- something so few artists can do. The drawings have all the skill of Van Allsburg but more warmth and depth for their genuineness, while the text makes you long to search through your grandmother's closet in search of hidden treasures. It's an instant classic and a must-have for someone who takes kid's books seriously. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

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

Book Description

"What happened this afternoon is too terrible to write...Please, God, let Will live. And please, God, forgive me."

Cassie's journal opens her dramatic story and that of her older brother Will, as they are both forced to reexamine their lives after a farm accident leaves Will without a leg -- and without hope.

After a winter of healing, Will knows his future must be away from the farm that he loves. He and Cassie go to stay with their older sister and her husband in the nearby town of Wiscasset. There, with the excitement of Maine's new statehood as a backdrop, Will finds that being disabled can be a social handicap as well as physical one. But with hard work he can win respect -- and find exciting possibilities for his future.

Living in town opens Cassie's eyes too. She sees Will considering career options not open to her, and she wonders if she can be fulfilled by keeping a house and a family. Are there other possibilities for a young woman in 1820? As Cassie watches Will make his life decisions, she struggles to find her own place in the world.

From the author of Stopping to Home and Seaward Born comes this remarkable story of hardship, determination, and the joy of finding the right path in life. ... Read more

Book Description

This delightful picture book explores questions and concerns about physical disabilities in a simple and reassuring way. Younger children can find out about individual disabilities, special equipment that is available to help the disabled, and how people of all ages can deal with disabilities and live happy and full lives. Titles in this series for younger children explore emotional issues that boys and girls encounter as part of the growing-up process. Books are focused to appeal to kids of preschool through early school age. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, A First Look At books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers, and encourage kids to ask questions and confront social and emotional questions that sometimes present problems. Books feature appealing full-color illustrations on every page plus a page of advice to parents and teachers. ... Read more

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.

Once past the title, the book has wonderful, amusing illustrations and the text keeps elementary school siblings interested. The sister eventually does come to appreciate her impulsive brother, but kids will keep coming back to that title...

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 is candid in saying it often bothers her, which is good because siblings can often bear the brunt of ADHD family/home problems. It's important that kids know what happens if they have a brother or sister with ADHD, what to expect, and how they can even help. My seven-year-old daughter has gained a lot of wisdom from it in trying to understand her cousin who has this condition! I recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Samantha Abeel tells her own story of living with and overcoming dyscalculia. She describes in painstaking detail how her life was affected by her learning disability before and after she was diagnosed, and the way her peers, her family, and her teachers treated her. In seventh grade, Samantha suffered anxiety attacks as she struggled to keep up in her classes, to remember two locker combinations, and to deal with new teachers. Samantha was eventually placed in Special Education classes in eighth grade, but she continued to feel anxious about her future. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

provocative and unforgettable
This is one of the best memoirs I have ever read. Although not formally diagnosed when in school, I believe that I, like the author, am both gifted and learning disabled. (The gap between my verbal and math SATs would convince anyone of this.) The descriptions of what it is like as a young student who most people consider smart to "fake it" in one's problem areas are the most painfully accurate I have ever read. The narrator's disabilities extend far beyond what most of us think of as having "problems with math." Making change, following directions on a map, and telling time are all part of the narrator's disability. In this book, she shows how the inadequate research done on this disability, coupled with her impressive masking skills, and prejudice on her teachers' part as to what a "dumb" kid looks and behaves like, all made her school years more difficult than they should be for anyone. Luckily, parents who insisted on speaking up to the school system, as well as Sam's own gifts helped her graduate and complete college.

Another thing that intrigued and angered me was a comment one admissions' officer made to Sam's (the narrator's) mother as they were researching colleges: "Our students are perfect in every way." i.e. we couldn't possibly consider your daughter. Really? I worry about a college that weeds out applicants in that manner, especially given that the narrator had already published a book.

If you have ever seen a movie or TV program on adults who cannot read but who have managed to negotiate and even excel in daily life, you will have some idea of what life was like for the narrator during her youth. What makes the book so compelling is that it's not just written by someone who wants to talk about a disability, but also by a poet and gifted writer who can convey what it is like to have her particular disability perfectly.

An amazing book
This book is an absolute must-read for teachers, parents, and kids with learning disabilities (LD) and other special needs. Beautifully written, honest and very open about what life is like for a child with learning disabilities. This is especially important reading for those who don't understand that a child can be both intellectually gifted and LD, and that no one is "too smart" to have a learning disability.

As someone who works with families of gifted/special needs children, I will be recommending this book widely.

A very fine autobiography of courage and frustration
Samantha Abeel's story is a memoir with reads with all the smoothness, drama and pointed observations of a novel. Her math-related learning disability sets her apart from others and until she is diagnosed in 7th grade, her life is one big struggle. My Thirteenth Winter is a very fine autobiography of courage and frustration.

A Heart Wrenching Read!
As a teacher of fifth and sixth graders, this book really touched my heart. I have three special needs children in my class of thirteen kids. I feel that this book has given me a better understanding of what life must be like for people with disabilities. My heart just wanted to reach out to this child that was terrified of going to school everyday because she couldn't do the work, particularly math, no matter how hard she tried.

Samantha Abeel does an exemplary job in showing that all people have talents and gifts. I know it is very frustrating to work with a student every day that just can't seem to "get it." Samantha reminds us that even if someone is not good with math, she might be able to write. Never give up on the child.

I recommend this book to all children, parents, and especially teachers. This book will remind you that life can be very frightening for people that don't think or learn like the majority of people.

My Thirteenth Winter-a Review
Samatha Abeel's autobiography should be read by every parent of a learning disabled child and by every teacher who has learning disabled children in the classroom.
As an elementary student, Samatha excelled in language and social studies, but she also had a harrowing secret: she could not understand or do the math her classmates did-she could not even tell time!
It is not until she is thirteen that Samatha is finally diagnosed with dyscalculia, a math related learning disability.
The book covers both Samatha's triumphs like working with artist Charles Murphy to produce "Reach for the Moon" and her difficulty dealing with the outside world where most people do not understand how her dyscalculia shows itself in her daily life.
This is the story of her persistence and her ultimate sucess. For as Samatha writes,"...we are stronger than we think we are."
I highly recommend this story of a courageous young woman and her struggle to deal with her disablility. ... Read more