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Most biographies for kids of living subjects, have several things in common. They are small in size and page number, they have flashy covers, the information they contain can be easily gleaned by combing the Internet, they feature the latest sports, music, TV, or movie stars, their "shelf-life" is limited. Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World is not most biographies.
Montgomery, Sy. 2012. Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (Advance Reader Copy supplied by publisher)
Dr. Temple Grandin is a scientist, a college professor, a motivational speaker, an engineer, an advocate for animal rights, and so much more - but as a child born in the 1940s with autism, her chances of becoming anything at all were slim. In fact, her father fought to have her sent away to a mental institution, thinking her, not brilliant, but "retarded." With the help of a determined mother, Temple grew up to be a brilliant and respected woman who has changed our world for the better.
With extensive access to Temple Grandin, her family and friends, and schools, author Sy Montgomery has crafted an inspiring, engaging, and informative biography about this singular woman.
Temple Grandin is thirteen chapters that tell the story of Temple's life and the autism that has shaped her destiny. Not strictly chronological, Temple's participation in the writing of the book is an added bonus as her present-day thoughts are often used to punctuate difficult experiences from her past
"If I could snap my fingers and be non-autistic," Temple says today, "I wouldn't do it. It's part of who I am."
Chapters relate her unique education, her friends, her scientific experiments and engineering projects, her autism and its attendant challenges. Chapters are supplemented by short informational sections (which appear as pages torn from a spiral bound notebook) on such varied topics as "Thinking differently:Changing Views of Brain Differences" and "Factory Farming by the Numbers." The final chapter, "Temple Today" is followed by Temple's advice, a selected bibliography and resources, and acknowledgements. Photographs, plans and drawings are plentiful throughout the book. Photo credits and an index will be included in the final copy.
It is clear that Ms. Grandin is pleased with Sy Montgomery's rendering of her life. Temple Grandin, herself, is the author of the inspirational forward to Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World.
One thought that I could not shake after reading this book: What would have become of Temple Grandin had she not been born into a wealthy family with a mother who refused to lose hope? How many young geniuses were/are never able to find their potential? It is a credit to Temple Grandin that she is a willing and able spokesperson for those on the autism spectrum, hoping to promote an understanding of our collective neurodiversity.
Who should read this book?
librarians
teachers of children on the autism spectrum
parents of children on the autism spectrum
kids and teens on the autism spectrum
kids and teens who know someone on the autism spectrum
animal lovers
readers interested in animal rights
readers studying factory farming
would-be engineers and scientist
5 Comments on Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World - a review, last added: 3/20/2012
This sounds like a fab book. The way autism is treated in Japan today is very similar to the way it was treated in North America in decades past, so it is great to have a biography of someone who was successful at overcoming barriers. Thanks for sharing!
Hi! My academic group (department) here in Singapore is Early Childhood and Special Needs Education - and this sounds like a book that would be a great resource for some of our special-needs teacher-students who deal with autistic children. Will pin this in my Pinterest Board. :)
Speaking of B21,whose birthday was on Saturday--this young man has lost 50 pounds since last May! It's the 50 pounds he put on while he was away at a college last year. Since he's been home, we've been helping make sure that he exercises daily, either biking (10 miles) when the weather is nice, or run-walking on the treadmill (5 miles) when it's been cold. He's also eating a minimum quantity of food--eggs and rice cereal for breakfast, an apple or a banana for lunch, and a quesadilla around 4 to hold him till dinner. No seconds, no dessert, and lots of praise from his family as we've seen the pound drop off, slowly but surely. Best of all, he seems to have his secret compulsive snacking under control, which should help him keep it off.
He just hit a milestone. He now weighs just under 200, which is less than his college-entry weight of 202ish. We have promised him an Xbox 360 if he gets down to 160. Without a job, he has little to no spending money, so he's very motivated to earn his reward this way! I guess it's the silver lining to his unemployment situation.
Things are moving slowly with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. He has a caseworker there who is working on finding him a job, but it's a slow process. He had an interview at an area hospital for a housekeeping position, thanks to a friend who referred him, but he heard back from them recently that they are "pursuing other candidates," which was disappointing. Thank you for your prayers for him!
In educational news, B12 and I visited the public middle school on Friday and liked what we saw. He shadowed a friend for four hours, and he knew what was going on in each class, and he felt good about the teachers and the kids. He's happy about the idea of trying it for the rest of this year.
I still feel ambivalent about sending him there, but we had another rough week in virtual school, when all final tests and projects were due, and it seemed like further confirmation that he needs a change. When I pray about what he needs, I keep seeing a classroom, and as I shared before, it seems this is the classroom God is leading us toward, for now. He wouldn't start until next Monday, so I don't feel rushed to submit the paperwork, but on the other hand, the virtual school's new semester starts tomorrow, so that's a decision right there, if he doesn't begin.
On the church front, we had a Holy Week planning meeting on Saturday. Woo hooooo! This year, I am going to have a partner to help plan and execute the readings for the week, especially the Passion reading on Palm Sunday, and the readings at Easter Vigil. I am so thankful for the energy and creativity of JT, a percussionist, artist, sound tech and Easter Vigil coordinator extraordinaire, who moved up here from our old church. We just had a house blessing service in their new home (although it was months ago that they arrived--but what better season for a house blessing than Epiphany?). We just installed his wife, LT, on our vestry, and we are sooooo grateful for them!
Also, something is percolating about a youth group for our middle schoolers who are, like dominoes, all about to begin turning 13. The vision and the leadership are not fully formed yet, and it probably won't really get off the ground until next fall, but it's exciting to see God working!
We are excited as our family plans to meet in NYC at the SoHo Digital Arts Gallery for "The Art of Autism" show on October 27, 2011 (6-9 pm) and a special performance event and film showing on the 28th. My son, Bryce Merlin (age 30), has had four drawings accepted into the show, organized by Debra Hosseini, author of "Artism: The Art of Autism," SoHo Digital Arts Gallery, and Keri Bowers of Normal Films. Other wonderful artists will be there as well, from the U.S. and other countries such as Israel and Morocco.
Like everyone on the face of the earth, Bryce has experienced challenges. He has strengths and weaknesses, dreams, and ideas. He is himself and all that brings, surprising those he meets with his creativity, persistence, and approach. Bryce also faces obvious hurdles as he navigates through life in yellow glasses, yellow hearing aid, yellow shoes and a hand-painted T-shirt featuring Sponge Bob Squarepants. He is friendly, verbal, and colorful. (We are in discussion on what to wear while in New York. Since his only other visit there was on September 9 - 12, 2001, this 10-year anniversary visit is going to be extra special to our family.)
Here is more information on the gallery show/event and Outsider Art:
Artism: The Art of Autism By Debra Hosseini
ARTISM: The Art of Autism
0 Comments on The Art of Autism and a NYC Show! as of 1/1/1900
Belinda has just left the first nastygram for Gem and my son asked, "Shouldn't she have left a nicer note?"
I was so pleased to have him recognize that, and how fascinating to see him trying to navigate the world of interactions... I didn't think of that at all when I chose this book, but it's really quite emotionally complex. What better place to learn about people than children's books? It's where I learned.
0 Comments on Little Plum continued as of 1/1/1900
Now that the school year has ended, I have the time to put in on a couple of big projects--helping Blondechick plan her wedding, and helping B20 find a job. There's not much to tell yet on Job A, except we're going to look at wedding and reception venues this week!
On Job B.... We attended the mandatory informational meeting at the Kenosha DVR (Department of Vocational Rehabilitation), and it sounds like the whole process is going to be slow, and we ought to do our best to find him employment without their help. He's filled out applications at several places, and then I thought to take him to Manpower, the temporary agency.
That visit was most encouraging. A woman there spent a lot of time with us, and it sounds likely that he'll be a good fit for a client that will have openings in just another week or so. It would begin as a temporary position, but should lead to employment if he does a good job. So we are praying that this will all come about!
In the meantime, I was looking at bus routes to get him to work, and not finding anything promising. But the car route wasn't too bad of a drive, I noticed. I talked with Papa Rooster about it, and we each had the same sudden inner conviction. Though he makes us nervous, B20 would be just fine driving himself to and from work.
He passed his driver's test, after all--a year ago. In fact, almost exactly a year ago, I began to realize, fighting back panic as I looked through a file drawer for his road test results. As they continued to elude me, I thought, "What if I find them and they just expired yesterday?" My next thought was, "Well, Lord, if that's the case, then we'll know it's because he shouldn't be driving. It's in your hands, Lord."
This was last Friday afternoon. The DMV would be closed on the weekend, probably.
And the test results were dated--June 14! The following Tuesday--today, in fact.
So yesterday, we "cashed in" his road test results for a Wisconsin driver's license. He didn't want to drive home. It's been a year since he's driven, and we had the 15-passenger van because we were dropping off a bike at the bike repair place afterwards.
But once he has a job and we figure out a vehicle for him, we'll get him up to speed again. When he had his learner's permit, we had him driving everywhere, but he'll be a lot more comfortable driving the same roads every day.
It's funny how sometimes God nudges you along. That very night, after Papa R and I had decided he ought to get his license, I was meeting with some women from our church, and they ended up sharing stories of elderly relatives or clients who were driving long past the time that someone should have taken away their car keys. So I told them that we were thinking of letting B20 get his license, and they agreed that he'd probably be just fine. (His vision, hearing and reflexes are fine, after all!) Then one friend commented that being a good driver has a lot to do with noticing things that are unusual or out of the ordinary, and that is one facet of B20's autism--he's very observant about things that are out of place. Her comment seemed like a confirmation from the Lord that if the route is familiar, he'll do fine.
And I am feeling dizzy with relief at no longer being The One Driving Him Back and Forth to Work Every Day. I woke up one morning a couple weeks ago filled with anxiety about that role. I didn't even think, then, of him getting his license after all, but God heard my prayers and I believe this is truly His answer, not mine.
The less-exciting news is that now we have to start paying for auto insurance for him. (At least he turns 21 in 6 months!) But if gets a job, he's happy to pay his own insurance, and pay us back for a car too.
So we're drivin' forward in faith...that he'll get the job...that we'll find cheap wheels for him when the time comes...that he'
0 Comments on Drivin' Forward in Faith as of 1/1/1900
At last - birds, grass, decent temperatures. Things are looking UP in Maine. Put the fence up over on the big field (in winter the snowmobile path goes across it) and turned out our horses. There was galloping and bucking and BIG farts. (They do that when they are happy). Me, I just do the galloping and bucking bit.
Last weekend I trotted off to Boston with some girl friends. We had a blast, the sun shone and it was 50 or so degrees. Even the daffs were flowering! Stayed at a lovely little hotel (John Jeffries House on Beacon Hill.) It was good to get away from the studio, see some sights and people, eat (too much) at nice restaurants and browse in galleries. One of the fun things is getting on the DownEaster Train in Portland and cruising to Boston North Station. Nice not to drive, kick back and relax, have a drink ;-).
Saturday night we went to the Opera House and saw Mary Poppins, the Broadway cast. Just stunning! Great set, singing and an escape from reality. I particularly enjoyed the sets, which were very illustrative and made to work like a doll's house. Of course Disney always but on a great show, love' em or hate 'em. Well I loved it and took some inspiration from it.
More inspiration on Sunday - Boston Museum of Fine Arts. One afternoon is far too little time to do it properly - and viewing fatigue sets in after a while. It was good to sit and contemplate amongst old masters, the paintings old friends from books and posters, from essays written at college and lectures received. So I mused among the Impressionists and spent a while with John Singer Sargent and his beautiful brushwork. Roamed in the Egyptian room and pootled in the new Art of the Americas wing. Totally missed the musical instruments and costume though. Rats.
And in breathing the atmosphere it reminds you that this is still just paint on canvas, one brush stroke, one observation at a time. Take that home and recall that what you do is not so much different.
Meanwhile back in my real life ... still trying to throw off the kidney stone episode with has left me pretty exhausted. I am deep in to the compositions for 'Hidden New Jersey' for Charlesbridge. There is a lot of detail and research for each spread ... they are packed cock-a-hoop full of history. Hopefully I can share them here soon. There's a lot of work to do before then though!
Good news also this week - 'How to Talk to an Autistic Kid' goes on sale from Free Spirit Publishing. I received my copy and it looks fab! You can buy it now on Amazon If you have a child who is in contact with an Autistic child, perhaps at school, or just to educate them that an Autistic child acts a little differently but is highly intelligent, this is a great book. Also if your feeling generous, purchase a copy for your school or library. If you would like a signed copy, please let me know and I will try to arrange it.
Sandra J. Gerencher is a special education teacher in the Bangor Area public school system. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked at Lehigh University in a school-based program, as a Program Specialist for adults with disabilities. Over the past 20 years she has worked with children and adults with special needs in such areas as counseling, Behavior Specialist Consultation, behavioral research, crisis intervention and abuse therapy. Sandra graduated from Lehigh University with a M.Ed. in Special Education (2004) and from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia with an M.S. in Counseling Psychology (1999).
About the book:
Over the past 10 years, author Sandra Gerencher has been on a mission to save dogs from high-kill animal shelters. Her first rescue was P.J., the black and white Pomeranian in the story. She also adopted the orange Pomeranians Shelby and Lil Rascal, and of course, Chance, the big black Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix.
Her most significant adoption was her son, Terry. He was considered a special needs child because he was born with a genetic disorder known as Fragile X Syndrome. The disorder can cause many cognitive disorders, such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental retardation and depression.
All characters in the story are based on Sandra’s real life family.
Watch the book trailer:
My take on the book:
Second Chance is a beautifully written testimony to the power of love we can give to someone by offering them a second chance. Told from the unique perspective of the rescued dog Chance, young readers are the given the opportunity to learn about adoption and autism in a very simple yet beautiful way. The impressionistic photographs were fascinating for me and I thought were incredibly poignant as a metaphor for empathy and learning to see the world through someone else’s eyes.
Sandra Gerencher’s lifelong commitment to rescuing dogs and her love of both animals and people is incredibly inspiring. It’s easy for me to say this is a must-read for adopted children but I want to go a step further and say it&rsq
1 Comments on Book Review: Second Chance, last added: 1/26/2011
Thank you, Chris, for the heart warming and touching review of SECOND CHANCE. It is definitely a book that tugs at the heart strings especially considering it is based on Sandra’s real life family. Thank you for recommending it to the fine readers of Book Dads – both young and old.
I have to wholeheartedly agree with PBS when it says that this book is highly recommended!! Second Chance: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism and His Shelter Dog by Sandra Gerencher is a touching picture book that stays with you long after you are done reading! I love this great way of teaching what adoption is and also what autism may look like. I think kids and adults will resonate with this story - and hey, maybe even dogs!! If you've been touched by adoption or autism - this book will resound with you as well - you will "get it". This one WILL be on our bookshelf! If you'd like your own copy - purchase a hard copy or ebook HERE.
A little info on the author, Sandra Gerencher -
Sandra J. Gerencher is a special education teacher in the Bangor Area public school system. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked at Lehigh University in a school-based program, as a Program Specialist for adults with disabilities. Over the past 20 years she has worked with children and adults with special needs in such areas as counseling, Behavior Specialist Consultation, behavioral research, crisis intervention and abuse therapy. Sandra graduated from Lehigh University with a M.Ed. in Special Education (2004) and from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia with an M.S. in Counseling Psychology (1999).
**I was provided a copy for review by Tribute Books.
1 Comments on Second Chance, last added: 1/21/2011
Becky - thanks a million for sharing SECOND CHANCE with all of the wonderful readers of In the Pages. I'm so glad that you liked the book and agree with PBS Kids' recommendation.
Your support means a lot to us in getting word about the book out to parents and young readers.
I know some of you have been praying for us and our decision about Bantam19 returning to college next semester.
I know, because we've come to remarkable clarity on this issue: We are sending him back.
In my first conversation with his adviser, she wasn't sure if he could handle college. She's the one who first planted the suggestion that he might do better focusing on one course at a time. But in that first conversation, it was also a revelation to her that B19 has autism, though I thought she had been told that from the beginning, as I requested.
In our second conversation, after meeting with B19 several times to discuss his writing, she had a completely different take on him. This time she strongly encouraged me to give him another chance. She was frustrated, as we have been, that the support that he needed wasn't set up for him from the very beginning. She assured me that if he came back, he would have a very different experience.
That conversation alone seemed to strongly point toward allowing him to return. Oh, and regarding his weight gain from eating in the dining hall, she assured me that next semester, a Fitness major would be assigned to work out with him and in her words, "keep him on the straight and narrow." What else could we ask for?
Well, passing grades, we thought.
So when his grades were posted and he had pulled in two C+'s and a C, we were very pleased. If he can do that well without any support, in his first semester of college, we figure he can probably pass enough classes to graduate.
His Algebra grade is still not showing up, and we are all hoping for a D-. B19 doesn't speak Math. But his algebra teacher gave him hours of extra time on his final, and when he still wasn't done, she offered to come back in after the Christmas break had begun so that he could finish it. I couldn't believe it! Turns out she has an autistic son too. Her willingness to go the extra mile with him spoke to us. Another confirmation to give the kid another chance.
Finally, we received a couple of financial windfalls that just seemed like God saying, "What further objections could you have?"
So Papa Rooster is taking him back to school tonight. He has a MWF 8:00 class in the morning. (Something I managed to avoid ever taking when I was in college! But he's a better morning person than I am.)
It's been nice having him around for vacation. He's been helpful with dishes, and playing Legos with younger brothers, and even helped sort Barbies from Playmobil from Hot Wheels from K'nex. He also managed to lose 12 pounds in the last month, by avoiding dessert and carefully not eating till he was full, but only eating to put something in his stomach--his own discovery. He also used our treadmill almost daily, at least to walk for awhile, and he told me today that he's looking forward to an exercise routine and getting fit.
So we are really encouraged, in many ways, and I am eager to see how this second semester of college goes for him.
Thank you, those who have been praying for him, and for us.
Thank you, Lord, for such clear direction for his immediate future. Thank you for him, and for who he is, with all his eccentricities and delightful quirks. Thank you for such good relationships with his younger siblings, who will miss him. Bless him, Lord, with support and friendships and knowledge opening up before him. Give him diligence and perseverance, and teach him to communicate his needs and limit his distractions. Thank you, Lord, for loving and caring for him continually. Amen.
Glory to GOD!!!!!!!!! I am so, so delighted to see how God made it so abundantly clear. We will still continue to pray for him, but this is such an answer to so many prayers, so soon!
Wonderful news that he is going back! BTW, I don't speak Math either so I can relate entirely. And I certainly don't speak MWF 8am classes. That's against my religion ;)
When Horatio has difficulty reading, his parents meet with the teacher to discover why. Horatio hears the words Dyslexia and Special Ed. “No way! Kids will think I’m dumb.” But go he does, and with amazing results.
I'm getting nervous.
B19, in his first semester of college, is struggling. (I wasn't sure about going public with this, but he has, on Facebook, so I guess I can comment.)
The first semester of college is a big adjustment for most kids, and that's even more true for one who has required a fair amount of assistance throughout high school. But I'm worried that this may be more than just an
By Ellen Viola Thalhamer III MS ED., B.C.S.E., for The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 11, 2010
“I’m a Daddy” and “Let’s Play Doctor” are social story books that were created in order to teach children with autism how to pretend play. For children who are learning to pretend play and socially interact with their peers, these books will be helpful in guiding them through the motions of pretending to be a daddy or a doctor. For those parents who focus on generalization, and receptive and expressive language, real life pictures associated with the stories have been added to the back of the books.
About the Author: Ellen Viola Thalhamer III MS ED., B.C.S.E., is a teacher of Special Education, who specializes in teaching children on the autism spectrum. Over the years, she has learned how important social stories are for children with autism. She is hoping her book, which has been created much like a social story, will be a valuable resource for both parents and teachers.
Pictures, or story? I don't have time for both this morning. I guess we'll go for narrative--it seems like updates are overdue in many areas!
Bantam19, 30 minutes away at Trinity International University (TIU), is doing very well. He's so happy, really enjoying college life, independence and new friends. I went to visit him for Family Weekend. I suspect that his friends are not deep friends,
What it is to be Me!: an Asperger Kid Book by Angela Wine. Illustrated by David Crary. Fairdale Books, 2005 (1-59352-199-5) $9.95 pb
I have the same problem with this book that I have with most children's books about understanding Aspergers: it's too specific. To quote a favorite phrase, if you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism--just a few added words to make it clear that some Aspies are very good with computers and some Aspies take things literally would have been great.
Other than that, this is probably the best book of its kind I've seen. The illustrations are simple but engaging, with the kind of exaggerated style my Aspie son finds very funny: Enormous ears to illustrate having "very strong senses", smiling faces on gears and computer terminals. The information is straightforward, focusing on strengths as well as challenges: "I am a friendly boy... but sometimes I stand too close." It's great to see the narrator portrayed as likable and happy, getting away from one of my least favorite stereotypes. With personal addendums to the text, this can be a good beginning for any child wanting to understand what Asperger's Syndrome is like. (3-12)
FTC disclosure: Review copy from my son's collection, originally purchased from Amazon.com. This blog is completely independent, but I receive a small percentage if you order books from Powell's via this site.
0 Comments on Review: What it is to be Me! as of 10/6/2010 2:43:00 PM
Thanks to author Ellen Viola Thalhamer III, we have five signed copies of I’m a Daddy to give away.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 36 pages
Book overview: “I’m a Daddy” was created in order to help children with autism and other social disabilities learn how to pretend play. This book is set up like a social story. It contains pictures for generalization, and receptive and expressive language learning as well.
About the author: Ellen Viola Thalhamer III is a teacher of Special Education, who specializes in teaching children on the autism spectrum. Over the years, she has learned how important social stories are for children with autism. She is hoping her book, which has been created much like a social story, will be a valuable resource for both parents and teachers.
How to enter:
Leave a comment in the comments field below.
An extra entry will be given for each time you twitter about the giveaway and/or blog about it. You will need to paste the link in a separate comment to make this entry valid. Click here to follow us on Twitter.
Maximum entries: Three (3)
Giveaway Rules:
Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to participants with a United States address.
Giveaway begins September 22, 2010, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends October 20, 2010, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See official rules for details.
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. HarperCollins, 2010 (978-0-06-190622-0) $16.99
Pete the cat loves his new white shoes so much, he even sings about them: "I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes..." Then Pete steps into a large pile of strawberries, turning his white shoes--red! But the insouciant Pete just thinks, "everything is cool" and changes his song: "I love my red shoes, I love my red shoes..." The story ends after several colorful adventures, with the comment: "The moral of Pete's story is: no matter what you step in, keep walking along and singing your song... because it's all good."
A repetitive question/answer format is almost sure to grab little kids, but there's variety and humor here for older readers too. The pictures of mellow Pete have an offbeat zaniness; sometimes he's got sneakers on all four feet, sometimes he's playing guitar, sometimes he's just hanging out with a cup of coffee. Size and perspective constantly change, which adds to the visual impact--there's something very funny somehow about enormous sneakers, or sneakers on varied numbers of feet.
Although this is a book with a strong general appeal, it could also have been designed to steal its way into the hearts of parents of kids with autism. That cheerful flexibility... ah, it's like finding a golden ticket, for us.
The book includes a link to an mp3 of performer Litwin and kids reading and singing the story. This could be a boon to anyone feeling a little uncertain of their storytelling skills, since it demonstrates where to put emphasis and provides a tune for Pete's song. But it's not quite the same without Pete's little off-the cuff thoughts after each adventure: "everything is cool," "awesome," "groovy," and "rock and roll!" * (3 & up)
FTC disclosure: Review copy provided by the publisher. This blog is completely independent, but I receive a small percentage if you order books from Powell's via this site.
A couple of weeks ago I brought you a post on the Hay Festival by OUP UK’s Head of Publicity Kate Farquhar-Thomson. Today, for those of you who couldn’t make it to the Festival (like me), here are some of Kate’s photos from the few days she spent there.
Look at that young man. See that half-smile, the hands fingering his diploma? He's pleased. He's proud of himself. He's filled with wonderment and barely-believing.
From the minute he entered the auditorium, one of nearly 500 in his class, I felt a lump in my throat. I'm sure it's normal to feel emotional as a parent at a graduation--it's the end of an era, after all, and a launching
5 Comments on Congratulations, Bantam19!, last added: 6/10/2010
rejoicing with you dear friend! what a gift, what joy! congratulations and many hugs.
Anna Goodwin Smith said, on 6/10/2010 8:19:00 PM
I remember him in our Noah's Ark class as that young boy. Look at him now! What a wonderful job God has done through you and Papa Rooster! I feel blessed to see the journey with you!
This was recommended to me by my mother, and knowing her, I'm guessing she loved it for its Britishisms. Not just the setting with the London Eye, a sort of extra-big, extra-long ferris wheel, but all the phrases: "Bunk off." "Skivving." Shreddies for breakfast! This book can't possibly be as fun to read if you're actually from England.
I confess my first thought when she told me it was about a boy with Asperger's Syndrome who solves a mystery was "oh, not another one." But the story worked--I think because it's so much in the classic mode of a children's story. There genuinely is a mystery to solve, and our hero Ted does it with the help of his older sister, which has an impact on their difficult relationship reminiscent of the brother and sister in From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L Konigsburg. And he finds a way around the fact that no one will listen to him, as all misunderstood heroes must.
As a portrayal of someone with Asperger's (never labelled, but it's pretty obvious), I don't know if this was all that great. But it certainly was an interesting mystery and family story. (9 & up)
I remember being irked by the ones in How to Ditch Your Fairy, but loving the all-sports/all-the-time school that completely controlled the student's lives. It was so Billy Bunter!
I think I read a non-fiction book about autism during every challenge. Not deliberately, there's just always at least one in my pile.
I didn't think much of the movie "Mozart and the Whale," but it did get me interested in reading the book, which is really not the same story. The real characters were much older when they met, for one thing, and already had a lot of life experiences behind them. This is not just their love story, but also their autobiographies.
I had some trouble getting into this book. One problem is that two different people are writing in turn and it's hard to tell when the points of view have changed (this was an ARC -- perhaps they made it clearer in the finished book.) The other problem was that the sections by Jerry Newport were so full of worn-out phrases. It was a nagging irritation.
But I persisted and wound up relating to a lot of what I read. And it was intriguing to read the points of view of two autistic adults, who share a lot in common yet also have many differences.
Like many autobiographies I read, this one sometimes felt too... elliptical, is the word that comes to mind. So much happened to them and they just drop little bits and pieces of it into the narrative, leaving me with tons of questions. How someone got from point A to point B is often a mystery. It reminds me of confusing autobiographies of children's book authors I read when I was younger.
Two bits of trivia
1)The "Mozart" of the title, Mary's costume at the Halloween party where they met, was not Wolfgang Amadeus -- it was his sister, the thwarted prodigy Nannerl. I find that very touching.
2) I can't find any verification of this, but I'm almost certain that the opening of the show "the Big Bang Theory" was inspired by a paragraph in this book. Or possibly, since both came out in 2007, the other way around?
I’m really excited to introduce you to my new friends Monica and her 6-year old son, Jesse, who has autism. The Simon family recently visited the museum for the first time during Variety’s Autism Access Night on Saturday, March 27th and wanted to share their experience with all of us. Read on for the full recap and stay tuned for more events like this later this year!
"An e-mail from Variety Club invited us to Please Touch Museum on a special night where it was just open for families with autism. I say "families" because truly not just the one person is affected but the whole family lives "autism." Variety Club definitely understands this and I know they would only plan events where they know the same philosophy is shared by all parties involved.
I thought about taking my three kids to Please Touch Museum when it re-opened at Memorial Hall back in 2008, but I didn’t really know too much about it. This event was the perfect opportunity. I was a bit concerned about a visit because my 6-year old son Jesse is autistic. His 11-year old brother and 16-year old sister are very patient with him, but would a whole crowd be that patient, too? Some of our concerns were the crowds and how other kids would interact with Jesse since he does not speak, but uses a talking device. Worse yet, the stares from staff members we have experienced during visits to other locations…
From the moment we walked in the door and saw all of the staff in their purple shirts, I knew we would have nothing to worry about. You could feel the excitement and commitment throughout the museum. The staff was amazing and I would give them all a huge gold star. From the moment we parked the car they were there to greet us and even played ball with the kids while waiting in line, which I found to be so thoughtful and just a warm way to welcome these special kids. My mommy gut told me this was going to be a great place.
The staff could not do enough for us and it made the visit so much more meaningful. They really cared about my child and that he had a great time "like a regular kid." For three hours we saw smiles, heard giggles, gave lots of high 5's and went home pooped! I know that my son can't wait to see the SEPTA bus again, ride the Carousel, and go shopping at the Supermarket. My entire family can’t wait to visit again!
As a special needs parent, nights like this are often hard to come by. I so appreciate all that Please Touch Museum does for families of children with special needs."
1 Comments on Meet My New Friends!, last added: 4/28/2010
That is such fabulous news. As a parent with a child with special needs (non-autism), I know the exciting feeling the whole family has having. I am so glad to hear you all had a great time. We occasionally take our son to the Please Touch and have a fantastic time too.
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork, Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009, 320 pp, $17.99, Realistic Fiction, ISBN: 0545054745
Marcelo Sandoval hears music no one else can. He seeks truth, God, and clarity through religion. He has been diagnosed with a "developmental disorder" on the autism spectrum - potentially Aspergers.
Marcelo describes it to Jasmine like this:
"'Cognitive disorder' is not an accurate description of what happens inside Marcelo's head. 'Excessive attempt at cognitive order' is closer to what actually takes place."
"Yeah? I like excessive order myself. Is that an illness?"
"If it keeps you from functioning in society the way people think a normal person should, then our society calls that an illness."
Marcelo has peacefully spent the vast majority of his school years at Paterson, a school for students with special educational needs. Then the summer before his senior year, Marcelo's father, Arturo, announces that he believes Marcelo should spend his last year at the public high school. Marcelo and Arturo reach an agreement. If Marcelo successfully spends the summer working at Arturo's law firm, then he can choose his own school in the fall. However, if he is, for any reason, deemed "unsuccessful" at the end of the summer, he will be forced to go to public school.
That summer in the law firm is the start of Marcelo's experience in "the real world." Marcelo is initially assigned to work in the mail room with Jasmine, a beautiful and fiercely independent young woman who ultimately learns just as much about the real world as Marcelo does. Wendall, the son of Arturo's partner, is also working at the law firm for the summer, although instead of running mail, he has been assigned to help research one of the firm's biggest cases. Wendall takes it upon himself to teach Marcelo about the darker side of the real world.
One afternoon, helping Wendall with his boxes of files, Marcelo stumbles across a photo of a girl with half a face in a box marked "trash." The girl in the photo affects Marcelo in a way that he has never experienced before, and sends him on a journey to uncover the truth. At the start of that journey he has no way of knowing that he will uncover more than he ever wanted to about the young girl, the world, and his own father.
Marcelo in the Real World affected me in a way that few books do. Author Francisco X. Stork forced me to completely re-examine the way that I view the world and the people in it. Marcelo's character brought up huge 'life questions.' What are we living for? Where do we find truth? What do we owe our own families? Who gave us the authority to put labels on people who simply see the world in a different way?
I particularly enjoyed Marcelo's sessions with Rabbi Heschel. Although he originally began meeting with her out of his "special interest" in religion, their conversations played a pivotal role in helping him to make sense of his summer in the real world. I have found very, very few YA books that tackle God and faith in such a profound, meaningful way. In fact, I can't think of any others. Marcelo in the Real World is special.
I don't even want to think about trying to review Anything But Typical. It hit me in such a personal way and I am so endlessly grateful to Baskin for writing it, I just want to kiss her feet. So instead, here are a few reviews I randomly found via Google blog search:
Here's an excellent review at Wrapped in Foil, which points out how interesting the story is for anyone interested in the art of writing.
Montgomery, Sy. 2012. Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
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I've heard interviews with Ms. Grandin on NPR. She is a fascinating subject and this books sounds terrific. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for visiting! I stopped by your site today, but couldn’t think of anything nice to say about spiders! ha! ha!
This sounds like a fab book. The way autism is treated in Japan today is very similar to the way it was treated in North America in decades past, so it is great to have a biography of someone who was successful at overcoming barriers. Thanks for sharing!
Hi! My academic group (department) here in Singapore is Early Childhood and Special Needs Education - and this sounds like a book that would be a great resource for some of our special-needs teacher-students who deal with autistic children. Will pin this in my Pinterest Board. :)
Medea and Myra, It's always so interesting to hear views from other countries. Thank you. (and I have got to put Pinterest on my "to do" list!)