Literacy Matters Vol. 23 Winter 2023

My Friend with Autism Enhanced edition with free CD of coloring pages. Bishop, B. (2011). Future Horizons. ISBN: 978 1885477897. Illustrator Craig Bishop Topic: Autism Parents of a child with autism wrote this book to help educate their son’s

Stories of Maya and Sid— Making a New Friend Dugar, A.. (2019). ISBN : 978-1733592314. Illustator: Swati Namjoshi Topic: Hearing Impairment Maya, a young girl with cochlear implants to compensate for her hearing impairment, makes friends with Sid, a boy who wears glasses.

peers about him. In colorful illustrations, young readers learn about sensory integration, communication, and disruptions of routine challenges for someone with autism and how to engage in effective play with such a peer. Readers learn this through the voice of a classmate who describes what a peer with Autism does and does not do so well. This book includes a CD with follow-up activity sheets for teachers to use to foster a better understanding of SwD.

Bright illustrations help young readers learn about the brain, hearing, and ears and how cochlear implants work in the early childhood-appropriate language. All proceeds are used to fund hearing aids for children with hearing loss around the world.

The Black Book of Colors Cottin, M. (2008).Groundwood Books. ISBN: 978-08889-98736. Illustrator: Rosana Faria. Translator: Elisa Amado. Topic: vision impairment This unusual picture book allows sighted peers

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures —The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin Finely Mosca, J. (2017). The Innovation Press. ISBN: 978-1943147304. Illustrator: Danielle Rieley. Topic: Autism Young readers learn about the life and way of thinking of one of the most famous and successful

Literacy Matters Feature Article

of blind students in lower and upper-grade levels to experience how visually challenged people to identify colors through smell, hearing, and touch. Descriptive text for sighted readers is accompanied by Braille text and embossed illustrations with raised black line drawings on black paper. It includes Braille letters and information to learn the Braille alphabet. This book won the New York Times Best Illustrated children’s Book Award, and the Bologna New Horizon’s Prize was originally published in Spanish as El libro negro de los colores by Ediciones Tcolote, Mexico, in 2006.

individuals with autism. Bright illustrations make the story come alive, proving that a disability does not have to hold anyone back from making a positive difference in the world. A timeline of her major life events makes discussions and retelling easy.

Arnie and His School Tools — Simple Sensory Solutions that Build Success Veenendaal, J. (2014). Autism Asperger Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-1934575154. Topic: ADHD & Autism In a first-person narrative with positive young reader language, this picture book describes attention and sensory integration issues often

Darla the Elephant Has Bipolar Disorder Shepherd, J. & Fallis, M. (2016). BlueFox Press. ISBN: 978-1-943880-16-4. Illustrator: Ty Shepherd. Topic: Bipolar disorder This picture book helps young readers understand what those diagnosed with bipolar disorder experience and helps them develop empathy for their

prevalent in children with autism, Asperger syndrome, or those with AD(H)D. The author’s bright illustrations express the emotions children with these challenges have and help readers understand how and why described ‘school tools are used by educators, parents, and students themselves. The book includes discussion questions to use with students and further references to websites and related children’s books.

challenges, need for therapy and medication along with an appreciation of their strengths. Illustrations are cartoonlike, with an elephant as the main character with bipolar disorder.

Sometimes My mommy Gets Angry

Gracie’s Ears Blackington, D. (2021). Pebbleton Press. ISBN: 978 0976001119. Topic: hearing impairment Based on a real story, the author and illustrator describe the world of fun-loving Gracie, who does not hear properly, and how hearing aids help her connect

Moore Campbell, B. (2003). Penguin Young Readers Group. ISBN: 978-0142403594. Illustrator: E. B. Lewis. Topic: Bipolar disorder Vivid watercolor illustrations allow

young readers to connect to the emotions that trouble individuals with bipolar disorders through the experiences of a young girl whose

to her environment in new, free ways. The story is told in rhyme and is supported by bright illustrations. It sends a positive message about wearing hearing aids.

mother has bipolar disorders and cannot provide a stable emotional family life. The story shares how the girl copes with these challenges with the help of her grandmother and teacher.

Literacy Matters | Volume 22 • Winter 2023 | 15 |

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