Helping young children recognize that everyone is different and that some people have special needs is important. There are many children’s books that can help you teach children about those with special needs. Check out these titles…
All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome by Kath Hoopmann ($14.95, hardcover, Kingsley, Jessica Publishers) is a playful look at Asperger Syndrome. Using photos of kittens and cats to illustrate familiar characteristics of those with Asperger Syndrome, this book shows the “difficulties and joys of raising a child who is different and leaves the reader with a sense of the dignity, individuality, and potential of people with Asperger Syndrome” (from bn.com review).
I Can See Just Fine by Eric Barclay ($15.95, hardcover, Abrams Appleseed) introduces children to Paige, who can, in her words, “see just fine”. The comical illustrations in the book prove otherwise. Paige is taken to see the eye doctor, and once her myopia is corrected, she begins to claim that her glasses are NOT too dirty to see through.
A few other books about special needs that you may want to check out include:
ABC Helpers by Rochelle Bunnett
All Kinds of Friends, Even Green! by Ellen B. Senisi
The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin and Rosana Faria
Extraordinary Friends by Fred Rogers
Lola Goes to Work by Marcia Goldman
We Can Do It! By Laura Dwight
I train Georgia PreK teachers and dabble a bit in the art of blogging. Have an idea for a blog post? Email me at bestpractices@gsu.edu. On the web: www.bestpractices.gsu.edu Facebook: www.facebook.com/bestpracticespk Twitter: @bestpracticespk
