Article Review and Conclusion

Learning Disabilities in Children’s and Adolescent literature: How Are Characters Portrayed?

By Mary Anne Prater

 

The article chronicled studies done about learning disabilities in children’s literature.  There were a couple points found in the article that I thought were worth mentioning.   They make note that books that feature characters with disabilities are often used for two different purposes; to serve as a way to educate those without disabilities about disabilities or to serve as a bibilotherapy for those with disabilities.  I think this point marks a big idea we have discussed throughout the entire course.  It address’ the issue of insider/outsider.  These books can either be used by insiders, outsiders, or both.  They also discussed they different ways characters with disabilities were portrayed and how there are specific ways in which they contribute to the storyline.  I think that it is =important to have a character who embraces their disability.  For those that are learning about disabilities seeing how children’s disabilities affect their lives is helpful in their understanding of that disability.  For the insiders, seeing characters that face the same challenges as they do can be comforting and can be something that they can relate to.  This article does a good job providing information about the ways to use books featuring disabilities and it also gives a good analysis of the types of books available today.

Conclusion

From looking at and reading these books I discovered a few things.  One small thing I noticed about books featuring autism was that many of the characters with autism were named Sam.  Now none of the books I reviewed did, but I found three different books that all had characters named Sam.  It may be a coincidence but it does make me wonder how this came about.  I also noticed that difference was a key theme in these books.  The characters with autism were not portrayed in a negative light, just a different light.  They highlighted how their worlds are different but that different was just different not bad.  And lastly I noticed that many of the books were good for insiders and outsiders.  Many of the books did a good job helping those who do not know about autism learn about it.  But they also did a good job creating characters that those with autism could relate to and make them feel like they are not alone.  But I do have to say that though I found some good books, there were a lot of bad ones.  I was surprised to see there were more books featuring autism than I expected but I think there can definitely be a lot more.  

Book Review 3

Since We’re Friends: An Autism Picture Book

By Celeste Shally

Illustrations by David Harrington

 

Matt is a young boy who has autism.  Throughout the book we see how autism makes Matt’s world a little different than his friends world, the narrator.  The narrator explains some of the things that Matt struggles with including his attention span and his temper tantrums.  But the narrator also makes sure that when these things arise he helps him because they are friends.  But we also get to see the ways in which they are much the same like their teamwork in basketball and their love of the swings.  I think this book is really intended for outsiders, especially the younger crowd, because it helps explain what autism is.  There is also a forward at the beginning that gives more detailed information about autism, which can be helpful for kids or parents.  The one thing that I noticed was that one of the characters was white and one was black and Matt, the one with autism, was black.  I just wonder how the illustrator made that decision.  I liked the pictures.  I think they were colorful, lifelike and really added to the story.  Overall, I thought the characters were developed enough to get a good story across and I think the message was strong; though kids with autism may see things differently and experience things differently they can still be great friends.  

Book Review 2

Ian’s Walk: A Story about Autism

By Laurie Lears

Illustrations by Karen Ritz

 

Ian is a young boy who just wants to go on a walk with his sisters.  Ian’s autism makes his sister hesitant to take him along.  But through their walk we see life through Ian’s eyes.  This book sheds a new light on disability; in fact the book never refers to autism as a disability.  While Ian is walking we see him smell things differently, see things differently and touch thing differently.  But that’s just it; they are different, not wrong.  The author does a really great job showing that those with autism might have a different perspective of the world however, that perspective is just as valid as the next persons.  The illustrations really add to the feeling of the book.  They are quite life like and help you feel like you are a part of the book.  In the end we see a sister look past their difference and appreciate him for who he is.  This book is not only a feel good book but it is also a great book for young readers looking to learn a little something about autism.  

Book Review 1

Different Like Me: My book of autism heroes

By Jennifer Elder

Illustrations by Marc Thomas and Jennifer Elder

 

Quinn is an eight year old who has autism.  Quinn begins by giving some background information about Autism and how it was discovered.  He then wonders how the people who lived with autism before it was discovered dealt with being different.  We then learn about many different famous people who perhaps lived with autism before it was discovered.  Once Quinn looks at all of these people he finally comes to the conclusion that all of these people did great things even though they had a hard time fitting in, just like him.  This book is a really great book for both insiders and outsiders.  The insiders get a chance to relate to people they may have known.  The outsiders get a chance to learn a lot about the history of autism.  The illustrations are good but I think that they could be more appealing and draw the reader in.  I also think that Quinn’s character could have been developed a little better.  But I think the book can be used to help those with autism but also to educate.