My Friend Has Autism

My Friend Has Autism by Amanda Doering Tourville, is a book about a kid named Nick and his friend Zack. Zack doesn't always respond when Nick talks to him and he can even walk away when Nick is talking to Zack. The book explains that when Zack does those types of things, it is because of his Autism, and that Zack doesn't mean to be rude, it's just something in his brain doesn't grow the way that it should, which is why Autistic children can have behaviors that are odd to others. Some Autistic children don't talk, or only talk about their own interests.

Another aspect of Autism that the book explains is how Autistic children are more sensitive to sound than those without Autism, and how they don't like to be touched. It's not because they aren't friendly, they just have sensory overload which makes them that way.

Nick thinks Zack is a great friend, and despite his Autistic oddities,  likes him better than all his other friends because like Zack likes to play with model airplanes with Nick, and they play video games together. The best part of the book is that Nick realized Zack isn't that much different than other kids his age. He just has a few quirks. And that's okay.

My Friend Has Autism is a great book to read to children who have questions about Autism. It's also a great book to read to your child if you want to make sure your child grows up to be sensitive to special needs children; this book will will help them understand the quirks of Autistic children around them. It's a great book for children and adults alike. By buying this book, you will help dispel myths and educate others on Autism. And education is a beautiful thing!

We're Roaming in the Rainforest!

Its bright illustrations mesmerize! 

Its poetic text dances off the pages! 

The story will delight you and its ending will leave you wanting more.

In honor of Earth Day today, I'm reviewing We're Roaming in the Rainforest, a wonderful and beautifully illustrated book that celebrates one of the world's greatest environmental treasures, the South American rainforest. We're Roaming in the Rainforest begins with a sunrise that greets three children on their adventure through the rainforest. From the first page, the illustrations take your breath away with bright colorful drawings of butterflies, palm trees, lizards and other species of the rainforest.

The story explains of how ants store food, how spiders spin their webs and how alligators and cougars hunt prey, all in a wonderful rhyme that ends with the children listening to the rainforest "lullabies" - the night sounds that take place in the rainforest when the sun sets. I can't say enough good things about this book! From its wonderful ability to teach without being boring, to its bright and beautiful illustrations, the story leaves you refreshed, with a happy, hopeful feeling.

After telling of the rainforest’s wonders, the learning continues with a beautifully illustrated map of South America, summaries of the people and animals of the rainforest, and facts on how the rainforest is being destroyed and the need for conservation. I love this aspect of the book because it encourages discussion between parents and children to learn more about the rainforest and the planet in general.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children

Miss More Thought Otherwise," How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children is a story of how one woman made it her life's mission to make libraries a place where children were included, and had a place in libraries for themselves.

Anne Moore grew up at a time where unmarried women usually tended house, but Anne Moore didn't want to "Stay inside and do quiet things such as sewing and embroidery." She dreamt of  becoming a lawyer like her father, and when she heard that New York libraries were hiring female librarians, Anne moved to the big city of New York and enrolled in the Pratt Institute library school.

In New York Anne helped changed the way kids books were handled in libraries. She developed a children's room at her library where children could check out books - something that had not been done in libraries before, because libraries feared children would destroy books if they were allowed to take them home. In order to make sure that books were taken care of while checked out, Anne developed a system where children would sign a pledge in a special book where they promised to obey the rules of the library and take care of the books while checked out.

People began to talk about Anne Moore's special kid's section of the library and she became head of children's sections of all branches of New York Public Library. In order to make it so that all libraries allowed children to check out books, she convinced librarians in all of New York's public libraries to adopt the pledge.

In 1911, she was instrumental in making Central library on 5th and 42nd streets the best children's room that anyone had ever seen. Even President Taft showed up for the opening of the Central branch of the New York Public Library.

From then on she continued making the library great by replacing dull books with those that were more interesting to children. She made book lists to help parents, teachers and other librarians find good books for kids, and she organized reading clubs and brought special guests to the Central branch of the library that included Dr. Seuss. Anne Moore continued to make a difference for libraries even after she stop working at age 70, she traveled across America to teach others how to make libraries great for children.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children is a great book to read for National Library Week which has is celebrated this week. Celebrate books by going to the library and reading with your child this library week! For more information on events celebrating the event, visit http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek

Lola at the Library

Every week Lola goes to the library to find a new book

She loves it so much now she's hooked!

Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinnn, is a delightful little story about a toddler and her weekly ritual of going to the library. It is the perfect book to celebrate National Library Week, celebrated this year from April 13-19th.

Narrated in the voice of little Lola, she starts her day excited to go to the library and loads her backpack with books to return without her mother's direction. Once Lola is all packed, she gets her library card, and it's on to the library where she participates in story time in the special section for children.

After storytime, Lola looks around and finds books on a range of subjects; so many that she has trouble deciding which ones to check out! Should she check out the book with bears on the cover or the one about shoes? It's so hard to choose! Eventually Lola makes her choice and then goes back home to enjoy a snack with her mommy. Later that evening, Lola enjoys a bed time that her mother reads to her.

Lola at the Library is a great book for your little one for two reasons: it promotes a love of books, and it shows the importance of sharing the love of reading with your child by taking them to the library and reading at bedtime.

Celebrate books by going to the library and reading with your child this library week! For more information on events celebrating the event, visit http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek