This post was previously titled “S-O-S Best of the Best, Edition 5: $1,100 Giveaway Bonanza!” The giveaway has ended, but there are still many wonderful book (and product) reviews below. Please take a look! ~Danette
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Welcome to S-O-S Best of the Best (BoB), Edition 5. This edition is in honor of Autism Awareness Month and in honor of ALL invisible special needs, such as ADHD, SPD, and mental illness. Bloggers have united to review over 50 books, DVDs, and even a b-Calm. Most of these reviews also include giveaways! A total of $1,100 products are being given away to readers!
Visit each review and read about books and products that may be what you have been needing. If you don’t win the item, come back and purchase it and show your support to these many wonderful authors and publishers who have donated their items for this cause! Thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen!
ADHD
- Reviewed by Kay Marner at ADDitude. “The product in question was b-Calm, an MP3 player loaded with specially engineered tracks — MP3s of nature sounds and white noise — designed to help kids with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) screen out distracting or distressing environmental sounds, and to improve attention and focus.“
Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention by Katherine Ellison
- Reviewed by Penny Williams at a mom’s view of ADHD. “I chose the book because I wanted to hear the honest truth about brain scans, fish oil supplements, and neurofeedback from a
skepticjournalist that also happened to live with a child with ADHD.“
A Puppy Called Aero: How a Labrador Saved a Boy with ADHD by Liam Creed
- Reviewed by Tegen Whalan (from Some Thoughts About Dogs) for Penny Williams at a mom’s view of ADHD. “A Puppy Called Aero is a heart-warming, easy-to-read autobiography written by teenager, Liam Creed. Liam has ADHD and was lucky enough to be chosen for the BBC documentary, The Doghouse“
Autism/Asperger’s
All I Can Handle: I’m No Mother Teresa: A Life Raising Three Daughters with Autism by Kim Stagliano
- Reviewed by Jean Myles at Mommy to Two Boys. “She compares having a child with Autism to a game of chess…” “I love reading my fellow special needs parents’ blogs, and that is what reading Kim’s book felt like; reading 200 pages of great posts on a favorite blog.“
Asperger’s in Pink by Julie Clark
- Reviewed by Patty at Pancakes Gone Awry. “Her goal is to share her experience in the hopes of possibly educating other people about Asperger’s in girls.”
Asperger’s on the Job by Rudy Simone
- Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “She [Rudy Simone] has written this go-to book for people with Asperger’s or HFA and their employers, educators, and advocates so that everyone can learn to work effectively and productively together.“
- Reviewed by Tiffani Lawton at OUR Journey THRU Autism. “Rudy created Asperger’s On The Job to help employers, educators and therapists accommodate this growing population, and to help people with Asperger’s find and keep gainful employment.“
Autistic-Like: Graham’s Story (DVD) by Erik Linthurst
- Reviewed by Martianne Stanger (from Training Happy Hearts) at Tiffani Lawton‘s OUR Journey THRU Autism. “It is heart-warming account of one family’s journey into the unknown that chronicles the story of the Linthorsts from the parents, Erik and Jennie’s delight at the “perfection” of their child Graham at birth to their realization, when Graham was 17-months old, that something was different about him, through their initial efforts to discover the correct diagnosis and therapies for Graham.“
Awesome Autism Quotes: Inspiration, Humor & Reflections by Margaret S. Price
- Reviewed by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez at Autism Wonderland. “The quotes Price has selected will provide even the seasoned parent new insight into the world of autism. While her reflections following the quotes provide comfort to the parent who has recently heard the words: your child has autism. “
Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers by John Elder Robison
- Reviewed by Chi Yon Barbosa at Parenting a Child with Aspergers Syndrome. “This book offers great, practical advice to parents, teachers, and care-givers of Asperger kids.“
The Child with Autism at Home and in the Community by Kathy Labosh and LaNita Miller
- Reviewed by Lorna d’Entremont at Kid Companions. “Their book is a helpful tool filled with 600 bullet points providing practical tips and tried-out strategies for families and educators to use to meet the needs of autistic children
- Reviewed by Virginia Revoir at Meet Chaz. “This is a HUGE compilation of ideas and tips!” “These are hands on suggestions that only another parent of an autistic child could have learned through personal experience.“
The Child with Autism Learns about Faith: 15 Ready-to-Use Scripture Lessons, from the Garden of Eden to the Parting of the Red Sea by Kathy Labosh
- Reviewed by Virginia Revoir at Meet Chaz. “So I pulled up a chair and looked up one of the lessons about Joseph and his coat of many colors.” “It also lets you include a visual illustration and tells you what you need to set it up. It’s nothing that is long and drawn out so it keeps their attention.“
Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism 2010-2011 by Ken Siri and Tony Lyon
- Reviewed by Chi Yon Barbosa at Parenting a Child with Aspergers Syndrome. “It is a second edition from Ken Siri & Tony Lyons with updated and revised with the most current research.“
Delightfully Different by D.S. Walker
- Reviewed by Amanda Lebron at Rage Against the {washing} Machine. “Delightfully Different shares a poignant glimpse into the life and mind of a girl with Asperger’s Syndrome who demonstrates through her compelling experiences that every life has a purpose and that being unique is what makes each of us special.“
- Reviewed by Floortime Lite Mama at Floortime Lite Mama. An interview with author is here. “I enjoyed reading Delightfully Different by Sue Walker very much and learned several things. The importance of understanding the sensory issues of the kids on our spectrum, the importance of always being on your child’s side, the wonderful gifts that our kiddos on the spectrum have. And most of all of making sure that anti-bullying safeguards are present and that our kids are safe in school.“
- Reviewed by Trish Doerrler at Another Piece of the Puzzle. “One other strength of this book is its contribution to the topic of Asperger’s in girls…This novel is a solid contribution to the effort to raise awareness and understanding of this less-understood area.“
The Golden Bridge: A Guide to Assistance Dogs for Children Challenged By Autism or Other Developmental Disabilities by Patty Dobbs Gross
- Reviewed by Tiffani Lawton at OUR Journey THRU Autism. “Multiple studies reveal that canine critters can soothe the emotionally distressed, help with development of motor skills, reduce ‘stimming’ behavior, decrease sensory sensitivity, and increase the desire and ability to connect socially with others. Canine-human interaction is also said to decrease agitation and aggression.“
Gravity Pulls You in: Perspectives on Parenting Children on the Autism Spectrum by Kyra Anderson
- Reviewed by Pia at The Crack and the Light. “Gravity Pulls You In is a series of hauntingly honest and poignant essays and poems reflecting the experiences of parents raising their children on the spectrum.“
How Do I Teach This Kid to Read?: Teaching Literacy Skills to Young Children with Autism, from Phonics to Fluency by Kimberly A. Henry
- Reviewed by Gavin Bollard at Life with Aspergers. “How do I teach this kid to read is a great text book aimed at very young readers on the spectrum. Unlike most books of its kind, this book comes with a companion CD.“
If My Dog Could Talk by Alison Ainsworth
- Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “This is the wonderful story of a day in the life of a child with autism. We are privileged to walk through her experiences with her service dog by her side.“
Loving Lampposts (DVD) by Todd Drezner, Director
- Reviewed by Joy Smith at Joy’s Autism Blog. “This documentary is a well-rounded autism documentary that touches on many subjects relating to living with autism. It explores what autism is, treatments, therapies, nutrition, and experiences. The terms low functioning and high functioning are defined and the some of the problems with the criteria for distinguishing low and high functioning are discussed. Immunizations and the controversy, science, and news reports surrounding immunizations is discussed.“
Off We Go to the Grocery Store, Off We Go to the Dentist, and Off We Go for a Haircut by Avril Webster
- Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “She [Avril Webster] joined forces with her son’s teacher, a speech and language pathologist, and other mothers to develop useful social stories not only for her son, but also for other families.”
- Reviewed by Darlene Wierski-Devoe at The Raising Socially Anxious Children Blog. “The Off We Go! series by Avril Webster prepares children for everday experiences like going to the grocery store, going for a haircut and going to the dentist. All of these experiences in our household have at some point or another proven to cause many tears for fear of the unknown of each of these ventures.“
- Reviewed by Jen Troester at Living life, with a side of autism. “The Off We Go Series, are books that lay the framework for a great social story (or can be used as one themselves) so that parents like me can do a better job preparing our kids for outings.“
- Reviewed by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez at Autism Wonderland. “Avril Webster’s social story series, ‘Off We Go,’ published by Woodbine House focus on everyday situations that children will eventually need to experience: going for a haircut, to the grocery store or to the dentist.“
A Regular Guy: Growing up with Autism by Laura Shumaker
- Reviewed by Virginia Revoir at Meet Chaz. “What is it like for someone raising an Autistic child where you never know what might just happen next? ” “If you don’t have an Autistic child but would like to understand more, this book is an eye opener.“
The Uncharted Path: My Journey with Late-Diagnosed Autism by Rachel B. Cohen-Rottenberg
- Reviewed by D.S. Walker at dswalkerauthor. “Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg’s book is an insightful gem that gives us glimpses into her life from early childhood to adulthood showing decades of struggles before she is diagnosed.”
- Reviewed by Kim Wombles at Countering…. “Ken Siri and Tony Lyons have two new, complimentary books for parents who have autistic children. They are guidebooks, filled with 1,001 tips (and more), taken from parents and individuals in the autism community.“
- Reviewed by Tim Tucker at Both Hands and a Flashlight. “1,001 Tips for the Parents of Autistic Boys ambitiously attempts to provide helpful suggestions and ideas across the entire constellation of issues we face as parents. The result is a 480-page guide that for the most part succeeds in providing a wealth of useful information and plenty of ‘aha’ moments from me of ideas I’d never thought about.“
- Reviewed by Chi Yon Barbosa at Parenting a Child with Aspergers Syndrome. “This book was very organized and easy to read with a little cheat sheet in the front to jump from topic to topic.“
Bipolar
Brandon and the Bipolar Bear: A Story for Children with Bipolar Disorder by Tracy Anglada
- Reviewed by Hartley Steiner at Hartley’s Life with 3 Boys. “After two of my children were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I realized how many resources were desperately needed to help kids with bipolar disorder and to help others understand them.“
Intense Minds: Through the Eyes of Young People with Bipolar Disorder by Tracy Anglada
- Reviewed by Hartley Steiner at Hartley’s Life with 3 Boys. “After two of my children were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I realized how many resources were desperately needed to help kids with bipolar disorder and to help others understand them.“
IEP
The IEP from A to Z: How to Create Meaningful and Measurable Goals and Objectives by Diane Twachtman-Cullen and Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett
Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “Now parents can arm themselves with a guide that will show them how to get the right education plan for their child.”
Parenting
The Adolescent Owner’s Manual by David Laing Dawson, M.D.
- Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “Dr. Dawson provides his expertise for today’s parents on rearing this current generation, sprinkled with a nice dose of humor.“
Nobody Ever Told Me (or my Mother) That!: Everything from Bottles and Breathing to Healthy Speech Development by Diane Bahr
- Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “This comprehensive guide is appropriate for a parent desiring information on the development of oral-motor skills and speech in their baby.“
1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 by Thomas W. Phelan
- Reviewed by Christie Ann Boyer at OUR Journey THRU Autism. “Dr. Phelan walks you through a simple three step process that will correct even the most challenging behaviors, which you can implement in your home right away.“
Sensory Processing Disorder
Building Sensory Friendly Classrooms by Rebecca Moyes
- Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “Parents need to understand SPD and how it affects their child so they can advocate for specific adaptations in the classroom.“
Growing an In-Sync Child: Simple, Fun Activities to Help Every Child Develop, Learn, and Grow by Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman
- Reviewed by Chynna Laird (from The Gift) at Hartley Steiner‘s SPD Blogger Network. “The book includes the authors’ rationale for promoting more movement in every child’s day; guidelines for the easy-to-use “In-Sync” program; 60 fun and flexible In-Sync Activities; and, at the end, lists of activities that are particularly good for developing and enhancing kids’ sensory, perceptual, and visual skills, as well as activities for a particular time of day, space, or situation.“
Learn to Have Fun with Your Senses!: The Sensory Avoider’s Survival Guide by John Taylor
- Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “So how wonderful to have a book aimed at children, with the goal of educating them and putting them more in charge of some of the tools and techniques to make their lives more tolerable.“
Learn to Move, Moving Up! Sensorimotor Elementary-School Activity Themes by Jenny Clark Brack
- Reviewed by Martianne Stanger at Training Happy Hearts. “…Learn to Move, Move to Learn! offers a host of tried-and-true concrete, themed ideas for early childhood educators in a ready-to-go lesson plan format that both school educators and parents can draw from. ” “I loved how it helped me wrap my head around how easy it is to make traditional lesson plans and activities into quality sensory integration ones through an easy to follow (and duplicate!) sensory integration, theme-and literature-based, transdisciplinary, inclusive model. “
Not Just Spirited: A Mom’s Sensational Journey With Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) by Chynna Laird
- Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “Chynna Laird is a mother who documents her quest to solve the mystery of what is causing her baby daughter such distress.” “Chynna is eventually referred to early intervention and for the first time hears the words “Sensory Processing Disorder” from the occupational therapist (OT).“
Picky, Picky Pete by Michele Griffin
- Reviewed by Tiffani Lawton at OUR Journey THRU Autism. “Picky, Picky Pete takes the reader through a typical morning with a boy and his sensory challenges.“
Sensitive Sam: Sam’s Sensory Adventure Has a Happy Ending! by Marla Roth-Fisch
- Reviewed by Jennifer Egan at SPD Blogger Network. “She [Marla Rothj-Fisch] recognized the importance for both children and adults to understand SPD. She chose to write a children’s book so people could understand this disorder and how it affects children.“
Squirmy Wormy: How I Learned to Help Myself by Lynda Farrington Wilson
- Reviewed by Tiffani Lawton at OUR Journey THRU Autism. “An inspiring and colorful picture book, the author takes you through various scenarios with Tyler, a little boy with autism and sensory processing disorder.“
This is Gabriel Making Sense of School: A Book About Sensory Processing Disorder by Hartley Steiner
- Reviewed by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez at Autism Wonderland. “Steiner makes SPD easy enough for everyone to understand.“
The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing in Children by Roya Ostovar
- Reviewed by Hartley Steiner at Hartley’s Life with 3 Boys. “Her new book, The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing, provides much needed information on everything from the direction of new research to practical solutions for taking your sensational child on vacation…“
Social Skills
You are a Social Detective!: Explaining Social Thinking to Kids by Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Cooke
- Reviewed by Danette Schott at Help! S-O-S for Parents. “This book has over 50 glossy pages full of fun and engaging drawings to accompany the initial explanation of “Social Thinking”, a concept developed by Michelle to promote social skills.“
Special Needs-Other
Divorce and the Special Needs Child: A Guide for Parents by Margaret Price
- Reviewed by Jen Troester at Living life, with a side of autism. “Her [Margaret Price's] personal experience helped her develop a guide to ending a marriage and considering the needs of a child who has a disability, from custody to financial arrangements.“
A Dog Who’s Always Welcome: Assistance and Therapy Dog Trainers Teach You How to Socialize and Train Your Companion Dog by Lorie Long
- Reviewed by Tiffani Lawton at OUR Journey THRU Autism. “Socially, the dog becomes the child’s faithful companion. Because of this trust and comfort, the dog can offer opportunities to practice social skills in a non-intimidating capacity. The natural give and take in any relationship is fostered through the relationship with the dog.“
Love You to Pieces: Creative Writers on Raising a Child with Special Needs by Suzanne Kamata
- Reviewed by Tim Tucker at Both Hands and a Flashlight. “Love You to Pieces is a collection of literary writings from parents who are struggling with the various issues that come with parenting a child with special needs. Parents of children with autism are the most represented in this book, but the writings here cover a sweeping range of challenges from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Down Syndrome, deafness, communication issues, and much more to rarer conditions such as Angelman’s syndrome.“
The Other Kid by Lorraine Donlon
- Reviewed by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez at Autism Wonderland. “Targeted for children between five and twelve years old, The Other Kid, validates the complex feelings of being the sibling to a brother or sister with special needs. “
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman
- Reviewed by Barbara Boucher at TherExtras. “On the surface Stuck in Neutral is a sweet little novel touching on the real life issues of a 14-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder.” “The story is of a child’s mind trapped in a non-functioning body and, in my mind, a parent’s worst nightmare.“
You and Your Disabled Child by Margaret Barrett
- Reviewed by Anara Midgett at able2able. “…is a book for parents whose infants or young children are at risk for developmental delays or have been diagnosed with developmental delays. Read this book if you are unable to take full advantage of Early Childhood Intervention services in your area or if you are not satisfied with the services provided.“
Stress
Angry Octopus by Lori Lite
- Reviewed by Lori Lite at Stress Free Kids. “Lori is offering a FREE download of Bubble Blowing and a chance to win a copy of Angry Octopus( ebook)! Just download Bubble Blowing and leave a comment to be entered to win. This Bubble Blowing technique is particularly useful in helping children release stress and anger. Children can use this fun visualization to rid themselves of hurt feelings, anger, stress and sadness. Stress Free Kids believes that children can be active participants in creating a life with less stress!“
To all bloggers, thank you for your submissions, hard work, and continued support! Everyone, please tweet this post, reference it on Facebook, and mention it on your blog.
The next BoB will cover the topic of stress and anxiety in children with invisible special needs. You can cover your personal experience, how to reduce stress, review a product, or take any other angle you like. Submissions are due no later than the 13th of next month (but can be submitted anytime between now until the 13th), for a publication date here on the 15th. All bloggers are welcome and we love to add to our existing community! Submissions can be sent to dmschott at pacbell dot net.
Disclaimer: Please note, the opinions expressed in each referenced post in S-O-S Best of the Best are entirely that of its author and the inclusion of these posts does not constitute an endorsement by S-O-S Research.
About Danette Schott, M.A.
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