As a special education specialist I have seen many books that children struggle with because the reading is too hard. Many books lack age appropriate reading. Let me tell you about a new children’s book authored by Patti Block, of Minnesota, titled Where’s My Hair? This book definitely has an age appropriate reading level and can be used for educational purposes.
Where’s my Hair is about the days of a young cancer patient. It starts off with the news that a young boys friend is sick. He talks about how his friend needs to go to the doctor a lot. How there will be good days and bad days. He tells how he feels about his friend. He waits for the day where they can play again. This book is a great reading book for the young reader. The style of writing by this author is simple. The author does not use big words. She gets her points across by using simple words; words that young people, including young readers will understand.
This amazing book can also be used an an educational resource for any young person who is dealing with cancer, whether it is themselves that has been diagnosed or a loved one. The book can easily be read over and over again so the child can remember what will happen when their loved one goes to the doctor for their cancer treatments. Repetition while reading is an important factor for the child to learn and remember.
This pictures in Where’s My Hair? are vivid and full of color. They too will help the child understand what is happening in the story if they are too young to read by themselves.
Bottom line–this book would be an amazing tool to add to your personal or professional collection.
Where’s My Hair?
Author: Patti Block
Illustrator: Swapan Debnath
ISBN: 978-1-936046-12-6
What is behind the exponential rise in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children over the past 10 years? Is medication the best form of treatment for children diagnosed with bipolar disorder? Is bipolar disorder a symptom of a breakdown in values of society, and is it a biological disease that should be medically treated? Is the medical-model approach to bipolar disorder the most accurate explanation for the symptoms normally attributed to the disorder? Are there any repercussions from the extensive use of medication in the treatment of bipolar disorder in children? Is treatment with anticonvulsants and atypical antipsychotics advisable in preteen children?
Sharna Olfman has again edited a thought-provoking series of articles from well known psychiatrists, child psychiatrists, psychologists and child-care experts in her new book The Bipolar Child. (2007) Thought provoking, well-documented details on the repercussions of over-reliance on medication for ADHD, bipolar disorder and depression. It also documents how overeliance on antidepressants and stimulant medication can often times lead to the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Children is one of the best books that have been written on the subject and is highly recommended for educators and professionals in the mental health field.
Much can be accomplished in mental health of both children and adults through attention to lifestyle changes, cognitive or behavioral therapy, some attention to physical aspects of life such as diet and exercise. Cutting down on time spent on passive activities such as television and movies as well as changes in the amount of time teens spend on music, as well as the intensity of the music, can be of help for some teens and children with ADHD or bipolar disorder. Extreme violence in movies that many children are exposed to can have an effect on a child’s mental health, as well as an overindulgence in what might seem harmless such as Disney or other G-rated movies, can contribute to symptoms of depression for some children as well who have a sensitive disposition.
Attention to spiritual aspects of life for both adults and children can also be of value. Pornography does touch the lives of many preteen children, which can contribute to symptoms of some mental health disorders as well.
Children especially need love, which translates into time and attention by both parents, family, as well as teachers.
Bipolar Children, 4 stars (rating scale 1-4)
edited by Sharna Olfman
Joe and Ronnie are about to have a summer vacation unlike any other. They are 13-year-old cousins and are looking for fun on the lake and hiking on the many trails. They have a couple of what they would call “pesky” sisters, both older and younger. One day when they are investigating a trail, they make a strange discovery. There are giant rocks forming the shape of a skull. There is a hidden scroll that leads to more clues.
Of course, being adventuresome young boys, they find themselves trying to discover what else lurks in these wooded trails. Day after day, they are getting closer to the solving of the mystery of this place. They don’t want their parents to uncover what they have been doing so the older sisters also play a part in the adventure. Will they make it before vacation’s end?
From page to page, you will find yourself wanting to not lay down “The Secret Cave” until it is finished. Lisa Maria Lanno is an awesome storyteller. Each chapter builds on the last and you to try to try to figure out the mystery on your own. It’s almost as if you are right there by Ronnie and Joe. Each chapter ends with a set of questions making you think and draw your own conclusions. “The Secret Cave” is a must have for kids who enjoy a great mystery. It’s a novel which appeals to kids like because it is kids who are the main characters. I simply loved “The Secret Cave” and hope that Lisa Marie Lanno continues to write more books like one!
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 9780595405855
Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views (9/07)
Colors is the first book of the Eye Like children’s hardcover series that will also include Numbers, Shapes and Letters in the near future. Colors consists of 64-pages with full color photography and a few illustrations.
This book has a distinctive way of bringing children’s attention to details and textures and spark the fascination of discovering likenesses between species of vegetation, animal, insect and other life forms. By using large images of nature to educate children aged 3 and older about the varied shades of colors, this book is sure to be a hit. Details of fruit skins, leaves, animal fur, vegetable skins; including tiny pores and seeds – are all of interest to children of this age group and can be discussed with children in an interactive manor. Stunning butterfly and fish photographs are filled with intense color.
Most of the colors included in the book are accompanied by helpful color bars to show the many shades of each color, which can sometimes be confusing for young children. The yellow, green and purple colors are given 4 pages, while most of the other colors span 2 full pages. Because of this, Colors would certainly be applicable for group situations. I was pleased to see the authors of this book included 2-tone, stripes, multicolor, iridescent and translucent in their list of colors.
The book’s information page shows a long list of credits – too many to list here, but readers will be interested to know that the publisher acknowledges that a number of teachers, parents and children helped develop the Eye Like series. Color is about 10×8 inches in size and has a suggested retail price of only $9.95 (US) – which is a bargain for a book of this size and quality.
The publisher, Play Bac Publishing, has been creating educational concepts for over 20 years and is best known for BrainQuest and for publishing the only daily children’s newspaper in the world. Originally, the publisher was based in France however they have branched into the US market and are now based in New York. Play Bac Publishing has worked hard to ensure the series would be a success and state the Eye Like series has been field-tested by professionals and educators. Color is certainly a visually stimulating book and will likely cause the children to ask a number of questions and spark discussions about the things they have seen.
I would rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.
ISBN#9781602140196
As a child, you absorbed everything you encountered, whether it was for the better or for the worse. The experiences you had were based as much upon your circumstance as they were your character…but of these two potential obstacles, character is something that is built and formed through our own hard work as well as the influence of others. One of the most influential forces in a child’s life, second to only their parents, goes by the simple name of teacher.
Teachers seek to reach the quiet spirit within the heart of a child and help it to flourish into the well-versed individuals of today’s world. Without their time, care, and attentiveness, many would become shrinking violets, accepting a small niche of monotonous routine instead of reaching for the spotlight of change. Ask a child whom they view as a hero…you may get some of the usual comic book characters, or actors that they see on the big screen, depending on their age. Ask this same child to list their heroes as they mature, and you are bound to discover that many will include some of the teachers they encountered during their school days. Why you may ask? Think of it this way…besides your parents, who did you spend the most time with from the young age of four to at least eighteen? Friends? No. Family? No. Teachers and professors…they had you within the walls of their facilities for at least 8 hours everyday, during which time they provided you with the groundwork on which to find yourself and the potential within. They assisted in helping you to discover not only known facts about the world as it is, but to remember that the bigger picture calls for thinking that may stray from the well-traveled path into the unknown of tomorrow.
“Teachers: The Greatest Career on the Planet” tells the story behind the educational professionals of today. Besides teaching class, grading papers, and meeting with parents, teachers have loads of free time, right? Prepare for an eye-opener as Dr. Graysen Walles takes you behind the scenes to render these believes a myth and show the personal commitment that this calling really entails. From the non-paid tutoring sessions, to attendance at school events, to continuing their own education as to stay abreast of the newest practices, beliefs and technologies, their three month summer break takes on an entirely different light.
Dr. Walles’ publication allows those in the field of education the opportunity to review their own practices, and a chance to glean the inspiration necessary to carry the torch onward in the hopes of affecting the change that the world is seeking. For those not in this arena, the book allows the reader to obtain a better understanding of the current state of our schools and what needs to happen for order to be restored. Take a moment to consider the possibilities and what you may do to help.