My friend Robby has a disability called ADHD. But that doesn't matter to us. We play basketball, tell jokes, go canoeing, and help each other with our homework. I'm glad Robby is my friend!
April 1, 2010
K-Gr 3 -Characters with disabilities are seen through the eyes of their friends, who relate how they behave and how they may seem impolite or distracted, or cause trouble in school. Robby has ADHD, but he's enjoyable to be around because he loves basketball and likes to try new things. Zack has autism, but his love of airplanes makes him a knowledgeable and fun friend. The message is that patience and understanding are the keys to being a good friend, especially to someone with chronic health problems or difficulties relating to others. Back matter offers a more detailed explanation of the disabilities and Did You Know? fact boxes appear on every page. Full-page, colorful illustrations depict multicultural children at home, school, and play. Engaging and empathetic, this set deserves a place on library shelves.
Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 1, 2010
Grades 1-3 The Friends with Disabilities series tackles such conditions as autism, dyslexia, and Down syndrome by having the narrator of each book describe a friend afflicted with each disability. In this volume, a boy named Marcus talks about his buddy Robby, who has ADHD. Weve been friends forever, says Marcus, but that doesnt mean Marcus doesnt get anxious about Robbys behavior, like when he talks when he shouldnt: He isnt doing it on purpose. But I worry well get in trouble. Positive attributes, like Robbys creativity, are mixed in with the negative. Sorras textured artwork uses a soothing color palate, bizarrely canted settings, and amusingly featured characters to tell the tale. Did You Know? insets add fast facts, and back matter includes a glossary, medical description, bibliography, Web sites, and index.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2010
In each book, a child describes his or her friendship with a kid affected by the title disability. The relentlessly upbeat narrators discuss shared activities, lessons learned, and their anger at children teasing the friend. Scattered "Did you know?" boxes present facts, some vague ("Kids with ADHD are often open to new ideas"). Mixed-media digital illustrations in warm colors depict the pals. Reading list. Glos., ind.
(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)