Explaining Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder to Young Readers

Among the comments on my Wordless Wednesday picture earlier today was one wondering about the book with the dog. He's a pretty cute dog, but the book My Invisible World is only partially about Chancer, a service dog whose job it is to help a boy named Iyal who has Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. The author, Iyal's sister Morasha, wrote the book to help kids understand her brother's struggles, and how it feels to be a sibling of a child with special needs. It offers good, simple, child-sized descriptions of FASD, along with information on service dogs for kids with invisible disabilities. You can see a video of Iyal and his family on the publisher's site, Better Endings, New Beginnings.

Speaking of children's books about FASD, the 9 Lives series, three novels for young readers about a boy with that disability, recently was named a Mom's Choice Award winner for Best Young Adult Series. Congratulations to author Jan Crossen. Both 9 Lives and My Invisible World are featured on my list of children's books about special needs. See what else is there that might help your child, or your child's friends, gain a better understanding about a confusing diagnosis.

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_{Cover images courtesy of Better Endings New Beginnings (top), Jan Crossen (bottom)}