Use this alphabetical index to find books that have been reviewed for the Harried Parent's Book Club.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J-L | M-N | O | P-Q | R | S | T | U-V | W-Z
I Am Potential
Cover image courtesy of Da Capo Press
By Patrick Henry Hughes, with Patrick John Hughes and Bryant Stamford; 229 pages. Subtitle: Eight Lessons on Living, Loving, and Reaching Your Dreams.
Bottom Line: If you saw the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode that gave an accessible family home, bachelor apartment, and recording studio to a blind musician -- one who participated in college marching band with his wheelchair-pushing father -- you've already met Patrick Henry Hughes and his dad, Patrick John. In this genial book, they trade off on telling Patrick Henry's story, and it's as uplifting a tale on the page as it was on TV.
Bottom Line: If you saw the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode that gave an accessible family home, bachelor apartment, and recording studio to a blind musician -- one who participated in college marching band with his wheelchair-pushing father -- you've already met Patrick Henry Hughes and his dad, Patrick John. In this genial book, they trade off on telling Patrick Henry's story, and it's as uplifting a tale on the page as it was on TV.
I Before E (Except After C)
Cover image courtesy of PriceGrabber
By Judy Parkinson; 168 pages. Subtitle: Old-School Ways to Remember Stuff.
Bottom Line: If I were reviewing this book as a word lover, or a Baby Boomer nostalgic for my old-school days, I'd give it way more than two stars. But this is a Parenting Special Needs site, and I'd hoped this cute little volume would contain some magic to help my learning-disabled daughter, and in that I was sorely disappointed. Buy it for yourself, if you enjoy reading about language, but don't expect to find any sort of handbook for useful mnemonics for your child. It's more to jog our memory than theirs.
Bottom Line: If I were reviewing this book as a word lover, or a Baby Boomer nostalgic for my old-school days, I'd give it way more than two stars. But this is a Parenting Special Needs site, and I'd hoped this cute little volume would contain some magic to help my learning-disabled daughter, and in that I was sorely disappointed. Buy it for yourself, if you enjoy reading about language, but don't expect to find any sort of handbook for useful mnemonics for your child. It's more to jog our memory than theirs.
IDEA 2004: Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
Cover image courtesy of Shelley Smith
By Shelley Smith; 97 pages. Subtitle: A Parent Handbook for School Age Children with Learning Disabilities.
Bottom Line: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act puts a high premium on parents' involvement in the special education process, but that doesn't mean that the school personnel who actually do the planning are going to make that easy. Knowing the law is a good place to start in making sure your child's -- and your -- rights are recognized and respected. This book lays it out.
Bottom Line: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act puts a high premium on parents' involvement in the special education process, but that doesn't mean that the school personnel who actually do the planning are going to make that easy. Knowing the law is a good place to start in making sure your child's -- and your -- rights are recognized and respected. This book lays it out.
I Just Am
Cover image courtesy of Five Star Publications Inc.
By Bryan and Tom Lambke; 85 pages. Subtitle: A Story of Down Syndrome Awareness and Tolerance.
Bottom Line: If you're looking for a book to explain Down syndrome to children or teens -- anyone, really, who responds to photos and captions better than long detailed text -- I Just Am is an excellent choice. Through photos and good-humored captions, Bryan Lambke tells about his life as a person with Down syndrome, and a person with two jobs, and a person with two girlfriends, and a person who loves nachos and pizza, and asks "If this isn't 'normal,' what is?"
Bottom Line: If you're looking for a book to explain Down syndrome to children or teens -- anyone, really, who responds to photos and captions better than long detailed text -- I Just Am is an excellent choice. Through photos and good-humored captions, Bryan Lambke tells about his life as a person with Down syndrome, and a person with two jobs, and a person with two girlfriends, and a person who loves nachos and pizza, and asks "If this isn't 'normal,' what is?"
Imaginary Companions and the Children Who Create Them
Cover image courtesy of PriceGrabber
By Marjorie Taylor; 215 pages. Subtitle: A Fascinating Look at Imaginary Friends and What They Reveal About the Inner World of Children.
Bottom Line: Parents may not be concerned when very young children have invisible friends, but as kids get older concerns may grow. Does a school-age child with a pretend pal need psychological help? A preteen? A teen? Do imaginary companions ever occur in adulthood, and what do they mean? This book offers research on pretend playmates -- and reassuring conclusions.
Bottom Line: Parents may not be concerned when very young children have invisible friends, but as kids get older concerns may grow. Does a school-age child with a pretend pal need psychological help? A preteen? A teen? Do imaginary companions ever occur in adulthood, and what do they mean? This book offers research on pretend playmates -- and reassuring conclusions.
Including People With Disabilities in Faith Communities
Cover image courtesy of Brookes Publishing Co.
By Erik W. Carter; 236 pages. Subtitle: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, & Congregations.
Bottom Line: Although the subtitle mentions "families," this book is much more strongly aimed at the movers and shakers in religious congregations, and those who provide services for adults with disabilities. And that's not bad -- having battled for services and participation in other venues, I like the idea that my faith community gets to take the responsibility for welcoming my kids. But it means you'll want to give this book a quick skim and then pass it right on to those folks who can make it so.
Bottom Line: Although the subtitle mentions "families," this book is much more strongly aimed at the movers and shakers in religious congregations, and those who provide services for adults with disabilities. And that's not bad -- having battled for services and participation in other venues, I like the idea that my faith community gets to take the responsibility for welcoming my kids. But it means you'll want to give this book a quick skim and then pass it right on to those folks who can make it so.
Inclusion: 450 Strategies for Success
Cover image courtesy of PriceGrabber
By Peggy A. Hammeken; 192 pages. Subtitle: A Practical Guide for All Educators Who Teach Students With Disabilities.
Bottom Line: All over the U.S., school districts are jumping into inclusion with both feet and their eyes closed, convinced that if you just put special ed kids in a mainstream classroom they'll magically fit in and start learning without any time or thought or money to be spent. If only. Teachers need this book, and they need it bad. But you may have to be the one to bring it to them.
Bottom Line: All over the U.S., school districts are jumping into inclusion with both feet and their eyes closed, convinced that if you just put special ed kids in a mainstream classroom they'll magically fit in and start learning without any time or thought or money to be spent. If only. Teachers need this book, and they need it bad. But you may have to be the one to bring it to them.
The Inner Wealth Initiative
Cover image courtesy of Howard Glasser
By Tom Grove, M.A., and Howard Glasser, M.A., with Melissa Lynn Block, M.Ed; 169 pages. Subtitle: The Nurtured Heart Approach for Educators.
Bottom Line: If you've used The Nurtured Heart Approach, as described in the book Transforming Your Difficult Child, with some success at home, you've probably wished there was a way to get your child's teacher to carry over the same techniques in the classroom. The Inner Wealth Initiative comes to the rescue by explaining the technique in a way that's meaningful to educators, with testimonials from principals for good measure. Read it, and send it to school.
Bottom Line: If you've used The Nurtured Heart Approach, as described in the book Transforming Your Difficult Child, with some success at home, you've probably wished there was a way to get your child's teacher to carry over the same techniques in the classroom. The Inner Wealth Initiative comes to the rescue by explaining the technique in a way that's meaningful to educators, with testimonials from principals for good measure. Read it, and send it to school.
Integrated Yoga
Cover image courtesy of Jessica Kingsley Publishers
By Nicole Cuomo; 102 pages. Subtitle: Yoga With a Sensory Integrative Approach.
Bottom Line: If you've tried all sorts of weights and brushes and games and exercises and equipment to calm or stimulate your child with sensory integration dysfunction, here's something new to add to the list: yoga. In clear how-to text and helpful photos, occupational therapist Cuomo shows you how to do some basic yoga poses, tailor them to your child's age and sensory needs, and expand them into related enrichment projects. Give it a try, and you may find that the calming and centering rubs off on you, too.
Bottom Line: If you've tried all sorts of weights and brushes and games and exercises and equipment to calm or stimulate your child with sensory integration dysfunction, here's something new to add to the list: yoga. In clear how-to text and helpful photos, occupational therapist Cuomo shows you how to do some basic yoga poses, tailor them to your child's age and sensory needs, and expand them into related enrichment projects. Give it a try, and you may find that the calming and centering rubs off on you, too.
An Introduction to "How Does Your Engine Run?"
Cover image courtesy of TherapyWorks
By Mary Sue Williams, OTR, and Sherry Shellenberger, OTR; 24 pages. From the Program Description: "The program promotes awareness of how individuals regulate their arousal states and encourages the use of sensory-motor strategies."
Bottom Line: This booklet doesn't offer the last word on the Alert Program for Self-Regulation (there's a leader's guide for that), but it does give parents a good overview and enough information to think about trying the program at home with their children -- and about what makes their own engines run, too.
Bottom Line: This booklet doesn't offer the last word on the Alert Program for Self-Regulation (there's a leader's guide for that), but it does give parents a good overview and enough information to think about trying the program at home with their children -- and about what makes their own engines run, too.
The Irreducible Needs of Children
Cover image courtesy of PriceGrabber
By T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., and Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D.; 228 pages. Subtitle: What Every Child Must Have to Grow, Learn, and Flourish.
Bottom Line: One of those needs is probably a parent who doesn't spend so much darn time perusing parenting books, but if you just can't stop reading, this book by two child development gurus offers plenty of food for thought -- on families, childcare, schools, priorities, and respecting differences. They're doing some dreaming here, but it's nice to imagine along.
Bottom Line: One of those needs is probably a parent who doesn't spend so much darn time perusing parenting books, but if you just can't stop reading, this book by two child development gurus offers plenty of food for thought -- on families, childcare, schools, priorities, and respecting differences. They're doing some dreaming here, but it's nice to imagine along.
It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend
Cover image courtesy of Simon & Schuster
By Richard Lavoie; 394 pages. Subtitle: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success.
Bottom Line: "It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend"? It's so much work to read this book! Both exhaustive and exhausting, the nearly 400-page volume gives lots of good reasons why your child may have trouble making and keeping friends. Understanding is always a good thing, and you'll gain that here. But the solutions leave something to be desired.
Bottom Line: "It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend"? It's so much work to read this book! Both exhaustive and exhausting, the nearly 400-page volume gives lots of good reasons why your child may have trouble making and keeping friends. Understanding is always a good thing, and you'll gain that here. But the solutions leave something to be desired.
