Suggested Readings and Videos

BOOKS AND VIDEOS SUGGESTED BY REVERSALS KIDS, PARENTS, AND FEARLESS LEADERS

Books for Kids

Betancourt, Jeanne. My Name is Brian. Scholastic Books. 1996.

This is a story about a boy with dyslexia who, at first, does not know it. He faces misunderstanding and frustration until he learns about dyslexia and how to work with it.

Brown, Laurene Krasny, Mark Tolon Brown. How to be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them. Little Brown and Co. 1998.

Designed for kids in 4th - 8th grade, this is a good resource with colorful drawings and humorous dialog between dinosaurs learning how to be friends.

Griffith, Joe. How Dyslexic Benny Became a Star. Yorktown Press. 1998.

An inspiring story about a boy who struggles in school until he discovers his dyslexia and the strengths that can make him a "star." The author is himself dyslexic.

Janover, Caroline, Rick Powell (Illustrator). Zipper, the Kid with ADHD. Woodbirn House. 1997.

For kids ages 9-12. This book is also available from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic.

Kraus, Robert, Jose Aruego (Illustrator) Leo the Late-Bloomer. Harpercollins Juvenile Books. 1994.

This book was described by one of the dyslexic Fearless Leaders as wonderfully reassuring to her as she was growing up. Parents caution, however, that "late-blooming" children may still need educational intervention early if they are having problems in school and elsewhere.

Levine, Melvin D. All Kinds of Minds: A Young Student's Book about Learning Abilities and Learning Disorders. Educators Publishing Service, Paperback. 1992.

This book is supposed to be written for children, but parents report that it's also helpful for their understanding of learning differences. A great book for parents and kids to read together!

Levine, Melvin D. Keeping a Head in School: A student’s Book about Learning Abilities and Learning Disorders. Educators Publishing Service, Paperback. 1991.

Written for adolescents, this book is understandable and helpful in understanding learning differences and ways to work with them. It's another one that is great for kids and parents both to read.

Polacco, Patricia. Thank You, Mr. Falker. Philomel Books. 1998.

Recommended for elementary students and their parents, teachers and classmates. This tells the story of a child’s struggle with dyslexia in the 1950’s.

Schmidt, John J. Making and Keeping Friends: Ready-To-Use Lessons, Stories and Activities for Building Relationships: Grades 4-8. Center for Applied Research in Education. 1997.

A helpful book recommended as great for helping kids and parents talk about the skills necessary to be a friend.

Stern, Judith, Uzi Ben-Ami, Michael Chesworth. Many Ways to Learn: Young People’s Guide to Learning Disabilities. Magination. 1996.

Geared for kids from ages 9 to 12, this is another good book for kids and parents to read together -- it provides a good way to think and talk about learning differences. Available in paperback and audiocassette.

Videotapes for kids (and their parents)

Tabata, Susanne, Dir. Transitions to Postsecondary Learning. An Eaton Coull Learning Group, Ltd. Presentation. 1998.

Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation. Ennis’ Gift, a film about learning differences.

Books For Parents

Hallowell, Edward M., and John J. Ratey. Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood. Touchstone Books. 1994.

This is probably the most popular book there is on attention deficit disorder, written by two psychiatrists with ADD. It is readable, insightful and can be life changing for people with ADD and/or the people who love them.

Levine, Melvin D. Educational Care: a System for Understanding and Helping Children with Learning Problems at Home and in School. Educators Publishing Service. 1994.

This book is a must for classroom teachers as well as special education people and parents. It gives easy to understand explanations of a variety of learning differences as well as strategies for dealing with children and youth with learning disorders at home and at school.

Moats, Louisa, Susan Hall, Reid Lyon. Straight Talk about Reading: How Parents can Make a Difference during the Early Years. 1998. Contemporary Books.

This is a well-written book that presents much of the recent scientific research on reading in an understandable way and lays out the best types of programs for helping children with reading difficulties learn to read.

Rourke, Byron P. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities. Guilford Press. 1989

This book introduces and explains the nonverbal learning disability and Rourke’s theories of the brain organization which creates this type of disability. It is a groundbreaking study that helped to pave the way for deeper study into the symptoms and treatments for nonverbal learning disabilities.

Rourke, Byron P., ed. Syndrome of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities. Guilford Press. 1995.

This is a scholarly compilation of articles about the different types of nonverbal learning disabilities that have been researched in recent years.

Sagmiller, Girard. Dyslexia, My Life. 1996.

An inspirational story of a young, bright dyslexic boy who was mistakenly diagnosed as mentally retarded. He overcomes many obstacles to receive a college degree and MBA and is now a successful business professional and popular speaker. We see this man’s life through his own eyes and pick up insights, tips and new understanding as he tells his life’s story.

Silver, Larry B. The Misunderstood Child: Understanding and Coping with Your Child’s Learning Disabilities. Third Ed. Times Books, Random House. 1998

This book has been reprinted and updated a number of times because of the wisdom and good sense that Dr. Silver brings to this subject.

Smith, Sally L. No Easy Answers: The Learning Disabled Child at Home and at School. Bantam Books. 1995.

This is one of the classics in learning disability literature — thoughtful, insightful and helpful.

Stevens, Suzanne H. Classroom Success for the LD and ADHD Child. John F. Blair Publishers. 1997.

As a classroom teacher and therapist, Stevens brings a unique perspective to the difficulties that LD/ADD kids have in school. She has practical suggestions for making the system work for your children.

Stevens, Suzanne H. The LD Child and ADHD Child: Ways Parents and Professionals Can Help. John F. Blair Publishers. 1996.

Vail, Priscilla L. Smart Kids with School Problems: Things to Know and Ways to Help. New American Library. 1989.

This is another classic. The author writes clearly and with humor and insight.

Videotapes for Parents

Lavoie, Richard. How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop. PBS Video. 1989.

Lavoie, Richard. Learning Disabilities and Social Skills: Last One Picked. . .First One Picked On. PBS Video. 1994.

Lavoie, Richard. When the Chips Are Down. . . Strategies for Improving Children’s Behavior. PBS Video. 1997.

All of the above videos are wonderful! Lavoie explains learning differences with understanding and humor and offers a multitude of helpful strategies for dealing with the challenges of learning disabilities and ADD in kids. These videos should be seen by parents and teachers everywhere.