Children's Newsletter - June

Welcome to June’s Newsletter. Since it is International Asperger's Year, marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Hans Asperger, discoverer of Asperger's Syndrome, let's celebrate that diversity in the classroom.

Christine Cornell

Pre - Readers

As you would imagine, there are many books on this topic for the youngest age group. Many of these following titles you may also recognise as brand new releases.

You're Different And That's Super - $19.95
Carson Kressley and Jared Lee
Carson Kressley brings us the story of a one-of-a-kind pony who learns that it's our differences that make us super.
ISBN: 1416900705

Wheelie Girl - $28.95
Miriam Latimer
Molly thinks she can't do anything because she has wheels instead of feet. One day a butterfly reminds her that everyone can do something so Molly sets off to discover her talents!
ISBN: 0340884150

Looking After Louis (Big Book also available) - $14.95
Lesley Ely with Polly Dunbar
Louis has autism, but through imagination, kindness, and a special game of soccer, his classmates find a way to join him in his world. Then they can include Louis in theirs.
ISBN: 1845070836

Baa Humbug! - $16.99
Mike Jolley & Deborah Allwright
This picture book is about a “unique sheep”, who isn’t afraid to have a mind of his own.
ISBN: 0864617038

A Tale of Two Goats - $14.95
Tom Barber with Rosalind Beardshaw
From the illustrator of Snog the Frog, there is a new tale about 2 very different goats from neighbouring farms who learn to put their differences behind them when it really matters.
ISBN: 1862336083

The Lamb-a-roo - $24.95
Diana Kimpton with Rosalind Beardshaw
Another Rosalind Bearshaw illustrated text. This is a subtle introduction to adoption (a kangaroo adopts a baby lamb) which shows that it is our differences that make us special.
ISBN: 1862336024

Clancy the Courageous Cow - $24.95
Lachie Hume
During a cow wrestling contest Clancy learns about overcoming your differences and getting on with your neighbours.
ISBN: 1862915636

Christine’s Favourite:

Round Fish Square Bowl - $24.95
Tom Skinner with Mini Goss
This is an autobiography in a children’s picture book! The author is a self-proclaimed “square peg” and explores this with a little fish stuck in a square bowl. Not available until September but I couldn’t resist this beautifully illustrated text.
ISBN: 1921042966


Primary

Different Like Me - My Book of Autism Heroes $39.95
Jennifer Elder
Did you know Hans Christian Anderson and Andy Warhol were autistic? This fantastic non-fiction book gives portraits of some of the world’s most successful people and clearly shows how some of the typical characteristics of autism actually aid their genius in many different fields. From the viewpoint of a boy with Asperger’s.
ISBN: 1843108151

On the team - $12.95
Rachel Flynn
Two best friends with very different abilities find their own way to being who they want to be. Written in humorous episodes.
ISBN: 014330044X

Birdwing - $24.95
Rafe Martin
Marked by difference (one arm is a magical wing) Ardwin sets out to discover who he is – bird or boy; crippled or sound; cursed or blessed. This is a fairy tale novel that scholastic recommends for ages 7+, but has also won awards for the 12-18 age group.
ISBN: 0439211670

Australian 2006 Educational Toy of the Year!
Do you have a really difficult student that responds well to computers? This device may help. You can’t use it on a whole classroom basis, as the Quizmo device itself is $15.95 (ISBN: 1904797253), but perhaps as a reward for good behaviour, or a recommendation for parents at parent teacher night! There are many different books in the series for primary kids, all at $14.95. Some examples:
1905439245 - FOOTBALL INTERACTIVE QUIZ
1905439016 - SUPER SPELLING TUTOR
1904797016 - TIMES TABLES TUTOR

Thomas has Autism - $32.95
Like Me Like You Series, Jillian Powell
These non-fiction books are written in the first person and focus on following a child with a certain illness or disability through the day. Includes plenty of illustrations and photos.
ISBN: 0237530333

Best selling Children’s Book of May

Monster Blood Tattoo: Book 1, Foundling - $24.95
D.M. Cornish 9+
Marion, our schools’ rep, went to the launch of this book and was very impressed by the young author / illustrator. This trilogy is set in a world of “tri-cornered hats, frockcoats, monsters, potions and surgically altered people”!
ISBN: 1862916055



Late Primary / Secondary

There's A Boy in the Girls' Bathroom! - $14.95
Sachar, Louis
Bradley is a bit of a bully and nobody likes him. This story shows us how often bullies feel unhappy about themselves as people, but can change their ways as they build self esteem.
ISBN: 0747552576

The Last Book in the universe - $14.99 (published late June)
Rodman Philbrick.
This book is not only an excellent teaching text, but one the students will probably read. It is a post-apocalyptic futuristic novel, with a lot to say on many philosophical topics. One of the main themes concerns what is “normal”, and why do we all desperately want to be better than normal? The main character has epilepsy and this too is treated in an interesting and sensitive way. Great book.
ISBN: 0746074395

Blame My Brain - $16.95
Nicola Morgan
While it is a given that we are all different, it is also a given that many teenagers want to feel the SAME as everyone else and it can cause a great deal of stress. This non-fiction book doesn’t give teenagers an excuse for anti-social behaviour, but goes a long way towards explaining it.
ISBN: 0744583683

My Mum’s from Planet Pluto - $14.95
Gwyneth Rees
Not exactly a barrel of laughs this one, but introduces the often taboo area of having parents who are troubled in some way. The two protagonists are dealing with separate mothers who have alcoholism and type 1 Bi-polar. The Bi-polar descriptions are very accurate.
ISBN: 0330437283

Wish - $14.95
Felice Arena
The author of the fantastic Specky Magee series has written this novel about a boy with Downs-Syndrome. Seth is worried about his sick mother and with a few friends tries to help her get better.
ISBN: 0143302124

First Crossing: Stories About Teen Immigrants - $24.95
Donald R. Gallo
There are so many ways we can feel different to those around us, but it must be especially difficult for teenagers moving to another country. These are 10 fictional accounts of various immigrants to America.
ISBN: 0763622494

My Father's Notebook - $29.95 Late May Publication
Kadar Abdollah Older Readers
I am very keen to read this very new publication about a deaf mute boy. On a holy mountain in the depths of Persia there is a cave with a mysterious cuneiform carving deep inside it. Aga Akbar from the mountain develops his own private script from these symbols and writes passionately of his life.
ISBN: 1921145196

New Releases for Independent readers

Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker - $24.95
Megan McDonald with Peter H. Reynolds 5+
For those of you who know and love the Judy Moody books, the author and illustrator also write about her brother Stink. This is the 2nd in the series.
ISBN: 0763621587

Nathan Nutboard, Family Matters - $16.95
Anthony Eaton 10+
A humorous tale about living with a grandparent. Much in the vein of the "Lockie Leonard" books, but overall more light hearted. This one centres on a Scottish grandfather moving in with the family.
ISBN: 0702235474

River Girl: Growing up around the Murray River - $18.00
Glenda Andrew
I really like this book. It is an autobiography written in a very visually appealing way with sketches and photos. It gives a wonderful insight into one person's indigenous upbringing in a way that children can easily access. For ages 9-12.
ISBN: 1863340130

The Ultimate Teen Book Guide - $35.00
Ed. Daniel Hahn and Leonie Flynn
Have you got a class full of Year 12 students desperately trying to find paired texts? Give this book a try. It has over 700 books recommended by popular authors, aimed at teenagers, from all genres. It includes a handy “what's next” section that recommends texts that will expand upon the first. Many of the texts are classical literature, as they’ve been recommended by adults. A must have for Year 12 Teachers!
ISBN: 0713673303


Senior / Independent Text Choices

Rhubarb - $24.95
Craig Silvey
This book was my favourite new release of 2005. If you want a story that poignantly shows the difficulty of coping with difference this is it, as two very damaged people struggle towards understanding each other.
ISBN: 1920731911

My Sister's Keeper - $21.95
Jodi Picoult
A child who is conceived purely for the purpose of providing bone marrow or her sister, eventually rebels and demands to be known as an individual.
ISBN: 1741145058

Cartoon Guide to Chemistry - $27.95.
Larry Gonick and Craig Criddle
Don't be fooled by the word "Cartoon", this book has full blown Year 12 level concepts. If you have a visual learner this may be just the book to boost their confidence. Also available for Statistics, Physics and Genetics
ISBN: 0060936770

Classic Texts about Different Mental States:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in
the Night-time Mark Haddon
Lucinda Brayford Martin Boyd
Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
I am the Cheese Robert Cormier
Tell Me I’m Here Anne Deveson
As I Lay Dying William Faulkner
The Sound and the Fury William Faulkner
Tender is the Night Scott F. Fitzgerald
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Ken Kesey
Briefing for a Descent into Hell Doris Lessing
The Crucible Arthur Miller
The Bell-Jar Sylvia Plath
The Wide Sargasso Sea Jean Ryhs
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat Oliver Sacks
Awakenings Oliver Sacks
King Lear Shakespeare
Macbeth Shakespeare
The World is Made of Glass Morris West
Riders in the Chariot Patrick White
The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams
A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams

Classic texts about Strengths and Weaknesses / Understanding People:

The English Patient Michael Ondaatje
Middlesex Jeffrey Eugenides
Hunting the wild Pineapple Thea Astley
Room at the Top John Braine
Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte
Wake in Fright Kenneth Cook
Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane
Tender is the Night F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Collector (Crime) John Fowles
The Power and the Glory Graham Greene
Night of the Fox J. Higgins
Innocent Blood (Crime) P.D. James
The Well Elizabeth Jolley
Home at Last Barbara Kaye
Ballad of the Sad Café Carson McCullens
Friends and Romans John Miller
Animal Farm George Orwell
Hamlet Shakespeare
Oedipus the King Sophocles
The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck
Uncle Tom’s Cabin H.B. Stowe
The Tree of Man Patrick White


Christine’s Favourite

Woolvs in the Sitee - $26.95
Margaret Wild
This very interesting picture book has possibilities as an introduction to lateral thinking for ages 16+. Ben lives alone in a basement flat, looking at a world gone mad. The city is almost abandoned and garbage is everywhere, and the very few people that remain live in fear. Why does Ben have such bad spelling? Is Ben suffering from a mental illness? Stretch students minds before getting into full length texts. Definitely not for small children this picture book! You can download teachers’ notes on this title from www.puffin.com.au.
ISBN: 067004167X