ABC for You and Me [Hardcover]

Meg Girnis (Author), Shirley Leamon Green (Photographer)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

Children with Down syndrome will be delighted to see a reflection of themselves in this alphabet book. Full color photographs of a multicultural cast of children, most with Down syndrome, illustrate the simple text that helps children learn their ABCs.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-A simple concept book with wonderful full-color photographs. Each picture shows a child with Down's syndrome posing with an object that represents a letter of the alphabet. The items will be easily recognized by the intended audience: K is for kite, H is for hug, Q is for quilt, and W is for wagon. Upper and lowercase letters are highlighted at the top of each page in a square of color, while the word representing the object runs across the bottom of the page in large type. The photographs, viewed against a white background, appear to jump out on the page. In each picture, the smiling child or children are engaged with the object, evoking a joyful mood. Both genders and a number of ethnic groups are included. This is a terrific concept book for preschoolers with the added bonus of exposing them to a group of children not usually seen in picture books.
Sheilah Kosco, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This alphabet book uses photographs of children with Down Syndrome as it introduces letters of the alphabet. Simple words, such as apple and ball are used under each photograph, and the items appear as props in the pictures. The multiracial models are all photogenic, enabling the photographer to capture their personalities and give youngsters a glimpse of who they are. At times, the models pose with what appear to be siblings, and the author thanks the 12 families at the start of the book. In no way does this book pander to an audience or flaunt a segment of the population; it merely celebrates the beauty of all children, much like the spirit behind the Special Olympics. The creative team behind this book wisely chose not to include an introductory or closing essay, nor a blurb about Down Syndrome; the pictures simply speak for themselves. A book for all preschool classrooms. Kathy Broderick
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807501018
• ISBN-13: 978-0807501016
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,142,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book Featuring Children with Down Syndrome, February 29, 2000

By 

Thomas Paul (Plainview, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ABC for You and Me (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful ABC book. Each letter has a full page photograph showing a child with Down syndrome in an activity with an object corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. The letter "D" for example, has a young boy with Down syndrome and a dog. The pictures are very colorful and clear. The children are beautiful models. This is a fun book and I highly recommend it. If only they made a hard board edition for little children...

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GRANDMOTHER OF (D FOR BOY) IN THE BOOK, March 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: ABC for You and Me (Hardcover)

I believe this book is a large step in the right direction for educating the world on Down syndrome, and realizing just how beautiful these children are. My grandson is the first Down's child to ever go through our regular school system and is doing great. You will notice in the book that there are twin combinations, where one twin has Down syndrome and the other doesn't, and there are regular children with the Down's children. All these children are from New York State but various parts of the state, there are a variety of ethnic groups. This book tells a whole other story then just a child learning their ABCs. There is another whole lesson here to be learned. You don't have to have a child with Down's syndrome for your child to get something from this book. Our moto is: They are a child first and Down's second. Another words a CHILD with Down's syndrome, not a DOWN syndrome child. I am very pleased with the positive responses this book is receiving. God bless each and everyone of you who purchased this book. My grandson also thanks you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book for ALL kids, May 28, 2004

By 

ethereal girl (my own little world) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ABC for You and Me (Hardcover)

Many children's ABC books are so crowded with images that it is easy for kids to miss the main point, i.e., A=Apple. This is a very clear book with great photographs! Most young kids enjoy photos of other children, and this would be a great way to introduce all children to diversity...and disability as a type of diversity to be embraced and not feared.