Customer Reviews

My Brother Charlie

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reason for Reading: My 9yo is autistic.

Comments: Actress Holly Robinson Peete writes this picture book along with her twelve-year-old daughter, Ryan, who is the fraternal twin of a brother with autism. The story mirrors their real life and is told from the point of view of a little girl whose brother, Charlie, is autistic. She describes how they are alike in looks and likes, then how they are different in looks and likes with the major difference being that Charlie can get very quiet and sometimes not talk. She then goes on to explain how her parents found out Charlie was autistic and what it is like to have an autistic brother accentuating how he is like everyone else, but there are times for her when it is difficult to have Charlie as a brother and other times when she wishes she could help him be more like her. But then there are unique things about Charlie that make him who he is, like his special way with animals and his shell collection.

The book does a very good job on an elementary level of describing an autistic child, showing that though they may be very quiet at times or sit and play by themselves they are not different than other children. They have things they love to do and want to play and have fun. They just need time for both. This book will help others relate to the autistic child whether they be the parent, relative or friend by getting an inside glimpse into the daily life of said child. Most of all the book celebrates family, togetherness and the many ways to say "I love you" without always using the words. The book is well written bringing acceptance and dignity showing this condition is not an illness but only a way of being.

The artwork must be mentioned. Shane W. Evans has created big, bright bold paintings that are pure joy to look at. The primary colours are used effectively. I love the facial expressions and the shape of the eyes make unique characters. The painting is textured, the brush strokes can be seen in the background and I love how he shows the curly hair on some characters by filling in the area with spirals.

My Brother Charlie will be greatly enjoyed by families with an autistic sibling and should be shared in elementary classrooms to bring awareness and acceptance of autistic children they meet on the playground and away from school.

I was not the target audience for this book. And I don't have autism either. But I happened to pick up this book--and was kept gennuinely engrossed by the illustrations and storyline.

Describing what it's like growing up as the sibling of a brother with a disability, My Brother Charlie accurately tells the story from a child's point of view.

The age-appropriate language properly used throughout this text inadvertently made me reflect on the experiences which my own brother had while growing up with me and my disabilities.

Loving Charlie very much, Callie also gets frustrated by some of his actions. He is not like other children, something their mother noticed when the fraternal twins were growing up.

Such reaction is more realistic than either showing the child with disabilities as being an 'innocent angel' or an 'incompetent' without any apparent talents to share with a larger community. Charlie is a person, like anybody else.

This and other titles were not yet around when we were growing up. So my brother learned about me on his own. And by and large, he did a fairly good job of it. But our parents definently would have purchased it for him without a moment's hesitation.

It is written in clear, age-appropriate, and non-judgemental text. This is the type of title which a child is going to want to read over and over again. It explains a (potentially difficult) subject in terms which children will be comfortable with.

It's a good title for any family trying to explain disability to children. But it would also be a recomended purchase for children's libraries--so they would have resources to explain disability available throughout their communities.

How do you describe how you feel about someone you love with autism? MY BROTHER CHARLIE fills in the blanks through the voice of Charlie's twin sister Ryan. Wanting to crawl inside to his world, knowing how to interpret "I Love You" without it being said, and having the difficult days when things are not always smooth sailing. This is a book for any classroom and for every family. The innocent beauty of the words along with Shane W. Evans'illustrations make this book a timely treasure about an issue that has been silent for so long.

I love this book! I did a presentation in a college class on Autism and everyone loved the book!!! I am going to college for elementary education and this is a book that I will definitely have in my classroom library. Children need to learn that we are all different in some way, shape or form but what we all have in common is that we are all human beings and we all have feelings. I think it is a book that parents should have their child(ren) read! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!!!!!

Often times, when we hear someone has autism we feel bummed out for them and their family. When I finished My Brother Charlie I felt uplifted and encouraged for those families and especially the kids who will read this book. Callie is paving the way for a lot of kids like her brother Charlie and their siblings. She doesn't want the reader to feel sorry for her brother. Like she says in the book, "Charlie has autism. But autism doesn't have Charlie." You feel the pride and love Callie feels for her brother. She does a wonderful job describing who he is....a smart, loving, quiet, and interesting brother. And she does touch upon the sadness and difficulties autism can sometimes cause. But they don't quit on Charlie. They embrace him even more...."And so we do right by Charlie. We love Charlie strong." Thank you, Callie, for the words and validation you are giving families...."I'm blessed to be Charlie's sister and to share so much. I count my "Charlie Blessings" every day." WOW! BEAUTIFUL!

Charlie has many ways of expressing love - in his way. Charlie's sister explains through her eyes what it's like to have an autistic brother in, "My Brother Charlie." Callie expresses her fears, concerns AND ultimately the joys of having a loved one with special needs. I believe any parent with a special needs child would appreciate how this book was written. I highly recommend this book, not just for special needs families and loved one, but also elementary school teachers to share with their students in the classroom to further promote awareness. As a proud parent of a wonderful boy with Down syndrome I enjoyed and I'm truly pleased with this book. Thank you Holly!

This book served as a gateway for us to discuss our 4 year old daughter's autism to her 6 year old sister. It helped on topics of why we leave certain functions early or why we can't go to some places. It even touches on the subject of "unfriendly play" skills. Since reading this book to our 6 year old, she has a better understanding of her sister's condition and does not get as mad at her or certain situations anymore. I wish there could be a mini series of books like this that touched on each of the "sensitive" topics in more depth while still catering to the level of young children such as "why the reprimand process is not the same" and "how to get through the meltdown moments". This book was a brilliant idea! It's wonderful!

Beautifully illustrated and sensitively crafted. My 4-year-old granddaughter understood the book well and was able to discuss its relationship to her own life as the twin of an ASD child.

And this is the book for all of those people. The grieving parents, the confused grandparents, the inexperienced teachers, and the sometimes-angry siblings will all find a bit of understanding in what this little girl has to say about her autistic twin, Charlie. She describes the hard ways so many families work through autism, and yet the only therapy mentioned is to love "with the might of angels." I've bought 4 copies. The first copy went into Daniel's kindergarten classroom where his twin and I talked to his classmates about Autism. Then his twin donated the book to the school library in Daniel's name. The second copy went to Daniel's grandparents. The third copy sits on the lending shelf in Daniel's doctor's office for the next person who needs it. The fourth copy stays with me to remind me that Daniel's autism sometimes has a beauty and a joy and a hope that mommies, tired, overwhelmed, and frankly scared, often overlook. Autism is always, always hard, but this book is a rare and deft combination of honesty and hope. Like I said, everyone knows someone. And if I could, I'd make sure everyone had this book.

A really nicely written and touching book about Autism, from the point of view of the sibling. It explained the differences between the 2 children, in a very loving way. It also did a very good job of stressing acceptance. I read it to my daughters Daisy scout troop (a 5 year old audience) and thought it was great!