Down Syndrome (Venture) [Library Binding]

Salvatore Tocci (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-Ten chapters describe Down syndrome, analyze the causes, and give an overview of how this condition will affect people from infancy through adulthood. One chapter, "The Future," includes general information on the Human Genome Project. Throughout, the author emphasizes the uniqueness of children with this condition and their potential for achievement. The text is fairly detailed and most of the writing is clear. However, some vague statements, including "-community organizations have developed various programs" and "The federal government has also become actively involved in addressing issues dealing with individuals with disabilities," may leave readers believing that families receive all the assistance and support they need. This is a thorough, positive approach to the subject. Uninspired black-and-white photos are scattered throughout. Useful for reports and individuals needing up-to-date information on the subject.
Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In the 1860s, British doctor John Langdon Down identified the specific form of retardation that today bears his name and affects about 5,500 children born each year in the U.S. Tocci offers a comprehensive overview of the syndrome, from a detailed analysis of its causes at the chromosome stage to the ways in which it affects people from infancy to adulthood. The author also surveys a fascinating array of quack cures that have been proposed, explaining that although there is no cure to date, gene therapy holds some tantalizing prospects for the future. Educational and legal reforms of the past 20 years have vastly altered how people with disabilities interact in society, affording children and adults with Down syndrome more opportunities in school, work, and living arrangements. Practical, informative, and upbeat, the book is a fine source for school and personal research. Black-and-white photos are scattered through the text, and a glossary, source notes, and a resource list are appended. Anne O'Malley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Library Binding: 144 pages
• Publisher: Franklin Watts (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531115895
• ISBN-13: 978-0531115893
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,788,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother!, April 7, 2000

By 

Clare Ferguson (Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down Syndrome (Venture) (Library Binding)

Mr Tocci was a high school science teacher and writes about people with Down syndrome as though they were science projects. He does not bother to identify any people pictured in the book, just labels them as specimens, eg "a young person with DS enjoys time with friends" I realize the book was written for young people and that the language is simplistic but he also has his facts wrong. Down syndrome is not an inherited condition. I think that the author means well which is why I have stretched to 2 stars. He has covered the topic thoroughly. He speaks about treating people with Down syndrome as individuals yet through his writing style he does just the opposite. Generalizations abound in this book. I would avoid it as there are many better available.