The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures: Autism Through Art [Hardcover]

Eileen Miller (Author), Kim Miller (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1843108895 | ISBN-13: 978-1843108894

For many years Eileen Miller's daughter, Kim, was unable to verbalize her experiences and emotions, but she was able to communicate using a less conventional language: her art. The Girl who Spoke with Pictures tells the story of a young woman with autism, and how her enlightening drawings enabled her to share her view of the world.

Illustrated with drawings created by Kim between the ages of 3 and 17 years old, the book gives an insight into how Kim expressed her thoughts and feelings through pictures, revealing her capacity to learn and be understood by those around her. Reflecting on her daughter's artwork, the author explores the concept of art as a universal language that can transcend barriers and enhance the personal and educational experiences of those with autism.

This book provides a window into one autistic girl's experience of life and will be essential reading for teachers, parents, and anyone with an interest in autism

Editorial Reviews

Review

The combination of art and commentary gives the reader an unprecedented glimpse into the complex and intense world of the developing autistic mind... [T]he writer does much to inspire advocacy for this poorly understood brain disorder. Anyone fascinated by child development, brain science, or outsider art should appreciate this brave mother daughter collaboration. --ForeWord Magazine

About the Author

Eileen Miller is a parent advocate for her daughter, Kim. She has worked extensively with her local Early Intervention and public school district to increase awareness of children with autism, placing an emphasis on working with the families of those children. She lives in Oregon, USA, with her husband and daughter. Kim Miller is an accomplished artist. She illustrated the children's book Apples for Cheyenne by Elizabeth Gerlach and is now a sophomore attending community college in Oregon, USA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Singing Dragon (September 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843108895
• ISBN-13: 978-1843108894
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #855,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eileen Miller is a parent, advocate, an unofficial autism service coordinator, and ordinary housewife who found herself in extraordinary circumstances. When her youngest daughter Kim Miller, was born, she was totally at a loss on how to parent a child with very special needs.

Raising a child with autism has been one of the main challenges of her life. Being continually presented with unique situations, she became a quick study at creative problem solving. Through the years of building functional language and communication, she learned what only 23 yrs. of experience can teach.

She has been privy to some of the most intimate workings of her daughter's mind by means of Kim's artwork. Utilizing Kim's talent for showing what she was experiencing, gave Eileen the tools to advocate effectively allowing her daughter's voice to be heard.

Eileen has written two books regarding her experience and is passionate about speaking to families regarding physical/mental health and wellness as well as the importance of team building between professionals and parents. Problem solving and strategies for change is probably one of her foremost strengths. She believes in supporting a child with autism towards success, whether it is a life skill, vocational or academics.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Any library with books on autism needs this, March 9, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures: Autism Through Art (Hardcover)

For many years the author's daughter Kim was unable to verbalize her experiences and emotions - but could communicate using her art. THE GIRL WHO SPOKE WITH PICTURES tells of how her drawings enabled her to interact with the world, is illustrated with pictures drawn by Kim between the ages of 3 and 19 years, and explores the idea of art as a universal language for those with autism. Any library with books on autism needs this.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Girl Who Spoke With Pictures, March 5, 2009

By 

Frank Moore (Alaska, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures: Autism Through Art (Hardcover)

I met author Eileen Miller in a restaurant in Oregon, and within hours had purchased her book.

The Girl Who Spoke With Pictures was an incredible journey in the life of a family who had one daughter with Autism, and one without. Creating a unique balance in her family's ever changing needs, Eileen Miller is a one-of-a-kind woman: wife, mother, teacher, author, friend, and advocate who gives all she has to intercede for her special needs daughter. For years she has collaborated and continues to do so with many different kinds of people from professional to the general public, in all areas of her daughter's life, with family, friends, schools, and whomever she meets. Her illustrator daughter, Kim Miller, is living proof of how one autistic child was able to overcome excruciatingly difficult circumstances to make herself understood through her art. I was amazed at how well Eileen was able to interpret her daughter's pictures and explain Kim's thoughts, ideas and feelings to her teachers and others who needed to "get into Kim's head", to understand how and what she was thinking and experiencing. One can glean a wealth of information from reading this book whether or not you have or know a child with ASD. We have a daughter with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and realized that many of the ways Eileen dealt with her daughter can be applied to working with other children with developmental disabilities. I would recommend this to anyone. Inspirational, moving, thought-provoking and a bold statement of determination and God's faithfulness. Sandilee

5.0 out of 5 stars the girl who spoke with pictures:autism through art, December 9, 2008

By 

Leslie T. Walker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures: Autism Through Art (Hardcover)

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this book! I was Kim's Kindergarten instructional aide and met her from the early beginning of her schooling. As a person who was actually there, I loved how Eileen captured the day to day discoveries of Kim's gift. I always believed Kim would do wonderful things with her life. She was like a tulip unfolding and we just got to see one petal open at a time.

I feel so lucky to have been able to share time with Kim. I always told Eileen that I learned much more from her than she from me.

This book is a must read for anyone in the educational field or associated in anyway with autism. Poignant inspiring and fascinating.