THE MAKING OF MY SPECIAL HAND: MADISON'S STORY [Hardcover]

Jamee Riggio Heelan (Author), Nicola Simmonds (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Learning Books

A child who was born with one hand tells the story of how people at the hospital made a helper hand for her, how the new hand operates, how it feels, and how she can use it.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-This unique book recounts the making of a prosthesis for a girl who was born with one hand. Beginning with the visit to the hospital where Madison and her family learn about the different kinds of "helper hands," Heelan takes readers through the whole process: making the plaster cast, fitting the socket, connecting the electrode and battery, and occupational therapy. Simmonds uses cut color photos imposed on simple drawings for a collage effect. Pale backgrounds with muted images including crayons, blocks, and lollipops surround the text and illustrations. Occasional simple ink diagrams demonstrate the science and mechanics of prosthetics. An excellent addition to collections on children with special needs.
Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...extremely informative.... The artwork-photographs mixed with hand-drawn images and computer-generated backgrounds-is exceedingly eye-catching.... An attractive, informative offering." --Booklist

"...a beautiful, child-centered, and realistic story." --Library Journal

"An excellent addition to collections on children with special needs." --School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; 1 edition (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156145186X
• ISBN-13: 978-1561451869
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,295,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A clear insructive book for kids, April 3, 2000

By 

Sofia Myhrman (Stockholm) - See all my reviews

This review is from: THE MAKING OF MY SPECIAL HAND: MADISON'S STORY (Hardcover)

I think this is a great book for kids to read with a grownup that can explain what is happening on the pictures. It helpes de-dramatize physical disbility in a natural way. Step by step description of how the doctor makes "Madisons very special hand" are very good. I would definitely like to recommend this to anyone that's working with or having children on their own.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must For Parents and Teachers!, October 22, 2002

By 

Christine (Harrison Township, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: THE MAKING OF MY SPECIAL HAND: MADISON'S STORY (Hardcover)

My son was born without his right hand. This book details everything we went through getting his prosthetic. He is only 15 months old, but it is a great book to read to his four year old brother so he can understand and feel a part of what is happening. I plan on keeping this book around to present to my son's teachers to use as an aid in the classroom. The story is very easy for a child to understand, but also detailed enough that I had my family read it to see exactly how the process works. The pictures are amazing--combining real photos with drawings. Very unique. This is the only book of it's kind. I am gratefull someone is finally taking notice of upper limb differences and offering support to families.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great pictures, informative, December 30, 2007

By 

Melanie A. Pierce "Mommy of 2 boys" (Salem. OR) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: THE MAKING OF MY SPECIAL HAND: MADISON'S STORY (Hardcover)

My son (born in 2006) was born without his left hand and sometimes wears a prosthetic that he got from Shriner's Children's Hospital. His is not the myoelectric kind, like in this book, but it is still nice for him to have a story and pictures of another child his own age that has a "helper hand". I shared this book with the occupational therapist and prosthetist at Shriners and they loved it too. It's so nice to have such a young child in the book going through the same kinds of fitting procedures and doctor's visits that my son goes through. The story is really too wordy and advanced for him at this age, but I shorten and simplify it for him. It will be nice to share with other children and his teachers as he grows up.