Customer Reviews

My Brother Kevin Has Autism

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book about me, Kevin Carlson. Some people think i'm weird and i think that's mean. I have autism. I want people understand me and know what is like to have autism. I feel embarrassed when that people think i'm weird. I want kids think about me in my life. I'm a good artist. I drew opossum, starfish, power poles, and other things. My brother Richard paid me for illustrating the book. I buy a music CD for me. I hope people like my book. I like pizza, hamburger, fried shrimp, spaghetti, fruit punch and citrus punch.

From anyone's perspective, living with autism can be quite a challenge. Simple chores become a test of endurance for the autistic child who cannot endear the sound of a vacuum cleaner. A trip across town on a new street becomes a test of endurance for the autistic child who clings to routine for salivation from a chaotic world. Parents and siblings who live with the autistic child likewise face these challenges, often baffled at the autistic's child's reactions to a world they perceive as ordinary.

Author Richard Carlson lends his talented pen to a book of verse for young people in MY BROTHER KEVIN HAS AUTISM, capturing these challenges in a straightforward yet lovingly gentle tone that readers of all ages will appreciate. Autistic younger brother Kevin adds his illustrations, proving with each one the beauty of his gifts and the lessons he can teach us all. A must read for anyone who knows someone with autism or simply seeks understanding. Highly recommended.

"My Brother Kevin Has Autism" sheds a profound yet simple light into the world of Autism. Richard's poems are wonderfully written, and Kevin's illustrations are ingenious. I highly recommend this book for siblings of autistic individuals, or those who wish to educate themselves in regard to Autism. A wonderful addition to our library. Bravo to Richard and Kevin!

This poetry book explains Autism in a way that made sense to me. I also
really enjoyed the poetry and OH, the
drawings were GREAT! I feel that this book is important because it would
help people understand those who
have Autism and then they would know how to make them happy. I really
like the way Mr. Carlson writes. I
think all kids should read this book and I plan to tell all my friends about it...

Mr. Carlson has written a beautiful collection of poems about his brother Kevin, who has autism. Each of the 40 rhyming poems tells the reader what it is like to have a family member with the brain disorder known as autism. The love the author feels for his brother, shows in every word on every page. I found each poem enlightening and filled with vivid details of autism and how I learned how people with autism feel about having autism and how they see things differently than the average person. Kevin, Mr. Carlson's younger brother, drew the delightful illustrations for MY BROTHER KEVIN HAS AUTISM, which gives the book a charming feel. There are 50 illustrations included in this book. Kevin Carlson, since a young child, loved to draw. When he was born, his family had no idea that he had autism. However, they knew that Kevin was different and when he was 5 years old, and still hadn't uttered a word, his family took him to the doctor, where he was diagnosed as having autism. Able to work, Kevin works at Sage, a business that employs handicapped people. Kevin makes crafts and decorative items for the company. The author, Richard W. Carlson Jr., is known for having an over-active ability to write with vivid imagery.

I highly recommend MY BROTHER KEVIN HAS AUTISM by Richard W. Carlson Jr., and his brother, Kevin Carlson, for all readers. Bravo to the Carlson's.

This gently written, loving and accepting book is about family dynamics with a sibling who has autism. A gifted artist, Kevin provides the rich illustrations in this book and lends his "voice" to describe the world he confronts on a routine daily basis.

Autism and its related condition, Asperger's Syndrome is a series of sensory related issues. Sounds are amplified; strong aversions for vaccuum cleaners are not uncommon. One can feel Kevin's pain every time he has to endure the vaccuum cleaner and other painful sounds in his environment. Sensory modes are often heightened, people with spectrum conditions (autism/Asperger's) find coping mechanisms in facing sensory onslaught. This book provides good descriptions of these issues.

This is an excellent work that will attract all ages. It is something for all educators, parents and other interested parties to use and learn from. It is an invaluable work in seeing the rationale for the behavior of many people on the autism spectrum. Routine often provides security and changes or disruptions can often make one feel threatened. This book provides examples of this.

Richard and Kevin will remain permanently in the hearts of all who read this book. Please read this.

I loved this book. My sister is now 34 and this was a great book to remind me of what it was like when we were kids. I wouldn't suggest this for young children, but for those 10 and older. My kids loved when I read it to them because they see their aunt in many situations. It is a great way to teach middle school age kids about autism in a fun way. The poetry and photos were wonderful!

My Brother Kevin Has Autism is a collection of unique poems composed by Richard W. Carlson about his autistic brother Kevin, and are illustrated with simple yet meaningful artistic cartoons drawn by Kevin. A vivid, personal read that brings one closer to understanding what autism is and what its presence in the family is like, My Brother Kevin Has Autism is highly recommended reading for all ages. Kevin Reads Our Telephone Book: At the supermarket, people give Kevin a strange look,/As they watch him holding our telephone book./He has autism and does strange things./The telephone book into the store he sometimes brings./The book he loves to read and read./Bring it with him into the store, does he need?

I bought this book to help explain to my 5 yr. old about his 2 yr. old sister having autism. I couldn't just read the book to him as is. The words are written out of proper sequence which made it impossible for him to understand unless I corrected it as I read it to him. For example: If I was to say, "I am going to the store.", the book would say, "Going to the store I am." I was very dissapointed in the book. Instead of being a teaching/learning tool, it's just a nice poetry book with nice pictures. My autistic daughter loves looking at them.

I purchased this book because I work with a boy whose younger brother has autism. He is having a hard time understanding why his little brother gets all of the attention. I was hoping this book would shed some light for him. Sadly, I am not sure that presenting this book will help. The author appears to have been more concerned with adhering to the rhyme scheme than to effectively conveying any well-meaning ideas. I felt the "Yoda-esque" writing style was distracting and could likely confuse less than stellar readers or those with reading comprehension difficulties. Well meaning as the work is, I would not recommend this for young readers who want to learn more about autism. The editor did not do his/her job well at all.