My Brother, Matthew [Hardcover]

Mary Thompson (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A book especially for siblings. My Brother, Matthew is narrated by a young boy who describes the ups and downs of day-to-day life as he and his family adjust to his new brother, Matthew, who is born with a disability. David, the older siblings, wryly shares his experiences -- the worry, impatience, feeling left out, being talked down to my grownups -- and the positive ways in which he has built a unique relationship with his brother. Fully illustrated and sensitively written, this is a story that can help other siblings share their feelings and reassure them that their role in the family is very important.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-- When David finally gets to visit his new brother in the hospital, he can barely see the baby for the wires and equipment around him. Matthew was born with disabilities, and this fact has taken over the family. Even David's birthday party is sacrificed. But when Matthew finally comes home, the boy establishes a bond with him. As the years pass, he plays space explorers, swims, and takes walks with Matthew, realizing that he is pretty special. More than just a realistic look at the effect a child with disabilities has on a family, this is a compassionate, lively look at a relationship. Thompson avoids sentimentality and didacticism while conveying a sibling's normal feelings of loneliness, rejection, and impatience. The cheerful watercolors enhance the story and help to create a positive mood. This book can be used as bibliotherapy within a family or for more general audiences to create an understanding of the different challenges and achievements of a disabled child. (The text does not state what Matthew's problem is, but the back cover says he was born with a brain injury.) --Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

A botanical illustrator and artist, Mary Thompson has four children, one of whom has a disability. Her personal experiences inspired her to write and illustrate My Brother, Matthew, a story she hopes will help thousands of families like her own.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 25 pages
• Publisher: Woodbine House (January 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933149476
• ISBN-13: 978-0933149472
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,159,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This was a very good book to read to my young son., June 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: My Brother, Matthew (Hardcover)

This book was a very good book about a child dealing with a brother with special needs. I read this to my 5 year old son and it helped him understand why mom and dad spent so much time trying to teach his brother things. It explains things like why they should feel special to have a brother/sister with special needs. I thought this was a very good book and would recomend it to anyone who wants to read it to a young brother/sister.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Enduring Message For All, June 18, 2000

By 

Lorelei Walker - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Brother, Matthew (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful story! Told from the point of view of an older sibling, it portrays realistically the vast array of feelings and emotions that are part and parcel of having a special sibling. Sometimes the older child(ren) inadvertently get lost in the shuffle. Yet the bond between David and Matthew is there and it is strong. Matthew responds to David in a manner that astounds even their parents. I especially found this to be relatable because since my youngest child Matthew has begun speech therapy, his therapist has designated his brother Jordan as his "coach." And that's been a big deal. Jordan isn't as apt to feel pushed aside this way. And he's learning just how much Matthew looks up to him, not just as his "coach" but as his big brother. I highly recommend this book to families everywhere!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Brother, Matthew, October 20, 2004

By 

Bonnie Sayers "autismfamily" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Brother, Matthew (Hardcover)

Without really knowing if autism was profiled in My Brother, Matthew I knew immediately I wanted this book because my non-verbal son is named Matthew as well.

This is well suited to teach children about compassion and helps other siblings who have a disabled member in their family by sharing the range of the brother's feelings.

My Brother, Matthew is written from the perspective of older brother David, in his voice starting from the day his brother was born. David knows everything about his brother, but he does get frustrated at times when he walks slower or talks funny. Matthew was born with disabilities that required him to remain in the hospital with tubes and wires connected to machines. The parents were at the hospital all the time leaving David with his grandmother to do puzzles. He was not happy being in the dark about his brother and it all materialized for him when he was allowed to view his brother through the window. This was a confusing time for David because no one had any answers to why his brother could not eat or breathe the way other babies could.

Within the pages of My Brother, Matthew it looks like the boys are two to three years apart since they are older and close in size. The book jumps in time quite a bit from Matthew being just a baby to an elementary school aged child. I am not sure how effective it is to gloss over so much time, but the illustrations are very engaging. The boys have light skin with blonde hair and for many of the pages are wearing the same clothing.

My Brother, Matthew shows the impact a disabled child has on the other sibling in the family and follows along with the development of their relationship. Instead of instant bonding one would find in a movie of the week, the gradual process is believable by going through the process of loneliness, jealousy, frustration and acceptance.