Customer Reviews

My Sister Is Special

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

 

 

I am the father of 2 daughters with Down syndrome. Bethany, age 16 and Lindsey, age 7. I have been asked to speak to Lindsey's daycare class to address why Lindsey is "different". Even with 16 years experience to form my thoughts, it has been a difficult task. I received my copy of "My Sister Is Special" today. I am extremely impressed with the simplicity and forthrightness that Mr. Jansen uses to communicate with other children about our children. Any parent is naturally prejudiced in their love and devotion to their children. The task of "explaining" our children is also natural in an adult conversation. The task of answering the innocent questions offered by children is sometimes not natural. I applaud Larry Jansen for seeing the need for literature of this nature. I plan to provide copies to every class and interested party that will have an interaction with both my daughters. Even adults will appreciate the way that Mr. Jansen has taken the complexities of genetics and make it "reader friendly" for a curious and formative mind.

Larry Jansen has done the world a major service with this gently written, intelligently expressed book about a child with Down Syndrome. It is a loving look at how this condition affects not only the person with it, but others in the lives of that person, such as family members. It is an excellent book about acceptance and a very effective teaching tool in helping very young children recognize and accept a person with physical and/or mental challenges. It is a book for everyone; educators, all parents, all children and all people who care about others and are interested in paving the way towards human acceptance.

Larry Jansen does a terrific job of showing that people with disabilities are more like us than different. Parents should buy this and read it to the siblings, and teachers should buy this and read to the students. Great for ages 4 -10.

We just bought this book and my son wanted to read it three times in a row the first day. We adopted a daughter with Down Syndrome a few months ago and her younger brother has been struggling to understand and accept her. This book has provided him with technical information he needed to understand the syndrome, spiritual information he needed to see his sister through God's eyes and insights he needed to process his own emotions and come out loving his sister more. Thanks Larry Jansen! I plan to pass this book around to friends and family to use to explain down syndrome to their children as well. The only drawback I see in the book has to do with the way Mr. Jansen explains disabilities as what makes some people special. All people have their own gifts and strengths regardless of a disability.

This book does an excellent job of describing family situations; and living with someone who has down syndrome. It is realistic regarding the likes and dislikes of Rachel; the struggles; as well as the happy times the family goes through together. Although the reading level is on the 4-8 year old level; adults will also enjoy reading this book aloud to others or to themselves. As a special education teacher; I have read this book to all of my classes and they enjoyed it. My own children were enthralled by the book. I would recommend reading this book . It will be one that you will read over and over again.

I am the widow of the author, Larry Jansen. He died in April of 2002 while waiting to recieve a heart transplant. I'm pleased to know that his passion for special needs children and helping others to understand them better will continue on because of this book.

I found the reference to God unnecessary. Many people don't believe in God or don't want to get into the ethics of God making disabilities happen, with their children who read the book. It should have been left out. The scientific aspect was good but there are many other books that do a better job. Steer clear of this one-it was more of a parent trying to make come to terms with his own issues than a resource for a child.