Customer Reviews

Sensitive Sam: Sam's Sensory Adventure Has a Happy Ending!

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had high hopes for a book about SPD to read to my son. This book really means well, and it does have a happy ending. It would be good to give to family, friends or teachers to help them understand things. But I would be careful reading it to your child. SPD is such a broad thing, and poor Sam seemed to suffer from EVERY sensitivity there is. There is even a line at the beginning where he says he's mad or sad "all the time". When I read it to my son he was clearly sad and uncomfortable for the first half. He couldn't identify with several of the issues Sam faced. So I gave this 3 stars because for the right listener it would be good - I just thought it was too much for a younger child to read and sent it back.

I recently purchased this book and it was a pleasant surprise. My son could relate to the way Sam felt and the sensory issues that he has. It made him feel good to see that other kids can feel that way too.

I loved that it went into the classroom and showed that it wasn't that Sam had behavior problems, he had sensory issues.

Sam works with an OT and gets a sensory diet. This book was educational while being fun with great pictures. I think it will help a lot of families understand sensory processing issues.

It's also hopeful and explains that you can help yourself and your child feel better with sensory integration. Well done!

Sensitive Sam

Marla Roth-Fisch

2009
Future Horizons, Inc.

Sensitive Sam is a cute little book about a little boy with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Every page consists of a quatrain describing events in the life of a child who is having trouble dealing with things which don't bother most people. Mrs. Roth-Fisch completes the book with her excellent illustrations of Sam as he deals with dressing, eating, and going to school. Sam begins working with an occupational therapist, and with some changes in his routine at home and school, he is soon learning to grow and learn in school.

This book is excellent on several levels. First, it could help the child with SPD see that others have the same challenges, and that they can be overcome. Second, this book could help explain to other children in Sam's family - or class - what SPD is, and how they could help their sibling or friend. This book will help all children understand that SPD should not be frightening, and that it is treatable with a bit of work, and a lot of love.

This book reminded me of some of the issues we had with Theodore, such as his preference for only wearing short pants. This was not a big problem when we lived in San Antonio, and while he was young, but after moving up to the Dallas/Fort Worth area it took a while to get him accustomed to wearing long pants. He also had a lot of food preferences; vegetables were a challenge for him, and he ate ketchup with just about everything. Just like Sam, Theodore managed with a lot of patience and love - especially from Carolyn.

The end of the book has a glossary and a list of websites for those interested in reading more about Sensory Processing Disorder. I recommend this book without reservation for those families with a child with SPD, and also for grade schools.

Stephen M. Donahue
December 9, 2011

It is so great to have a book that helps kids with SPD feel better and that people understand - my son loved it and it was one of the first books that he actually sat through:)

Sensitive Sam is a charming illustrated story that will help children understand more about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). It is written and illustrated by Marla Roth-Fisch, a happily married mother of two, including a son with SPD.

The book opens with this note for parents and educators:

"Sensitive Sam is written from the perspective of a young boy with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and his daily challenges. It is designed to be a book that adults can read to children, and children can then read and review on their own.

The happy ending will inspire hope for your family and promote ongoing discussion about sensory issues."

What follows is a delightful rhyming story about Sam, a young boy who is bothered by many things in his environment. These sensory difficulties make it hard for him to get through the day without falling apart or becoming angry and upset.

Luckily, his teacher and parents work together to find out what is wrong and how to help him. They let him know that he is not a "bad kid" and that there are reasons for why he feels the way he does.

The book then describes in very kid-friendly language what it is like to go to occupational therapy and how they implemented a sensory diet for Sam. As time goes on, things get much better for Sam, and the story ends with these lines:

Take it from me, Sensitive Sam,
That things will be okay.
By doing things a little differently,
I can have fun EVERY day!

At the back of the book, Ms. Roth-Fisch includes a short glossary of terms and a list of helpful websites with resources on sensory processing disorder.

I read this with my son, who has sensory processing disorder and autism, and he greatly enjoyed both the rhyming story and the clever illustrations. He could definitely relate to some of the things that bothered Sam and to the way the occupational therapist and others help both of them with their sensory challenges.

I would highly recommend Sensitive Sam to just about anyone. If you have a child with SPD, this would be a great book to share both with your child and with their siblings or other family members. This would be a good addition to any library or classroom book collection, as well as a useful resource for any organization working with kids.

I used this book to further explain to my 7 year old and his class about his SPD. It's very kid friendly and was a great addition to all of our other books.

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I really liked this book. It is written with rhymes and follows nice. I wish it was around when my two older children were younger and dealing with their SPD. However...I will be sharing it with my 3 year old son who is dealing with his SPD right now!

Diane Renna
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I not only loved the book myself but had a grandmother get it for her grandson with SPD. She raved about Sensitive Sam.

"Sensitive Sam" tells the first-person story of a young boy with sensory processing disorder. Easy-to-read in rhyming couplets, with adorable illustrations, it is informative, empathic, and upbeat. It will be very meaningful to anyone with this condition, and to their family members, friends, and the professionals that work with them. A very inspirational and hopeful story, and an important resource! It is a wonderful book.

This book is a must for any child, boy or girl with SPD. Well-written and illustrated and a fun teaching tool