Special Brothers and Sisters: Stories and Tips for Siblings of Children with a Disability or Serious Illness [Paperback]

Annette Hames (Editor), Monica McCaffrey (Series Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1843103834 | ISBN-13: 978-1843103837 | Publication Date: August 15, 2005

"Special Brothers and Sisters" is a collection of real-life accounts from the brothers and sisters of children with special needs, disability or serious illness, ranging in age from 3 to 18 years. They explain, in their own words, what it's like to live with their siblings. There is a lot of advice available for parents of a child with a disability or illness, but very little about the important issue of educating their siblings about how they feel, and why they may behave differently from other children. These stories, from 40 different families, come with related tips to help siblings deal with some of the things that happen in their family lives. The book also provides a helpful glossary to explain, in child-friendly language, the disabilities and medical conditions mentioned, including: ADHD; autism; cerebral palsy; cystic fibrosis; and Down syndrome. "Special Brothers and Sisters" is an engaging and educational collection that will enable young people and adults to share in the extraordinary experience of being a sibling of a child with special needs, a disability or serious illness.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4–A helpful guidebook with 40 short sections beginning with a comment (Sometimes she pulls my hair or People stare), followed by the editors' commentary on understanding the situation and dealing with it. This is a quick, easy-to-read, compassionate approach, and it emphasizes the love between siblings regardless of differences in abilities and perceptions. Unfortunately, for American readers, the approach is British in language (she gets quite stroppy because she cannot hear us) and in the resources/organizations listed at the end, all in the UK, New Zealand, or Australia. Readers in the U.S. may do better with Kate Strohm's Being the Other One (Shambhala, 2005) or Donald Meyer's Views from Our Shoes (Woodbine, 1997).–Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA
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About the Author

Annette Hames is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked with children with learning disabilities for over 20 years. She currently works with families with children with learning disabilities for Northgate and Prudhoe NHS Trust, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Monica McCaffrey is the director of Sibs, the UK organisation for siblings. One of her brothers has learning difficulties and another brother died in childhood from a life-limiting condition. Monica lives in Yorkshire.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub (August 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843103834
• ISBN-13: 978-1843103837
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,396,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)