Customer Reviews

Special People, Special Ways

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

 

 

This book has beautiful words and illustrations that are important for all children to hear. It sends the message that all kids are unique and special in their own way. I purchased this for my children so that they could see how disabilities affect people, but do not make them "different." This book teaches children in a fun way, with wonderful illustrations and truly thoughtful, rhyming text! I highly recommend this to all parents and children.

This fun-to-read, beautifully illustrated rhyming book talks about children with disabilities in a positive way. It helps kids understand that they are all special, no matter what physical limitations they may have. It teaches ALL children respect for others, including those that look different. This is the only full-color picture book I could find on disabilities.

... [Another reviewer] assumed that only commonalities link people and they couldn't be more wrong about the author's intent. I happen to know the author and she is all about acceptance with or without commonalities. This book was written for little children. To help children understand, sometimes a common theme is needed in order to get the point across. However, Mrs. Maguire is about accepting people NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE AND NO MATTER WHAT IT IS THAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THEM. This book is about kindness and seeing that just because we see people as different than we are, we are all unique and special individuals making up this planet. I'm sorry [another reviewer] did not see the reality of this book in the way it was intended.

Not a good book. I requested Special People, Special Ways from the library after finding it at Amazon.com. My wife (who has a physical disability) and I looked over it, and quickly determined that we would not be reading it to our kids. Outdated descriptors and an emphasis on differences make this a poor choice when trying to help children understand disability and diversity. One obvious example is the use of the word "special"- often in reference to people with disabilities this term has become synonymous with "segregated" and is considered offensive to many. Also, are phrases like "struggle with pain", "it's hard to get through the day", and "hurts that we feel are not easy to mend". It's all just a little overdone - as if people with disabilities are some kind of aliens from another planet that have suddenly invaded our world! I'm sure the author meant well, but it just comes across wrong.

I would recommend Disability is Natural by Kathie Snow; this author has a website by the same name and offers free articles to print out - especially check out the four-page article "People First Language". A better alternative to Special People, Special Ways is A Rainbow of Friends by P.K. Hallinan or Don't Call me Special by Pat Thomas.

This book is so beautiful & educational!
It's perfect for showing kids that all people are equal & not to be afraid, but help people with special needs. My 2 year old daughter has a muscle disease so we're not sure if someday she'll need a wheelchair, leg braces etc. She likes the page of a boy in a hospital room because he looks scared & she feels the same way when she goes & I like the page where it says "Be thoughtful to all as you would a good friend, since the hurts that we feel are not easy to mend." I bought extra books to give to my daughter's friends to help them understand & my Mom bought extra books also. This book is so close to our hearts & every time we read it we get choked up because it's so beautiful.
A wonderful book, even if your child doesn't have special needs. 5 stars!

Author has a good understanding of people with special needs. She makes it easy for children to understand and enjoy the book.
Susan Feintuch Stuermer

I bought this book after reading several positive reviews on it. However, I was very disappointed with it. The author attempted to make the book culturally diverse and inclusively based, but I did not find her method effective. I did not like the premise of the book that in order to be acceptable to others, there have to be commonalities. Differences as well as similarities should be embraced to better understand the individual. Stereotypes and finding similarities are not necessary in describing or understanding individuals.