Customer Reviews

Sundays with Matthew: A Young Boy with Autism and an Artist Share Their Sketchbooks

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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As an educator I have worked with several autistic students over the years and this book is a perfect model for what can be accomplished by these talented children with a little guidance. The book is an inspiration for all those working the field of education as it helps us imagine the possibilties for success that all exceptional learners possess. I read this book to my class and we came up with the idea of "response journaling" through art and text as a classroom project to issues we face daily and throughout the year. This book has given my class the motivation to create similar products. The book is well done and would be a welcome addition to any classroom library, especially if the class includes an autistic student. This book will help the other students in class more clearly understand autism and some issues that surround it. Great read-aloud.

Not only is this book full of delightfully entertaining drawings, it's also bursting with gems of wisdom about relationships and life in general. The perspective of an autistic child adds a poignant message about what truly matters in life. The Sketchbook Tips at the end of the book can be used by anyone who wants to start drawing but isn't sure how. "Sundays with Matthew" is a wonderful read for kids and adults of any age. It should be required reading in any school that has autistic students. I highly recommend it!

Communicating with an autistic child is often a challenge, but this author has found a way for Matthew to express his feelings and emotions through artwork. This is an interesting insight into a way to develop rapport plus provide a measure of self esteem with a challenging child. The artwork is delightful. This book would be a good read for any child and has good tips for any parent of an autistic child.

This is a delightful book wtih engaging pictures sure to captivate young readers. The content includes many real life topics that can lead to further discussion beyond the book. As an educator, what I really liked about this book was the fact that Matthew helped write and illustrate it. What a terrific concept to carry over into the classroom!

This book is an ideal teaching tool for young readers about autism. The drawings are especially delightful and I just love the grid the young author makes of herself and Matthew. She applies several adjectives to Matthew with a corresponding drawing with the last one being "Matthew is autistic." She emphasizes other aspects of Matthew and his personality; autism is a part of identity. It is not his ENTIRE identity.

I like the way questions for young readers are included, e.g. "when was the last time you helped somebody?" This delightful book focuses more on commonalities than differences; Jeanette and Matthew will certainly teach you a lot regardless of age. This is the ideal companion book to ALL ABOUT MY BROTHER by Peralta.

Sundays with Matthew is a wonderful, whimsical book emphasizing "how to be a good person", and focusing on areas that autistic kids sometimes have problems with. By drawing out abstract concepts, visual kids can understand these ideas more fully. There is a great section of sketchbook tips at the end that encourage others to find their own sketchbook buddy, and use drawing as a form of communication.

This book, written for the elementary grades, offers a glimpse of what autistic children face and feel. It would be a good book for teachers to use for disability awareness or to read to classes during autism month (April). As autistic children participate more in classroom activities, it is important for other students (and their parents) to understand how they think and react.

Another book worth reading after this book is "The Boy Who Ate Stars" by Sarah Adams (recommended for ages 9-14).