Tag: Special Needs

Illustrated by LENNY WEN

SUMMARY

Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 takes young readers on a journey through the magical Hotel of Hoo, a mysterious place with some very unusual occupants. As readers explore the strange hotel, they are invited to experience everything it has to offer with just one warning… don’t ever look behind door 32.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ

What kid is willingly going to obey an instruction, suggestion, order, or demand that starts with the word DON’T? It nags at you and won’t let you alone until you do. To their credit though, the kids in Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32, did obey…well kinda. They started with door number 2, where they met some sad faced—oh, I almost spoiled it. Hmmm, you know there was nothing at all through Door Number 6. NOOOTHING! What could possibly be worse than that? Aaah, I’m doing it again. Let me see, how can I do this? STOP! What? You’re right I’m about to go too far. Just one bit more. Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 is a phenomenally illustrated fantasy adventure, with interesting surprises behind each door.

The UNIQUE thing about Don’t Even Look Behind Door 32 is how it blends The Unique, ETHNIC and SPECIAL NEEDS categories  of A Different Kind of Read seamlessly.

RECOMMENDATION

Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 is recommended for First Time Readers (1-8), but I also recommend it for Middle Grade Readers to age 10.

BUY IT HERE:  AMAZON

BIO

BCR Fegan is a multi-award-winning author who has written a number of fairy tales and fantasies for children and young adults.

Raised on a small hobby farm only minutes from some of Australia’s greatest beaches, Fegan grew up inspired by the power of natures ambience. From the intensity of the frequent summer storms, to the overwhelming serenity of a lonely beach in the early hours of the morning. His ravenous appetite for both reading and writing soon saw him drawing on the transformational influence of the world around him to craft short stories, poems and picture books

As time wore on, Fegan also found inspiration in the magic and depth of authors and compositors like Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault. He was mesmerised by the potency of small but beautiful phrases that were carefully carved from the minds of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Frost. He grew to appreciate the worlds meticulously created by David Eddings, JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis.

Eventually, he began to forge his own complete works. Weaving his own magic, piecing together his own phrases and crafting his own worlds. Agonising over plots that would inspire, characters that would be loved and circumstances that would delight. In time, his efforts saw a number of children’s books and young adult fiction produced. Through the efforts of TaleBlade Press, these works are now being published with that same careful dedication.

SUMMARY

Little Bear struggles to understand what it means when he is told he would no longer be able to see his Papa. He questions those around him as he tries to bring meaning to why his Papa is gone. Through his memories and dreams, Little Bear goes on a journey to realize his Papa will always be with him.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW

A little bear wants to see his father, but he doesn’t know where he is. His mother gently reminds him, that they can’t visit papa any longer because he’s in a place where none of them can be. This beautiful rhyming/illustrated story brought tears to my eyes. And answered all the questions In a good and gentle way. It is the most remarkable presentation of loss that I have every seen. 

The telling of the little bear’s story makes I Want to See My Papa a UNIQUE read. The subject makes it a SPECIAL NEEDS for any person going through this life altering experience.

RECOMMENDATION

I Want to See My Papa is recommended by the author for children. I disagree, I Want to See My Papa is recommended for All Ages.

BUY IT HERE:     I Want to See My Papa Website    Amazon

BIO – At a young age Angela relocated to Windsor, Nova Scotia from her birth place in Brampton, Ontario. Currently she lives in Halifax with her husband and three daughters – Mackenzie, Alexis, and Skylar, and two adorable but mischievous Yorkshire Terriers. 

A graduate from Dalhousie University, former Fashion Designer, and Executive Director of Atlantic Fashion Week, Angela was the 2016 Winner of the Women of Spirit Award, and was listed in Canadian Living Magazine as a Top 40 Change Maker.   “I wrote this story as a way to self-heal after losing my father at a young age. I hope it will help children going through similar devastating loses,” 

ILLUSTRATED BY PETER BELLINGHAM

SUMMARY

Many children today believe that fame and fortune are the only pathways to happiness. This book shows that even if every desire is achieved in life, happiness can still be elusive. Many adults who know this important life lesson struggle to easily articulate the concept with their children. Sumi’s story of transformation into a joyful, awakened butterfly will resonate deeply within young children who strain to find meaning and fulfillment in a profit-driven, egocentric world.

This is the story of a baby caterpillar named Sumi and her life’s journey to find everlasting happiness. The story unfolds in a gentle, loving way that reveals age-old wisdom about the search for happiness to modern kids.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW

Have you ever wondered:  Who Am I? Where Did I Come From? Why Can’t I Be Like…? Well that’s how Sumi felt when she was first born. She wanted to get to know the other caterpillars around her, but they seemed set in their ways. They didn’t like any of her suggestions, and when she tried to get them to go with her up the tree trunk for more food, they never would. But, Sumi soon realized that sometimes you have to do things on your own. One day, she started out on a solo adventure up that tree trunk. And what did she find. I can’t tell you that, but I can tell you that isn’t what made her enlightened. You have to read The Caterpillar that Became Enlightened to find out.

The UNIQUE thing about The Caterpillar that Became Enlightened is the plot. Who ever knew that a caterpillar could do that?

RECOMMENDATION

The Caterpillar that Became Enlightened is primarily for First Time Readers (1-8).  But I think some Middle Grade Readers (9 – 12) dealing with self-esteem issues will find this book helpful.

BUY IT HERE:  Amazon

BIO – DARRYL D. DIPTEE is an active duty US naval officer who has spent over twenty years collecting wisdom from various parts of the globe. He attributes much of his success to the valuable experiences gained while supporting those in need, such as helping Tibetan refugees integrate into society in India and teaching Iraqi children valuable life skills in Baghdad, Iraq. Messy, “unsolvable” problems are his favorite challenges, as he applies his worldly knowledge to convert complex concepts into easy-to-digest, inspirational lessons that people use to achieve fulfilling lives. Deeply spiritual at his core, Darryl’s aim in life is to enjoy every moment of the human experience while inspiring others to do the same.

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THE ADVENTURES OF HYPERKID v BULLBORG

EMERSON DAUB

RICHARD DAUB

SUMMARY

The Adventures of HyperKid v BullBorg is about a fourth grader named Morgan Wallace who is hyperactive and sometimes has difficulty focusing on the tasks of everyday life. He is self-conscious about being different, but he soon finds out what it is like to really be different after the rays of a meteor transform him into a cyborg with super powers. After the family doctor is unable to transform him back into a regular nine year old, Morgan convinces his parents to let him keep his powers to help people as the super hero “HyperKid”. His first mission is to defend his schoolmates from a bully named Brian Bullini on the playground, who also turns out to be a cyborg with powers and who assumes the identity of “BullBorg”. But Morgan ultimately discovers that you don’t need to be a super hero to overcome the difficulties you encounter in life, and you don’t have to be a super hero to help other people. He also learns that you can’t judge others by what you see on the surface, which leads him to realize that Brian is not a bully at all and that they have a lot more in common than it seemed at first.

While this book covers a wide range of serious issues beyond hyperactivity (bullying, intolerance, loneliness, and pre-judgment of people), The Advenures of HyperKid v BullBorg is also a fun super hero story with humorous characters involved in a suspenseful adventure story.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ (REVIEW)

For me, an interesting thing about The Adventures of HyperKid v Bullborg. was BullBorg. You know he’s… Well he’s… But then… I can’t really explain it without giving the story away. Besides what I was going to tell you isn’t really true. You know, I mean something else happened that was so awesome while HyperKid was taking him to the Nurse’s Office. Oops, I almost did it again. I definitely shouldn’t tell you about the teachers, who provided the comic relief. Oh, and let’s not forget Dr. Popsicle. What? Didn’t I just say I can’t talk about that. You’re just gonna have to read it for yourself.

I can say this, the thing I loved about The Adventures of HyperKid v BullLBorg was the relationship between Hyperkid and his father which lead to a great relationship between Hyperkid and Bullborg. Ahhhh, what did I do? Oh well, you can’t keep everything a secret. I also loved the dynamic way their super powers were developed as well as their limitations.

The Adventures of HyperKid v BullBorg is a UNIQUE and SPECIAL NEEDS read because of it characters and their unusual situations.

RECOMMENDATION

The Adventures of HyperKid v BullBorg is recommended for First Time Readers (7-8) and Middle Grade Readers (9-11) not to mention all kids that have been bullied, pre-judged, discriminated against, etc., etc., etc.

BUY IT HERE: Amazon

emerson-richard-800BIO   Emerson Daub is a fourth grade student who loves to play with toys and has a healthy interest in cyborgs and super heroes. Having already written a children’s book with his father Richard about their pet cats titled Spaulding and Zoom, Emerson expressed interest in writing a new book that combined two of his favorite interests. In writing this new book, Emerson, who has a very creative mind and active imagination, sat down with his father and in one sitting made up the story that would become The Adventures of HyperKid: HyperKid v BullBorg. Richard, who at one time had been a reporter but admittedly has very limited knowledge of cyborgs and modern super heroes, took extremely diligent notes and asked many detailed questions about the characters and the story. After this marathon session, Richard typed up the notes and gave them a voice. Over the following months, the father and son duo worked together to refine the prose into a tight but entertaining first person narrative. They hope the finished work will be enjoyed by all who read it and that it will serve as inspiration for everyone to rise above their personal obstacles and not let them hinder the pursuit of their goals and dreams.

 

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PETER AND LISA

CHARLES KATZ AND LINDA BARON KATZ

 

SUMMARY

A children’s book about two different mental illnesses, depression and mania, Peter and Lisa makes it easier for children to understand these mental conditions. It is a story about two people affected with such illness and how they got better and recovered through the proper medication and necessary support by family and friends. Charles and Linda Baron Katz’s Peter and Lisa: A Mental Illness Children’s Story manifests the true essence of love and support to aid us overcome every storm that may pass.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW

One moment you are happy, so happy that you’re dancing all around and having a bunch of fun. But, you’re also in danger because, you think you’re invincible (that means, you think you can do anything maybe even fly) The next moment, you’re sad. Very, very sad. You lay around doing absolutely nothing except maybe cry. Sometimes you want to—

These are some of the things a person who has bipolar disorder experience. Imagine what that must feel like if you are ten years old and the person acting that way is your parent. Peter and Lisa is a picture book for children which discusses two mental illnesses bipolar and depression.

Peter and Lisa is a well written SPECIAL NEEDS read that shows the two illnesses in great detail, thus providing children with the information they need to understand and live with a person who has a mental illness. Yet, it was clear that a child could not handle a parent on their own by providing a support system for the parent.

RECOMMENDATION

Peter and Lisa is recommended for All Ages.

BUY IT HERE:  Amazon

charleslinda-katzBIO   Linda Baron Katz, co-author with husband, Charles Katz, of Peter and Lisa: A Mental Illness Children’s Story, raised in the Jewish faith, suffer from mental illness. Charles was diagnosed with depression and Linda with bipolar disorder as young adults. Both of them went through many difficult challenges they had to face as a result of their mental illnesses and struggled hard to reach recovery. Since then, Charles and Linda have been committed to the cause of educating the community about mental illness. Linda Baron Katz also known as Linda Naomi Katz, is also the author of her first book, Surviving Mental Illness, My Story. You can also find the book on Amazon.

Charles and Linda unable to have children of their own, decided through their writing, they could show how important it is for parents and children to understand that with the right kind of help mental illness can be treated and people can live normal, healthy, happy lives. When children read Peter and Lisa, it will brighten their eyes to a whole new level of education that they have yet to experience.

 

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THE NEVERNIGHT WARS BOOK ONE: TOBY’S GIFT

JEFF TRUSSELL

SUMMARY

The weirdest, most horrible week in Toby Stevens’ life starts when he hears a voice no one else can hear. The voice tells him that he has been Chosen to fight in a thousand-year-long war. It says that he’ll be given a Gift, a superpower to help him save the world. Terrified, Toby tries to ignore the voice, to pretend that everything is normal. But his friends keep catching him talking to himself. And the voice keeps saying stranger and stranger things. It tells him that he has to go to the middle of the Nevernight Forest, the giant woods that surround Toby’s town. In the Nevernight, the voice almost screams, all of your questions will be answered.

By the end of the week, Toby can’t take it anymore. He jumps up in the middle of class, races past the school security guard and runs straight into the Nevernight Forest. As the shouts of “Stop!” and “Come back!” fade behind him, Toby almost runs headlong into a fight between an old man with a silver sword and a huge man with a black axe. The two men stop fighting long enough to turn to look at Toby. As they drop their weapons and start walking toward the frightened boy, Toby’s normal life ends and the Nevernight Wars begin.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW

Imagine sitting in your basement on a dark and stormy night secretly looking at a forbidden scary movie with your best friends Kirsten Roberts and Billy Delancy when you hear a voice. “You have to help her,” it pleads. You look around, did the others hear it? No, they are focused on the screen where Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street) is chasing some girl. In confusion, you wonder if this is part of the movie. No . . .it’s not his voice. Freddy’s voice is deeper and scary. This voice is soft and gentle and . . . it’s outside. Slowly you look towards the window. There’s nothing there but your backyard. Yet, beyond that lies—the Nevernight Forest. Someone in that forest is asking you to help her because, “she’s drowning.”

Who is she? Who’s talking? Why are you the only one that can hear him? Yes, that soft gentle voice is male. At your hesitation, it becomes commanding. “TOBY! LOOK OUTSIDE!” What are you going to do? What any curious sixth-grade boy would do. Ignore the wet and wild weather and step outside.

The brilliant thing about Jeff Trussell’s The Nevernight Wars Book One: Toby’s Gift, is:from the moment that you discover the voice in the woods is Cayman, a black man with a Jamaican accent who tells you the history of the Nevernight Forest, and the war that has been going on for centuries to save it from destruction; from the moment that Toby’s gift (superpowers to you), which is achieved by an ancient process handed down by the Goddess Isis, begins to grow and you find yourself trying to scrat—no, no, no–no spoilers from here; from the moment, the very touching moment (I’m a girl what do you expect), that Toby asks Billy, his best friend who is in a wheelchair to teach him how to use his gift, you are part of the story both mentally and physically.

The Nevernight Wars Book One: Toby’s Gift is a fantasy story with a little bit of science fiction and a lot of mystery thrown in. The way that Toby defeats Mr. Skinner, the antagonist, makes this a UNIQUE read. With the inclusion of Cayman (not to mention Isis, my favorite Goddess) and Billy, The Nevernight Wars Book One: Toby’s Gift is also an ETHNIC and SPECIAL NEEDS read. I can’t wait to see where the next adventure will take us.

RECOMMENDATION

The Nevernight Wars Book One: Toby’s Gift is recommended for Middle Grade Readers (9 – 12). First Time Readers (8 -12) with Parent assistance. Girls will also enjoy this book.

BUY IT HERE:  Amazon

jeff_headshot_smallBIO  Have you ever had a story you just had to tell? Something you ran home from school, burst in the front door and started blabbing to your parents before they even knew who was talking to them? The Nevernight Wars is that story for me. And like any good story, The Nevernight Wars has become more that just a story. In a weird way, and I wouldn’t admit this to just anybody, the characters are real. Toby, Kirsten and Billy aren’t real in the same way my wife Jennifer or baby Silas or our funny looking basset hound Luke are real. But real in the way Halloween or what you wish for on your birthday is real.

And for everyone who keeps asking when the next Nevernight will be ready, the answer is very soon. I won’t say what’s going to happen, but I will say that even I was surprised.