 |
|
Title: Special People, Special Ways
ISBN: 1885477651
Author:
Arlene Maguire
Publicate Date: 2000-06-01
Publish: 2000-06-01
List Price: $14.95
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Hardcover
 |
|
|
|
|
Amazon Lowest New Price: $8.58
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $10.37
Amazon Merchant Price: $10.17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Customer Review: |
|
1: A Poor Choice For Helping Children Understand Disability
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 Outdated descriptors and an emphasis on differences make this a poor choice when trying to help children understand disability and diversity.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.
|
2: Super book
... [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.
|
3: Disappointing resource for helping kids learn acceptance.
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.
|
4: Excellent for ALL children!
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.
|
5: Teaching respect for self and those with disabilities
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.
|
|
|
|
|
