Abstract

There's a kid at school who gets extra help from a special teacher. He has temper tantrums when he is angry and sometimes finds it hard to pay attention. He might even have been to a special school to learn how to behave appropriately in class. This kid might be a little different from others in some ways ... but this kid is NOT STUPID! Can you solve the mystery of the special kid?'

This book offers a fun and accessible introduction for the friend of a child diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS).

Intended as a support tool in the initial period after diagnosis, Your Special Friend is varied and engaging, and addresses questions or concerns that the child might have, such as 'What are the characteristics of AS?', 'Why has my friend got Asperger?', and 'How can I help my friend?'. Also included are poems, stories, illustrations and activities to help them come to terms with and move forward from a friend's diagnosis of AS.

Your Special Friend will be essential reading for children in the initial period after a friend's diagnosis of AS.

This is a specialist book on how to understand a friend who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome... Basically, the book explains that someone with Asperger's needs help with four areas of his/her life: social skills, communication, behaviour, and sensory stimulation. These are explained in some detail, with examples... A useful little book for any child or young person having to cope with some of the negative aspects of AS - and discovering there are positives as well.
Elizabeth Schlenther
Healthy Books blog
Josie Santomauro is a full-time writer living in Brisbane, Australia. Her son, Damian, was diagnosed with AS at the age of five. She has written numerous fiction books for children and young adults, and several books on AS. She regularly gives seminars and talks on AS.