Customer Reviews
kid friendly informative, yet still innocent 
2007-06-11
This is a great classroom resource for any teacher of pre-k on up to 4. I am amazed at how much children can grasp and this book will help them to understand their friend, who may be challenged. I am keeping it on my shelf at school next school yr.
Amazing story about a family with autism 2007-03-11
As a therapist who works with children with autism, I really enjoyed this book. It teaches children that although their siblings may be different they can still love them and take care of them. I really enjoyed the way the author described what Ian saw on his walk that differed from what other children would see. I also liked how the sibling evolved from thinking that their brother was "weird" to understanding that he is different and still loving him. I was a very well written story about autism and families
A great read book for kids! 2005-10-21
I purchased this book to help other kids understand our 5 yr. old daughter, Tori, who has autism. I sent it to school and they read it to the kids and the teachers thought it was great. Tori loves us to read "Ian's Walk" just about daily.
Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism 2005-09-23
We are fortunate enough to have an inclusion class in our building that services children with autism. As an experienced kindergarten teacher, I was looking for a book that would appropriately explain "autism" to my regular ed. class of 5 and 6 year olds. And, Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism is MOST appropriate! :-) Is shows that even though Ian looks like any child in my class, his brain works differently but that's okay. My children know that THE most important part of any person is their heart. So, even though Ian may think differently, as explained in the book, he has a very kind heart. And, that is what matters most! :-)
Also, may I suggest Someone Special Just Like You by Tricia Brown to use along with Ian's Walk. In Someone Special...it has beautiful photographs of children using walkers and wheelchairs, etc. My class can visually SEE that the children are "different" and better understand the concept of a disability. But again, I stress a person's heart being THE most important part of any person! Then, the next day, I read Ian's Walk... and the children then see that Ian looks like us but acts differently. :-)
If anyone out there has other suggestions, please email me.
Most sincerely,
Cindy Buckley
buckley.cynthia@bpsd.org
Great help for siblings 2004-12-17
My oldest son, age 6, is diagnosed with Autism, as well as Epilepsy and Hypotonia. My almost 4 yr old son loves to have Ian's walk read to him. He's just now realizing that his big brother is different than normally developing children (he's non-verbal, still in diapers, has frequent seizures, has leg braces, etc...) He sometimes gets very frustrated with his big brother and can relate to the way the girls in the book get angry with their brother in similar situations. As much as he loves his brother it's a relief for him to see that it's okay to get angry. It's a very real story about what life is like when you go out in public with an autistic sibling. I think the book has opened up many discussions (on a preschool level and adult level as well) in our house, I would highly recommend it to any family in a similar situation.
My Own Ian's Walk 2008-07-24
Right from the beginning of this review, I will disclose some bias towards this book. My youngest son (of three) is five and has been diagnosed with severe autism. His name is Ian and he has many of the behaviors shown in this book. Ian's brothers (including his neuro-typical twin) sometimes have a difficult time understanding why Ian does some of the things that he does. It is especially hard for Ian's twin to comprehend why Ian continues to have potty accidents, doesn't speak, and "stims." This book has helped my other sons see that Ian is the way he is because he has autism, and that it is okay.
Ian will be attending an inclusive kindergarten this year for 3/4 of his day. I plan on sending this book, along with a few others, for his teacher to read to the class. I am hoping that it will help enlighten Ian's classmates about children with autism. I am optimistic that if his classmates better understand autism, they will not tease Ian because he may behave differently during class.
On a personal note, I cried throughout the story because the story Ian is so much like my own Ian. I had to read it to myself a few times before I could read it aloud to my sons without tearing up. My other family members that have read it also enjoyed it, many with tears.
My opinion is that this book shows the behaviors of many children with autism, especially children with severe autism. It presents the information in a clear, matter of fact fashion without technical jargon that most children would not be able to understand. Obviously, the book is not going to be a representation of all children with autism because each child is unique. However, it does give an excellent view of children who have sensory issues and how they deal with the environment around them. It also shows that if we are willing to look at the world in a different way, that maybe we can all understand the world of autism just a little bit better.
Autism Teacher 2008-07-12
As a Teacher of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the moderate to severe range, I found this book to be wonderful. It is a simple explanation I can present to neuro-typical kids regarding why my students sometimes perform behaviors that neuro-typical people consider bizarre.
A Book to Help Siblings of Autistic Children 2008-06-16
My 8-year-old daugther, Ella, sometimes has a hard time dealing with her 6-year-old autistic brother, Luke, and she seems to relate to the sister in this book. Most recently, she had to present a topic in her class and she picked autism.
She first read this book to the whole class, then she did a question and answer session and last she showed a video of one of Luke's ABA tutors teaching Luke how to tell jokes (someting that usually comes so naturally to the rest of us). I came to class to observe her and I was so proud of her for doing such a fabulous job on her topic. She is a natural speaker and incredibly knowledgeable on the topic of autism.
One parent whose son is in the same class (whose sister is also autistic) was interested in learning more about this book. It's a great book for teachers to read to their classes to help people to understand autism and what goes on in a day in the life of a family with a child of autism.
ian's walk 2007-11-22
This is a wonderful story explaining sibling love. I think that all parents with multiple children should get this book to read to their kids.
wonderful picture of an Autistic child 2007-08-09
I purchased this book to give to friends and family members; and I was not disappointed.
I am fortunate that my 4year old Autistic son, is quite high functioning, but there are so many things in this book that have a resonance for us as a family.
I gave this book to the nursery staff at my sons nursery school as a present. The staff all read it and found it as touching as I did. I think it also illustrates a very important point, that is of 'acceptance'. I have found it very liberating to go with my son's world rather than rail against it. Thoroughly recommended.
