"We are all the same deep down, and we are all special in our own ways."
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A Friend Like John: Understanding Autism by Suzanne B. Bartlett, M.D. AuthorHouse
book review by Susan J. Illis
This simply structured picture book introduces John, an eight-year-old second grader, who is much like other children his age, except he has autism. Author and doctor Suzanne Bartlett shares a fact about John. She relates how autism makes him like and different from other children his age, and then asks a question of the young reader to help build empathy and understanding for John. Common difficulties encountered by children on the autism spectrum—sensitivity to loud noises and other sensory differences—are shared, along with areas where some autistic children excel, such as music and skills unique to each child.
Bartlett skillfully and knowledgeably explains autism in terms a young child can understand. Most importantly, she does so with great sensitivity, emphasizing that every child is unique, and those with autism are simply unique in different ways. They have no control over the fact that they were born with autism, any more than children have a choice as to their hair or skin color.
Actual photographs of John, in everyday locations such as school, restaurant, playground, pool, and at home, are interspersed with drawings made by John's sister Elise. These illustrations serve a dual purpose of engaging the reader and emphasizing the similarity of John's life to their own.
A Friend Like John would be a welcome addition to any school, classroom, or home library, particularly due to the statistic with which Bartlett concludes her book, proving the increasing prevalence of autism in our society.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review