Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/4/9/13491848/8171634.jpg?125)
By: Clarabelle van Niekerk & Liezl Venter
Illustrated by: Clarabelle van Niekerk
Publisher: Skeezel Press Copyright Date: 2006 ISBN: 978-0-9747217-1-2
Genre: Realistic Fiction Format: Picture Book
Major Awards Received:
Dolly Gray Award for Children's Literature in Developmental Disabilities, 2010
Summary: Sam has always been a kid that loved to play almost as much as he loved his puppy Oscar. When it was time to go to school, Sam was excited and nervous. He did not make friends very easily and when he put puzzles together he hummed a song that annoyed the other students. After a bad day at school, his family decides to take Sam to see the doctor to find out why he has not been himself. The doctor diagnoses Sam with Asperger Syndrome and his family needs to work together with the doctor and the school to help Sam learn how to cope with his disorder.
Personal response: The story of Sam is told so that young children are able to understand what the disorder is and how they can help anyone that has it. Being aware that not everyone is not exactly like you is one thing that I will focus on in my classroom. I also noticed that Clarabelle van Niekerk is from Pennsylvania.
Classroom connections: Before reading the story, I will ask the class if they know someone that has Asperger Syndrome. If they do we will discuss what contact they have had with that person and if they act differently than other friends. If they do not, I will go over some of the behaviors a person suffering from Asperger's may exhibit. I would then read the story to the students, stopping if they have any questions. After reading, I would have the students act out the 10 helpful tips, expecially for you on the last pages of the book. If the students know how to treat their friend with Asperger's it will not be so scary to them and they will feel like they have helped their friend.
Illustrated by: Clarabelle van Niekerk
Publisher: Skeezel Press Copyright Date: 2006 ISBN: 978-0-9747217-1-2
Genre: Realistic Fiction Format: Picture Book
Major Awards Received:
Dolly Gray Award for Children's Literature in Developmental Disabilities, 2010
Summary: Sam has always been a kid that loved to play almost as much as he loved his puppy Oscar. When it was time to go to school, Sam was excited and nervous. He did not make friends very easily and when he put puzzles together he hummed a song that annoyed the other students. After a bad day at school, his family decides to take Sam to see the doctor to find out why he has not been himself. The doctor diagnoses Sam with Asperger Syndrome and his family needs to work together with the doctor and the school to help Sam learn how to cope with his disorder.
Personal response: The story of Sam is told so that young children are able to understand what the disorder is and how they can help anyone that has it. Being aware that not everyone is not exactly like you is one thing that I will focus on in my classroom. I also noticed that Clarabelle van Niekerk is from Pennsylvania.
Classroom connections: Before reading the story, I will ask the class if they know someone that has Asperger Syndrome. If they do we will discuss what contact they have had with that person and if they act differently than other friends. If they do not, I will go over some of the behaviors a person suffering from Asperger's may exhibit. I would then read the story to the students, stopping if they have any questions. After reading, I would have the students act out the 10 helpful tips, expecially for you on the last pages of the book. If the students know how to treat their friend with Asperger's it will not be so scary to them and they will feel like they have helped their friend.