Sunday, December 2, 2007

# 3 - Ian's Walk: A story about Autism


Lears, Laurie
Ian’s Walk; A Story about Autism
Albert Whitman & Company. 1998.

Ian’s Walk is about a little boy with Autism and his sister who has to watch over him on a trip down to the pond. During this trip, Ian doesn’t do things like everyone else does. He likes to sniff the brick wall instead of a bouquet of flowers. When Ian’s sister gets fed up with the fact and Ian isn’t acting “normal,” she accidentally stops watching him, and Ian runs off. Ian’s sister starts to panic and looks every where for Ian. Ian is finally found at one of his favorite places at the park. On the walk home, Ian’s sister lets him do things the way he wants to do them, and she doesn’t get embarrassed of the way he is acting.

Lears describes the disease of autism in a way that children might understand. The book was an interesting way to show children what one aspect of autism is about and how children with autism might be a little bit different than other children. The author wanted to show how sometimes it is hard to get used to the fact that these children act differently, and their siblings might get annoyed by this. By showing how each child has something to offer, even the children with autism, it shows children that it is okay to be different. Lears gives children a story about a little boy who has autism and what a typical day might involve. Because she is an insider, she is very knowledgeable about the subject of Autism. She can provide an accurate portrayal of what a day in the life of a child with Autism is like.

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