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Special brothers and sisters ISBN: 9781843103837
Hames, Annette, McCaffrey, Brendan and McCaffrey, Monica
Published by Jessica Kingsley Publications, 2005
While some of the siblings telling their stories in this book are younger than 9, the full impact of the stories and suggestions will only be understood by those a bit older. The sub-title of the book - stories and tips for siblings of children with disability or serious illness - tells exactly what it is about. The 40 stories are short. Most have a particular theme having to do with a problem the child faces with his or her disabled sibling, and the 'tips' that follow are suggestions for coping with the situation. Practical and moving at the same time, the book covers a number of unusual disabilities, such as Arthrogryposis, Chromosome disorder, Haemophilia, Klinefelter's syndrome, Landau Kleffner syndrome, MPS disease, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Tuberous sclerosis. Cerebral Palsy, Asperger's, Cystic fibrosis, Deafness, Down syndrome and Leukaemia are also covered. The children who tell their stories are mainly quite matter-of-fact, but their difficulties are only too obvious, and their willingness to share them - as well as their love for their disabled brothers and sisters - is inspiring. The whole book will be of use to families, not just the sections relevant to their particular children, because the coping strategies can apply to many different situations. An excellent glossary explains the medical terms in easily understood English. Available from Amazon, good book shops, or from the publisher at www.jkp.com.
Age: 9+