Thursday, December 18, 2014

Gifts for Kids with Autism 2014

For years my boy just asked for a gift. 
That was the only clue, "a gift."
He's come a long way, and now sometimes
says, "I don't have the words."
This year he wants "a Christmas book,"
so - well, I'll wander over to Parnassus
Bookstore (I'm a huge fan of independent
bookstores) and turn the problem over
to them.

If you have a lead like "Christmas" or "Dinosaurs,"
you are in good shape. 
Sandra Boynton's Christmastime is an all time 
Christmas favorite.
Quirky animal characters combined with a gently
humorous analysis of all aspects of the holiday season
to provide a richly satisfying read. 
Boynton is even better known for board books,
For dinosaur demanders I recommend
The Big Fearon Book of Dinosaurs
Black and white line drawings illustrate brief
descriptions of dinosaurs. Activities include
coloring pages and sequencing. Elementary level.
World of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life
by Dougal Dixon.
Full color pictures and easy to understand layout
(name, description on left, picture in center, fact
file column on right) make this a winner for almost
any age, though those who have memorized the
prehistoric era will likely find nothing new.
For the youngest dinosaur lovers, head 
back to Boynton with Oh My, Oh My, Oh
Dinosaurs.
If you don't have a lead, you might want to 
look through some of my past entries here. I also
like Chinaberry for its wonderful descriptions.
If you want toys as well as books, I like Hearthsong -
I just ordered my boy his second perplexus maze since
he adored his first one until his brother threw it across
the room one too many times.
Large toys that create small enclosed spaces are often
popular with our sensory seeking kids -
Please add your gift suggestions! Comments welcome.
And Happy Chanukkah, Merry Christmas, Serene Kwanzaa,
Peaceful Winter Solstice - however you celebrate this time
of year, may you find peace and happiness with your
family.
(Fellow Boynton fans should click on Christmastime
You're welcome. Yes, I do accept chocolate.)

2 comments:

  1. My daughters loved Bad Kitty Christmas and The Christmas Crocodile.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a sweet post - holiday cheer to YOU!
    We LOOOOOVE the Richard Scarry Christmas stuff, tho Boynton is hard to beat. Psychic chocolate coming your way ;)

    ReplyDelete