My Friend Has Downs Syndrome (Friends with Disabilities) Paperback – 27 May 2010

Very basic could have been about any disability

主人公は友達がダウン症であることを理解したうえで友達づきあいをしています。ダウン症の特徴や留意点を解説した（ちょっとした）説明も記述されています。兄弟や友達（４〜８歳くらい）へダウン症児を説明する時に有効かもしれません。価格が安いので１冊持っておいて損は無いと思います。

We have a daughter with Down syndrome who has always attended regular private daycare and preschool. This fall she started at a new school, and I looked for books that her teacher could read to her class of 4-5 year olds to help them get to know her. After reading this book, I'd say it's geared more towards 6-8 year olds. I liked some of the text. For example, on page 6 it says, "Sarah looks a little different from other kids. But we all look different from each other, right? Life would be boring if we were all the same." Unfortunately, on the opposing page is a "Did You Know?" insert box that says, "Kids with Down syndrome tend to be short. Their eyes look smaller and slant upward. However, not everyone with Down syndrome looks exactly alike." Some of the other "Did You Know?" insert boxes throughout the book contain similar information: "Kids with Down syndrome have learning disabilities. They learn more slowly than other kids their age." And, "Kids with Down syndrome often have other health problems. About half of all people with Down syndrome have heart problems. They may also have hearing or vision problems."In my opinion, these "Did You Know? boxes turn a child with Down syndrome into a scientific curiosity, rather than presenting him/her as just another child with some differences. They also interrupt the storyline. General information about Down syndrome, which could be more positively presented, should be at the back of the book. At the same time, the book doesn't touch on speech challenges, which are an issue in everyday interaction between typical children and children with Down syndrome. (The book does say that Sarah's laugh "sounds like a honking goose", which I thought was odd--is the reader supposed to think a strange laugh is typical of DS? But maybe I'm reading too much into it.)Part of the storyline talks about other children making fun of Sarah. I understand why the topic was covered. However we have so far not had this issue and I feel the book could introduce a problem instead of preventing/alleviating one.The illustrations of the book are nice. I think I'll save the book and make cut-outs with my own text to cover/re-word the "Did You Know?" inserts.

The sweetest book! I bought this book to read to my nieces (she is 7 with DS) class at church. They are a group of first graders. It really helped them to understand that she is different but so special. Parents were even asking where we got it because their children loved it.

Bought this for my daughter's kindergarten class to read for Down Syndrome month in October. My daughter has DS. The class loved it!

This book is beautiful and a must for families with a child with Down Syndrome.

I love this book and my daughter loves it too, I wanted her to understand things about my brother with ds, and this book did just that and more. I was emotional reading it.

So, I just bought this book to read to my child's class for World Down Syndrome Day... it was the right cover, but the inside talked all about a child with Dyslexia... and was actually very boring. So disappointed!

Was disappointed with this book, found it quite condescending. Was expecting a book with a more positive view on Down Syndrome. Illustrations are good.