Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism

by Laurie Lears

Book Overview

Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award
2002 Children's Crown Gallery Award Master List
Pick of the Lists, American Bookseller
Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 1999, IBBY

Julie can't wait to go to the park, But she's not sure she wants to take her little brother, Ian, who has autism.

Julie can't wait to go to the park and feed the ducks with her big sister, Tara. There's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807534811
• ISBN13: 9780807534816
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 7.9" x 9.9"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 3

Customer Reviews

Great help for siblings

My oldest son, age 6, is diagnosed with Autism, as well as Epilepsy and Hypotonia. My almost 4 yr old son loves to have Ian's walk read to him. He's just now realizing that his big brother is different than normally developing children (he's non-verbal, still in diapers, has frequent seizures, has leg braces, etc...) He sometimes gets very frustrated with his big brother and can relate to the way the girls in the book get angry with their brother in similar situations. As much as he loves his brother it's a relief for him to see that it's okay to get angry. It's a very real story about what life is like when you go out in public with an autistic sibling. I think the book has opened up many discussions (on a preschool level and adult level as well) in our house, I would highly recommend it to any family in a similar situation.

A siblings companion book on Autism

Even though I have two autistic boys I read Ian's Walk to my older high functioning son who is seven and he instantly noticed similarities to his five year-old brother. While looking through the pictures you cannot help but share the emotional journey his sister takes while on this walk to the park. The illustrations are accurately defined and capture the real essence and beauty of Ian as he takes in his surroundings like no one else.I shared this book with many families and suggested the teachers in both classrooms read Ian's Walk during library time, especially teaching awareness the month of April. Ian's Walk will help others to identify some symptoms they might not of understood before reading the book. For any parent of an autistic child you might want to read this alone the first time because it can be quite emotional.You will become more aware of the day in the life of one who is autistic and never take a simple walk to the park for granted and see through the eyes of all those who resemble Ian.

Award-Winning Book!

Ian's Walk is the first picture storybook to be recognized with The Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award, an international award for children's literature dealing with characters with developmental disabilities such as autism. The sensitive illustrative and literary portrayal of Julie, Ian's sister, is representative of many siblings of non-verbal children with autism. This book well-deserves the recognition it is receiving by The Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and Special Needs Project.

Excellent !!!!!!

I am the proud Aunt of a wonderful nephew Curtis who has autism. This book touched me very deeply. It is well written and an excellent picture book explaining what autism is all about. I also work with children and highly recommend it to teachers. This book is a great resource should you have a child in your classroom with autism. The story is gear to help young children understand some of the characteristics that an autistic classmate may have. Not only did I find this book outstanding for children but also for any adult to read. It really explains autism in very simple touching way. I will always treasure this book, because in my heart this book can also be called Curtis' walk.Sincerely Wendy

Excellent for young siblings/classmates of child with autism

The cover alone grabbed my attention: I've seen this posture from my son hundreds of times. As the parent of an autistic six-year-old, I found this book a superb, simple story for young companions of a child with autism. The story is straightforward, honest, and evokes compassion without pity. I would even speculate that this story would explain autism to adults with more clarity than any clinical definition. My son has an older brother in the same elementary school and I've arranged for him to read this story to my autistic son's classmates. Although his classmates see this behavior and much more every day, I hope that the story, related personally, will give them one more thread of understanding. If any book can, this one will.