________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 11 . . . . February 2, 2001

cover Let's Talk About Dyslexia (The Let's Talk About Library).

Melanie Apel Gordon.
New York, NY: Rosen (Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books), 1999.
24 pp., pbk., $10.95.
ISBN 1-56838-275-8.

Subject Headings:
Dyslexia-Juvenile literature.
Dyslexic children-Education-Juvenile literature.

Grades 2 - 4 / Ages 7 - 9.

Review by Linda Aksomitis.

* /4

excerpt:

Doctors believe that the number of girls who have dyslexia is about the same as the number of boys who have it. Nobody knows exactly why some people are dyslexic and others aren't. It may be that certain parts of your brain don't grow as fast as others. Or maybe your brain works differently than other people's do.
Let's Talk About Dyslexia is an information book for the early grades. The large font on one page, with photos on the opposite pages, makes it appealing for seven to ten-year-olds. Difficult words have a bracketed pronunciation guide in the text and a glossary of terms at the back of the book. There is also an index to assist students with early research projects.

      I had some problem deciding who the targeted audience was for the book. The opening text, along with a picture, narrated the story of a young girl who always had chocolate ice cream because she couldn't read the list of choices. Apparently her Dad didn't know she had difficulty reading. The book switched person numerous times, sometimes providing a story in the third person, then addressing "you," the child reader.

      I found this approach misleading because children are not expected to diagnose their own disabilities, yet that is the age group for which the book is produced. Several sections, such as "How Dyslexics Read and Write" and "Trouble in School," also pointed to children self-identifying themselves as dyslexic. The book would have been more helpful, in my opinion, if it had acknowledged the struggle dyslexic children have and outlined the events that occur both before, and after, diagnosis.

      Despite the fact that the book did present some relevant information, I didn't find the format particularly appealing for the intended age group.

Not Recommended.

Saskatchewan's Linda Aksomitis worked in K-12 school libraries for a decade before becoming an author herself. She also currently works in the field of online education.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - February 2, 2001.

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