By Nancy Mellon.
(Hawthorn Press, 8.99, 01453 757040).
Reviewed by Frances Binns, play consultant, Manchester Children's Hospitals Nancy Mellon, an American therapist and parent, demonstrates how storytelling is a healing art and she conveys a wonderful pleasure in the value of telling and reading stories. The book will be useful to both parents and childcarers who want to enhance their storytelling skills, and identifies how children's lives can be enriched through listening to stories.
The book gives positive guidance and reinforcement to help adults tell stories about real-life situations in order to address important issues in children's everyday lives. It shows how the art of storytelling can be used to address complex situations with young children including moral development, death, moving house, sickness and many others. The author writes with a deep understanding and awareness, highlighting some of the difficulties that parents and carers can find in telling stories.
The book has six user-friendly chapters which are divided into small sections with lovely illustrations. The chapters cover all areas of storytelling in an appealing way, including the importance of listening skills and using silence. Storytelling does not have to be confined to the book corner but can be used when participating in role play or enjoying board games.
There are many useful suggestions and ideas in the book to make storytelling successful and fun. Information is also given on a large amount of useful resources. Above all, the book demonstrates that storytelling provides a quality experience for children of all ages, their parents and carers.
xpresses a need for storytellers to use their creativity and imagination and not to be frightened of this inane skill. She also TOURETTE SYNDROME: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS AND CARERS.
By Amber Carroll and Mary Robertson.
(David Fulton, 15, 020 7405 5606).
Reviewed by Jennie Lindon, early years consultant and child psychologist This book is within the series of 'Resource materials for teachers' that aims to provide knowledge and advice to non-medical professionals within education. Despite the title, the book does not acknowledge parents and carers. They could find some useful information, but raising children and living with the condition is not directly discussed.
Since many children with disabilities will be offered education in mainstream settings, there is a need for practical books about the impact of specific disabilities. To an extent, this book offers that kind of support for Tourette Syndrome. But much of the medical background information could have been provided in a briefer and less technical format.
The balance of the book is uneven. In the first half there is more detailed clinical information than is warranted for teachers and learning support assistants. The authors are experts in their field, but the book would have benefited from greater consideration of what their readers need to know.
The consequence is that only 30 of the 88 pages offer advice and examples directly relevant to work with children in schools. The practical chapters acknowledge the situations that can arise for children with Tourette Syndrome and the effects on their peers and teachers. The examples are valuable and offer approaches to supporting children within daily school experience. The book would have been improved by having much more of this kind of material and less on clinical diagnosis and medical treatment of the condition.
For example, a list of characteristic symptoms gives technical terms that then have to be found within the text that follows, rather each term followed by an explanation.
EARLY COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
By Charlotte Lynch and Julia Kidd.
(Winslow Practical Photocopy Resource, 33.45, 01869 244644).
Reviewed by Marian Whitehead, language and early years consultant
This resource book is aimed at under-fives and their families and can be used in a wide range of settings and situations. It originates in therapeutic and educational work with hearing- impaired and language-delayed children but it has considerable relevance for those in the so-called 'normal' range. The text organisation follows a broadly developmental sequence, rather than being tied to chronological ages, and most pages are intended for photocopying in A4.
Each group of activities is designed to strengthen a specific early communication skill such as turn-taking or eye contact, preceded by a consistently excellent number of 'general points' in a straightforward question-and-answer format.
There are opportunities for joint assessment of children's development by parents, carers and key workers using the record sheet in each section.
The sections under 'Language and Play' offer some delightful ideas that could be valuable for childminders, professionals in group settings and carers and families at home.
Finally, couldn't the publisher just improve the standard of illustrations in this very useful publication?
They and their children also enjoy the 'Early Words' suggestions and 'enjoy' is the crucial instruction! Without a relaxed and playful approach the ideas could become a series of sterile exercises.
OUR RECOMMENDED CHOICE. SIDE BY SIDE: GUIDELINES FOR INCLUSIVE PLAY. Foreword by Philippa Russell. (Kidsactive, 10.00, 020 7731 1435). Reviewed by Collette Drifte, special needs consultant
This is a short and extremely readable book packed full of information, facts and suggestions about setting up and running an inclusive play facility. It is written in an informal style, yet manages to put across the value and importance of careful planning when thinking of play projects for children with disabilities.
The six sections cover a mountain of issues including legislation, the philosophy behind inclusion, fundraising and logistics, down to simple but crucial decisions such as the choice of flooring.
The book is presented in a reader-friendly way, with bullet points and listings that make text easy on the eye. The content is neither frivolous nor dry, but pitched at just the right level that conveys the importance of the issue in an interesting way. The wealth of ideas and suggestions, together with three extremely useful appendices of contact addresses and support organisations, makes this book a vital and valuable resource to anybody considering setting up an inclusive play project.
At 10 (or 15 to statutory or commercial purchasers) it may seem to be a bit pricey, but it will prove to be an investment that pays for itself a hundredfold.
