I read somewhere that up to 10% of all school-age children have a learning disability. I consider these kids to be the lucky few-and I am one of them. I didn't always think I was lucky. As a matter of fact, there were lots of days when I didn't want to go to school. I just wanted to stay home and play outside, explore, ride my bike-anything but try to read and write. But with the help of some fabulous teachers, I was able to see what a gift I had been given. This is my story.
About the Author: Sam wanted to write a "chapter" book for elementary aged children who have learning challenges. Sam is dyslexic and knows first hand the challenges of learning to read and write. One of Sam's main goals was to write a book that someone with a learning disability could read. When he was in grade school we looked for books that would meet these criteria's but they were hard to find. 1. Short Chapters: Sam made the chapters short because it can take a long time to read a few words on a page for someone who is learning disabled. Sam remembers how great it felt to tell someone, "I just read a chapter in my book". He wanted other kids to experience that feeling. 2. Large Font size: It is easier for someone with Learning challenges to read larger font. 3. Word Choice: The wording in the book is easy to decode and understand. The book follows Sam's school years, K-12. It is a very honest account of the good and the bad. There are examples of how Sam "sees" letters. Just how difficult it would be to learn to read if the letters were "jumping" around on the page. One of the main themes is the impact his teachers had on his success. Every teacher should have an opportunity to see how they really can change lives with a little extra time spent with the student, trying different teaching methods, words of encouragement, patients, kindness and compassion. From a parents point of view it gives insight into how Sam felt about himself; once again the good and the bad. The effect his peer group had on him and how just a few successes could raise his confidence. I think it is a great read for a parent of a Learning Disabled child. The main theme of the book is that Sam truly does see his dyslexia as a gift. As Sam says in the last chapter, "I have learned that having a learning disability is not a burden. It won't limit my career choices. It will only make me stronger. " Sam does consider kids with Learning Disabilities -- The Lucky Few.