Stars in Her Eyes: Navigating the Maze of Childhood Autism {book review}

One of my favorite things to do is read.  It always has been.  I also really love our field.  So you can imagine my excitement when I found out about this brand new book called Stars in Her Eyes: Navigating the Maze of Childhood Autism!  It combines two of my interests! Perfect!  Additionally, my caseload this semester was full of children with autism, so I found the book interesting, timely, and helpful.

Here's the synopsis from the back of the book:

"Stars in Her Eyes is designed to help parents and teachers navigate the dizzying maze of autism.  Dr. Barboa shares heartfelt narratives from parents and teachers who have gone before and paved the way.  Each contributor gives practical advice from her own unique experiences.  Stars in Her Eyes includes powerful yet light-hearted vignettes relating to each topic.  The reader will feel that he is sitting in the same room with these authors, enjoying the enlightening conversation of those living with autism on a daily basis."

The contributing authors include a speech-language pathologist, a teacher, a mother, and a psychologist.  Each truly do bring unique perspectives.  They all look at autism and the children's abilities from a slightly different angle.  As a soon-to-be therapist, I benefited from better understanding each of these approaches.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the wide variety of issues or topics discussed.  These include the following:

• The Basics- Demographics, Diagnostic Process, Causes, Prognosis
• Red Flags- Communication, Sensory Issues, Social Skills
• You are Not Alone- Know Your Team Members- Educational and Medical Professionals, Parents, Community
• Interventions- Behavioral, Biomedical, and those based on Learning Theories
• Schools- Choosing a School, Programming
• Resources- Knowing Your Rights, Respite Care, Camps, Funding
• Home Life- Self-Care, Disruptive Behaviors, Family Life, Relationships

Wow that's a lot, huh?  Every section includes perspectives from each of the authors, not just one.  I loved reading the stories and the practical suggestions these women made.

Another aspect of this book that I really like is that it is HONEST.  When the authors agree on a topic, they agree.  When they don't agree, you will read about their differing points of view.  This is why we work in a team.  Everyone brings different information and experiences to the table, and each are valued.  I cannot stress that enough.

So would I recommend this book?  Absolutely!  It is an easy quick read, yes.  But more than that, it is an important read.  I would recommend it to anyone.  This includes therapists, parents, students, and any other professional working with children with autism.

Don't wait to get this.  You will be sorry you waited!  As of right now, it is listed at $12.99 (Prime) for the paperback and $8.49 for the Kindle version on Amazon.

Happy Reading!

Note: A copy of this book was provided to me for my review.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed are mine.