Bibliography
Check out our feature recommendations and explore the links below to
find great books recommended by the ROPARD staff.
Because of a partnership with Amazon, if you click on a link from our
website you can order your book and at no extra cost to you and ROPARD
will benefit.
Your purchase counts! ROPARD will receive 5--15% of the selling price
of each item you buy which is not out-of-print or an auction item.
Most of the books listed here are specifically about children with
visual impairments. Those books are listed in bold print. You may find
the other "general" books helpful.
 After the Tears: Raising A Child With A Disability
by Robin Simons
Discusses a variety of issues including: guilt and anger, marital stress, chronic
sorrow, working with school systems and meeting your own needs.
Are You Blind? by Lilli Nielsen
This book addresses children who are autistic and visually impaired and
describes Dr. Nielsen's educational method.
Can be purchased in the United States and Canada through Vision
Associates, 7512 Dr Phillips Blvd, #50-316, Orlando, Florida 32819, (407) 352-1200 or FAX
(407) 352-56342. Email: Kathleen@visionkits.com
In countries outside of North America, this book can be purchased from
SIKON, Holmens Kanal 22, 1060 Copenhagen K, Denmark or FAX +45 33 92 46 79
Beginnings: A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers of Visually Impaired
Babies.
by Sheri Moore. American Printing House for the Blind #7-1171.
An excellent resource which provides a wealth of information and suggestions for
activities based on developmental level.
Braille
for the Sighted
An introduction to braille done in a puzzle and game format.
Garlic Press, 605 Powers Street,
Eugene, OR 97402
www.garlicpress.com
Bright Beginnings: An Orientation to Parent/Child Courses. The Hadley School
for the Blind. I- 800-323-2496.
The introductory booklet for a home course of study for parents of visually
impaired children. The entire course is free.
 Building Blocks :
Foundations for... Learning for Young Blind and Visually Impaired Children. by Betty and Joe Dominguez. Spanish and English
Overview of services available for preschool visually impaired children.
Includes sections on art, computers, cooking and group activities. Several useful
appendices.
Can't Your Child See? : A
Guide for... Parents of Visually Impaired Children. by Eileen P. Scott, James E.
Jan, and Roger D. Freeman. Pro-Ed, 5314 Industrial Oaks Blvd., Austin, TX 78735.
Excellent guide for parents of visually and multiply handicapped children from
infancy to kindergarten.
 Children With Cerebral Palsy : A...
Parents'
Guide.
by Elaine Geralis.
A truly comprehensive book which deals with all aspects of Cerebral Palsy in young
children, including diagnosis, treatment, intervention and advocacy.
Children with
Disabilities : A Medical Primer by Mark L. Batshaw,
M.D. and Yvonne M. Perret, Paul H. Brookes, 1993.
Comprehensive book written in laymen's terms which discusses everythng from problem
pregnancies to a wide diversity of disabilities found in children.
Children With Visual
Impairments : A... Parent's Guide by Cay Holbrook
Addresses the issues parents of visually impaired children face, and has personal
comments at the end of each chapter.
Comprehending Hand, The by Lilli Nielsen
An exceptional book for parents whose children have additional impairments.
Can be purchased in the United States and Canada through Vision Associates, 7512 Dr
Phillips Blvd, #50-316, Orlando, Florida 32819, (407) 352-1200 or FAX (407) 352-56342.
Email:
Kathleen@visionkits.com
In countries outside of North America, this book can be purchased from SIKON,
Holmens Kanal 22, 1060 Copenhagen K, Denmark or FAX +45 33 92 46 79
Dear Zoe: Letters to
my Miracle... by Max De Pree, Harper Collins, 1994
An insightful look at the emotions and confusion that families experience when a child
is born with comlications.
Early Learning Step by Step, by Lilli Nielsen.
Although this book is meant for parents of children who are blind with
additional impairments, it is an excellent resource for any parent of a visually impaired
child. Dr. Nielsen's common sense approach and her philosophy of Active Learning should be
a critical part of the education of parents and teachers.
Can be purchased in the United States and Canada through Vision Associates, 7512 Dr
Phillips Blvd, #50-316, Orlando, Florida 32819, (407) 352-1200 or FAX (407) 352-56342.
Email: Kathleen@visionkits.com
In countries outside of North America, this book can be purchased from SIKON, Holmens
Kanal 22, 1060 Copenhagen K, Denmark- or FAX +45 33 92 46 79
Fiela Curriculum, The.
by Lilli Nielsen.
A guide for parents and
professionals to help establish optimal learning conditions for children at the
developmental levels of 1 - 42 months.
Can be purchased in the United States and Canada through Vision Associates, 7512 Dr
Phillips Blvd, #50-316, Orlando, Florida 32819, (407) 352-1200 or FAX (407) 352-56342.
Email: Kathleen@visionkits.com
In countries outside of North America, this book can be purchased from SIKON,
Holmens Kanal 22, 1060 Copenhagen K, Denmark or FAX +45 33 92 46 79
Get a Wiggle on
by
Sherry Raynor and Richard Drouillard. Blind Children's Fund, 4740 Okemos Road,
Okemos, MI 48864
Booklet designed for parents of visually impaired infants/toddler with
suggestions and illustrations for assisting the child in development from birth to
independent mobility.
Help Me Become Everything
I Can Be :... by Mary Ellen Mullholland, Marion Wurster, Ed. Proceedings
North American Conference on Visually Handicapped Infants and Preschool Children.
Minneapolis, MN
Parent guide for fostering independence in visually impaired children.
How to Thrive, Not Just
Survive : A... Guide to Developing Life Skills for Blind and Visually Impaired
Children and Youth. American Foundation for the Blind.
Addresses daily living skills, orientation and mobility and leisure recreation
activities in a practical, sequential manner.
Insights from the blind
by Selma Fraiberg.
Directed toward the professional educator, this book is also a fascinating account of
the development of the very young blind child. Parents seeking in-depth
answers to questions about early development can benefit from the report of ten years of
research with blind children.
Just Enough to Know
Better: A Braille... Primer by Eileen Curran.
6th Edition of a resource for parents of blind children to learn
Braille by sight.
Learning Together: A Parent Guide to Socially-Based Routines For Visually
Impaired Infants. by Deborah Chen, Clare Taylor Friedman, and Gail Calvello. Blind
Babies Foundation, 50 Oak Street, Room 102, San Francisco, CA 94102.
Home activities developed through the PAVII Project. Breaks down methods of
instruction for parents and provides many activities for the visually impaired young
child.
Lessons With A Child Who Is Blind: Development and Early Intervention
in the First Years of Life by Michael Brambring
Done in a letter format from the teacher to the parents, this book contains wonderful
insights and photographs.
Look at It This Way : Toys
and... Activities for Children with a Visual Impairment by Roma Lear
Part of the Play Can Help Series
Move It!!!
by
Sherry Raynor and Richard Drouillard. Blind Children's Fund, 4740 Okemos Road,
Okemos, MI 48864
Companion booklet to Get A Wiggle On designed for parents of visually impaired
infants/toddler with suggestions and illustrations for assisting the child in development
from birth to independent mobility.
Parenting Preschoolers :
Suggestions for... Raising Young Blind and Visually Impaired Children. By
Kay Alicyn Ferrell. American Foundation for the Blind.
Answers to many of the questions parents of visually impaired children raise.
Preschool Vision
Stimulation : It's More... Than a Flashlight! by Lois Harrel and Nancy
Akeson. American Foundation for the Blind.
A definitive breakdown of early visual development with activities to enhance
visual functioning.
Raising the Young Blind
Child : A Guide... by Shulamith Kastein, Isabelle Spaulding and Battia Scharf.
Human Services Press, 72 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011.
Written for parents and educators this book guides the reader through the
day-to-day situations of caring for, and educating, a young visually handicapped child.
Special emphasis is placed on the developmental tasks of early childhood and how parents
can provide a stimulating environment for the child who cannot see.
Reach Out and Teach :
Meeting the... Training Needs of Parents of Visually and Multiply Handicapped
Young Children. by Kay Alicyn Ferrell. American Foundation for the Blind.
Parent Handbook and Reachbook direct parents through a self-guided course in helping
their visually impaired/multiply impaired child.
Show Me How : A Manual for
Parents of... of Preschool Visually Impaired and Blind Children. by Mary S.
Brennan. American Foundation for the Blind.
Activities for the visually impaired child, broken down by year.
Simon Says Is Not the Only
Game. by Bernadette Leary and Margaret von Schneden. American Foundation for
the Blind.
An accumulation of games that work, contributed by teachers and orientation and
mobility specialists.
Small Victories: Conversations about Prematurity, Disability,
Vision Loss and Success by Mary Lou Dickerson. American
Foundation for the Blind.
The individual accounts of adults who were born prematurely.
Space and Self. by Lilli Nielsen
This book discusses the use of the "Little Room" to enhance development of
sensory integration, object conceptualization, self-identification and early spatial
relations.
email: Kathleen@visionkits.com
To see one Mom's personal experiences with a Little Room visit:
http://members.aol.com/LSWebDesgn/LNroom.html
Can be purchased in the United States and Canada through Vision Associates, 7512 Dr
Phillips Blvd, #50-316, Orlando, Florida 32819, (407) 352-1200 or FAX (407) 352-56342.
Email: Kathleen@visionkits.com
In countries outside of North America, this book can be purchased from SIKON,
Holmens Kanal 22, 1060 Copenhagen K, Denmark or FAX +45 33 92 46 79
Toilet Habits: Suggestions for Training a Child Who Is Blind. by Pauline M.
Moor. American Foundation for the Blind.
A concise booklet which provides tips on toilet training, including 12
guidelines for success.
Touch the Stars by Noreen Grice
 Touch the Stars brings the universe to visually-impaired readers and
others. Written by Noreen Grice, Education Associate of the Museum of Science's Charles
Hayden Planetarium, this general-level astronomy book covers topics from the history of
astronomy to constellations, the solar system, and galaxies.
Visual Impairment - Understanding the Needs of Young Children About the
Psycho-Social and Perceptual-Motor Needs of Infants and Young Children. by J.
van der Poel
A guide for the interdisciplinary partnership to promote early development in children
with visual impairments.
Can be purchased in the United States and Canada through Vision Associates, 7512 Dr
Phillips Blvd, #50-316, Orlando, Florida 32819, (407) 352-1200 or FAX (407) 352-56342.
Email: Kathleen@visionkits.com
In countries outside of North America, this book can be purchased from SIKON,
Holmens Kanal 22, 1060 Copenhagen K, Denmark or FAX +45 33 92 46 79
SPECIAL BOOKS YOU MAY WISH TO HAVE FOR YOUR HOME LIBRARY -Books for and about
Blind Children and Adults:
Because of a partnership with Amazon, if you click on a link from
our website you can order your book and at no extra cost to you and
ROPARD will benefit.
Your purchase counts! ROPARD
will receive 5--15% of the selling price of each item you buy which is not
out-of-print or an auction item.
Most of the books listed here are novels where the main character
is a child with a visual impairment.
Those books are listed in bold print.
 And There Was Light :
Autobiography of...
The true story of an eighteen year old blind French boy who led a resistance fight in
France against the Nazis.
 Because
of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A story of friendships between a young girl, a
dog she finds at Winn-Dixie and an elderly visually impaired
woman.
Beyond the Stares
Written for children and adolescents by the siblings of children who are blind or
visually impaired. This book shares the stories of these youngsters and the emotions
they feel about their visually impaired sibling.
Delta Gamma Center, 5030 McRee, St. Louis, MO 63110, (314) 776-1300
www.dgckids.org
A Cane in Her Hand
(Concept Book) by Ada B. Litchfield
A wonderful children's story about a girl
who is visually impaired (but not blind)
and who must use a white cane.
Coming to Terms by Rose Bevins
Twelve-year-old Gina Mendoza is angry when she has to entertain a 13-year-old blind
boy. How is she supposed to act? Before the weekend is over, Ricky is a hero, and
Gina learns that coming to terms with things that are difficult can be the key to success.
Child of the Silent Night
by Edith Fisher Hunter
The biography of Laura Bridgman, born
both deaf and blind in the early
nineteenth century.
Emma and I by Sheila Hocken
The autobiography of a woman and her guide dog and her
experiences both as a blind person and one who has her vision
restored.
Follow My Leader by James B.
Garfield
Although the training of a guide dog is explained well in
this book, it gives the false impression that an eleven year old
can acquire a guide dog.
 Granny
Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech.
A tale which unfolds when Granny and her granddaughter
Rosie talk about life's lessons, including Rosie's
friendship with a blind boy named Bailey.
Half the Battle by Lynn Hall
A story told from the unique perspective of the sibling of a
blind child.
Happy Birthday, Grampie
(Picture Puffins) by Susan Pearson
Similar in concept to Lucy’s Picture, it is
the story of a young girl who finds a way
to make a meaningful birthday card for
her blind grandfather.
 Hello,
Goodbye, I Love You by Pamela Mueller.
The story of a young boy who raises a guide dog and the person
the dog is given to.
How Do I Kiss A Blind Girl? by Sally Wagner
An autobiographical novel which discusses what to say and what not to say to a blind
person. Ms. Wagner describes the loss of her vision and her adjustments to total
blindness.
If Blindness Strikes :
Don't Strike Out... A Lively Look At Living with a Visual Impairment by
Margaret Smith
This is an excellent book which deals with the normal activities of everyday life and
how Margaret Smith adapted her life to compensate for her blindness. Margaret was an
extremely active, outdoorsy person and this book gives her common sense approach to
enjoying life with blindness.
If You Could See What I
Hear by Tom Sullivan
An autobiography of a man who was born
with Retinopathy of Prematurity (then
known as Retrolental Fibroplasia) and his
youthful activities.
 Knots on a Counting Rope
by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault.
In this wonderful story about a young American Indian boy the counting rope is the
symbol for the passage of time and for the growth of the boy's self confidence,
regardless of his blindness.
 Let's
Learn Shapes with Shapely-CAL by Shirley Keller and Irma Goldberg
A book of poetry in large print and braille that introduces children to basic, and
not-so
basic shapes.
Louis Braille : The Blind
Boy Who Wanted... to Read by Dennis Fradin
Remarkable Children's Books Series
An historical overview of Braille’s life with emphasis on his
education and his encounter with Captain Charles Barbier who had invented a form of night
writing and how Louis Braille took that system and developed it into a method of reading
for the blind.
Loving Rachel:
A Family's Journey From Grief by Jane Bernstein
The true story of a family who discovers
their second daughter is blind and
mentally retarded.
 Lucy's
Picture by Nicola Moon
The story of a preschooler who makes a tactile picture for
her visiting grandfather who is blind.
 Lumber
Camp Library by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock.
Set in 1912 this is the story of a young girl who begins
reading to an older blind woman and eventually teaches others to
read.
 Mandy
Sue Day by Roberta Karim
Mandy gets a day off from home schooling to spend with her
horse. The surprise ending lets the reader know that Mandy
is blind.
Mom Can't See Me
by
Sally Hobart Alexander
A wonderful book of photographs of the
author doing everyday tasks, and told
through the voice of her nine year old
daughter.
My Baby Brother's Eyes by Jane Jones
Written by a mother to help her young daughter understand her little brother's vision
impairment. Self published: Jane Jones, 590 Cumberland Place, Nanimo, British
Columbia, V9T 4S5, Canada, (250) 751-8141
My Fake Eye: The Story of my Prosthesis by Nancy Chernus-Mansfield
and Marilyn Horn.
A photo history of a young boy with Retinoblastoma. Told in the child's own
words, the story starts with the diagnosis, and goes through the enucleation of his eye
and the acquisition of his prosthesis.
Naomi Knows It's
Springtime by Virginia L. Kroll
Descriptions of how a blind child can tell that Spring is in the air.
On Different Roads : An
Autobiography by Geraldine Lawhorn
An autobiography written by a modern
day Helen Keller. Ms. Lawhorn was deaf
and blind by the time she finished high
school. Her sense of humor and love of
life shine through in this book.
 Sarah's
Sleepover by Bobbi Rodriguez
When the lights go out at this sleepover Sarah's blindness
lets her help her cousins who are sleeping over.
 The Secret Code (Rookie
Readers) by Dana Meachan Rau
Eight year old Oscar teaches his friend Lucy how to read his Braille book.
The Seeing Stick
by
Jane Yolen
The story of Hwei Ming, the daughter of the Emperor of Peking. The Emperor offers a fortune in jewels to the
person who can help the young blind princess see. A
man brings a golden wood stick and uses to teach the princess and others that there is
more than one way of seeing.
 Ten
Little Ladybugs
by Melanie Gerth
Young ones will love learning to count backwards as they
touch ladybugs that disappear one by one with the turn of each
page.
 Touch the Top of the World
by Erik Weihenmayer
The inspiring biography of a young man with retinoschisis who
was the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest.
RESOURCE LIST OF BRAILLE BOOKS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
It is often very difficult to purchase books for a child who may not be a print reader.
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN TO OWN
Braille-Books.com
Braille and Print/Braille books for children and adults.
www.braille-books.com
Century Series Braille Book Club
c/o American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206-0085
Not a large selection available for very young children.
Expectations
Braille Institute Press
Braille Institute
741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029
A free Christmas publication for grades 3 - 6
International Organization for the Blind
P.O. Box 656
Mount Dora, Florida 32756
Sells personalized print/braille books
for children
www.io4b.org
National Braille Press
88 St. Stephen Street
Boston, MA 02115
Each title is offered only once!
Seedlings ... Braille Books for Children
P.O. Box 51924
Livonia, MI 48154
(800) 777-8552
email -
seedlink@aol.com
http://www.seedlings.org
Extensive catalog available for young children with print/Braille/picture books, and
print/Braille books.
ORGANIZATIONS THAT LEND BOOKS TO CHILDREN
Howe Press
Perkins School for the Blind
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02172
Kenneth Jernigan Library for Blind Children (Free Loan of Books)
A Division of American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
18440 Oxnard Street
Tarzana, CA 91356
Library of Congress (Free recorded materials with player)
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
1291 Taylor Street, NW
Washington, DC 20542
Volunteer Braille Services (Loan of books, fee involved)
3730 Toledo Avenue, North
Robbinsdale, MN 55422
OTHER RESOURCES
Directory of Visually Impaired Services
Primarily for Michigan residents, but helpful information for residents of other
states. Charge is $5.00, copies may soon be available for other states.
The Visually Impaired Information Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 51207
Livonia, MI 48151-5207
(734) 421-6599
http://www.vi-info-center.org
Resources for Toys
NOTE: It is not necessary to buy toys that are specifically for children with visual
impairments, but it is helpful to buy good toys, with a variety of materials and textures.
Sound making toys can be helpful.
National Lekotek Center
(800) 366-PLAY (7529) |
|
|
(Provides toys and instructions on how to use them chosen for your child specifically.
There is an annual charge for this service.) |
Back to Basics Toys
(800) 356-5360 |
Childcraft Education Corporation
(800) 631-5652 |
Constructive Playthings
(800) 448-4115Enabling Devices
www.enablingdevices.com
Flaghouse
(800) 793-7900
|
Gifts for Grandkids
(800) 333-1707 |
Hand-in-Hand
(800) 872-9745 |
Hearth Song
(800) 325-2502
www.hearthsong.com |
Kapable Kids
(800) 356-1564 |
Lakeshore Learning
www.lakeshorelearning.com
Learn & Play
(800) 247-6106
www.learnandplay.com
LS&S
(800) 468-4789
MaxiAids
(800) 522-6294
Music for Little People
(800) 727-2233
One Step Ahead
(800) 274-8440
Perfectly Safe
(800) 837-5437
Right Start
(800) 548-8531
Sensational Beginnings
(800) 444-2147
Sportime
(800) 444-5700
Wimmer Ferguson
(800) 747-2454
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