Tacos Anyone?: An Autism Story

Maybe you're looking at this book and wondering what tacos could possibly have to do with autism. A taco's a taco, right? And what do you do with a taco? You eat it. It couldn't be simpler. You don't even have to think about it. It turns out, however, that you've got it all wrong; no one can eat the kind of tacos referred to in this book. I haven't even gotten to the story yet, but this little exercise alone does a great job of showing you what this book is all about. Tacos Anyone? is all about describing some of the characteristics of the autistic child and helping his/her loved ones (especially young siblings) relate to his/her special needs. And to understand the autistic child, you have to step back and change your way of thinking (just like your conception of tacos will change as you get into this story), and it takes a conscious effort to do that each and every time. Young Thomas already knows that his little brother Michael has autism. He doesn't know what that means exactly, but he does know that he isn't very successful when he tries to get Michael to play with him. He's also bothered by some of the things Michael does for no apparent reason. That's when Michael's therapist comes into the story. First, we see some of the exercises and activities she does with Michael, but then we see her bring Thomas in as well and show him how to better communicate with his little brother. This kind of family involvement is vital in the life of the autistic child, and author Marvie Ellis really succeeds at showing how therapy is for the family as well as the autistic child. An autistic child can have the greatest therapist in the world, but he/she will never reach his/her true potential without the love, support, and assistance of loved ones. Just like Keisha's Doors, this second book in the Autism Story Book series communicates a wonderful, heart-warming message and would surely benefit anyone who deals directly or indirectly with an autistic child. It is especially good at helping the brothers and sisters of autistic children understand and better relate to their special siblings. The book's dual language format (English and Spanish), along with the wonderfully expressive illustrations of Jenny Loehr, give it a broad, intercultural appeal. Tacos Anyone? truly conveys a most inspirational message and spirit.

I must admit to being impressed, even as I first opened this book, and then it just kept getting better and better. What an insightful work! The author has addressed the condition of autism through the eyes of a sibling, an older brother. This is rather unique and useful in itself, as we often forget that the brothers and sisters of these wonderful children are usually as devastated as the parents, more so at times. I feel, often times they do not have the understanding that an adult may have. This work addresses just this problem. The narrative is simple and to the point. I was delighted to see that it was in both English and in Spanish. The demographics in our part of the country have changed dramatically over the past five years, and to be honest, we were ill prepared for it. Books such as this go far in closing the resource gap. This is a good thing! The concise syntax the author uses is easy to read and easy to understand and has a very nice flow to it. I was also quite impressed with the illustrations by Jenny Loehr. They were executed in a style I found particularly pleasing and one that I feel children can well relate to. The art work corresponded perfectly with the text, both of which complimented each other in a very effective way. I loved the way the artist could convey so much feeling through the facial expressions of her subjects. This condition, autism, is one of those that can be, and often is, one of the most devastating events that can happen to any family. Sadly, so little is known about the subject and there is so little understanding. This work, and others like it make a very good start in correcting part of this problem. It should be noted that it certainly would not hurt many adults to read this book along with the little ones, there is much to learn here. I do highly recommend you add this one to your resource library or to your home library. It is truly a good work!

I had the great good fortune to meet Dr. Ellis at an autism convention recently and be introduced to her books. Her insight into what it must be like to be the "normal" sibling of an autistic child is delightful and heartrending for those of us with children "on the spectrum." My first reading had me in tears at the end. My son, who is has the diagnosis of very high functioning PDD-NOS, was eager to "make tacos" after reading it. If you have an autistic child, or you wish to teach your children compassion for those who are different, you could not make a better choice than this book.

Although my son who is autistic is an only child,I really enjoyed this book!It gave such an innocent and real look at how so many children who have a sibling with Autism yearn for that "connection" with their brother or sister and how they really can have a loving and meaningful relationship just as typical siblings do.It's an invaluable piece of the puzzle to incorporate every member of the family and that includes siblings as well.

Thank you for the chance to read such an awesome book that teaches us while it makes us smile! Tacos Anyone? is a story of love and compassion that made my heart smile and my mind wonder! The vibrant pictures illustrate a marvelous story of a boy with autism named Michael and his older brother Thomas. The story centers around their visit to the therapist. The heart strings felt a tug when the story continued to unfold the older brothers longing to play with his younger brother who has a disability, but Thomas just doesn't know how to play with Michael. There is a lesson for all of us in this book title Tacos Anyone? Be prepared to let your heart smile at the compassion that the writer Mrs. Marvie Ellis shows through her amazing words which we call story telling.Mrs. Ellis takes us on a journey of her love for children and the simple techniques that can be used to unable us all to reach out and touch that child with a special need. I look forward to reading more of Mrs. Ellis publishing's and recommend that you take a few minutes to enjoy a TACO with that special little one in your life. By the way Mrs. Ellis book is written in English and Spanish within the same book for everyone to enjoyment.