About My Brother

(Hardback)

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Description

Imagine inviting a new friend over to play, but first, you have to explain something important-something that makes your brother a little different. In About My Brother, Kathleen Mooney draws from her own childhood experiences to create a heartfelt and relatable story about growing up with a sibling who has special needs. Told from the perspective of an energetic 8-year-old, the narrative opens as Katie invites a friend (the reader) over to play. She wants to share her world with her new friend, but she knows she needs to prepare them to meet her brother. He might not play like other kids, and he might do things that seem a little strange. Through Katie's eyes, readers are invited into a world where apprehension gradually transforms into empathy, compassion, and even laughter. As the story unfolds, we get to know Kevin-his quirks, his unique way of interacting with the world, and the special bond he shares with his family.
About My Brother provides invaluable insight and understanding for young readers. Children with siblings who have special needs will find their experiences reflected, while others will gain a deeper understanding of neurodiversity. This book goes beyond simply explaining disabilities; it fosters a sense of inclusion and encourages children to embrace differences.
This engaging narrative is an excellent resource for elementary schools, teachers, schools with neurodiverse programs, and parents of elementary-aged children. It serves as a springboard for important conversations about neurodiversity, kindness, empathy, and inclusion. By sharing Katie and Kevin's story, About My Brother empowers children to build bridges of understanding and celebrate the unique qualities that make each person special.

Reviews

The author draws from her own lived experience to create a narrative that honors her deep love for her brother, but doesn't shy away from exploring some of the challenges of having a sibling with special needs. We are given a glimpse into the love and protection she offers him, and a deeper understanding of the impact ableism can have on individuals and their families. We also get an idea of how this may have shaped her development and the ways in which she accommodated to protect him from those who weren't always kind. Books that genuinely and courageously represent the experiences of marginalized individuals are a crucial component of any classroom library, and About My Brother does just that. -Laura John-Mora, LMSW

About My Brother is an endearing story that encourages children to see their peers through an empathetic lens. The adorable and captivating illustrations underscore the personal experience felt by its main character and how she navigates through childhood with a disabled younger brother. This narrative can help facilitate dialogue between families/educators and children around diversity and differences and even includes helpful discussion questions and points at the end of the book. I recommend this story to anyone looking to diversify their child's library and expose them to the importance of kindness and empathy for others. -Caroline Segarra, Learning Specialist and Special Education Administrator/Teacher

As a Special Education teacher, I have noticed there are few books that offer support to siblings of special needs children. About My Brother is an engaging, child-friendly book that helps explain the differences in families that have special needs children. The images are colorful and captivating. The discussion questions serve as a great guide for educators and parents to dive deeper to help children understand the meaning of compassion. Erin Cavaliere, Special Education Teacher

Author Bio

Kathleen Mooney (Katie) is a New York City-based early childhood literacy specialist and teacher with a passion for art, service, and boxing. She is also a dog mom to a spirited Jack Russell Terrier named Finleigh. Her love of drawing ignited the first time she picked up a crayon and started drawing at her parents' kitchen table around age two. This passion led her to earn her BFA from Pratt Institute in 2001. Katie traded in her crayons for a chalkboard and followed her heart to the classroom to become an early childhood teacher in 2006. She was inspired to write her first children's book, About My Brother, after teaching for many years in Brooklyn, NY, and finding it challenging to find books that accurately represented families with children who have special needs. She hopes that this book will reach families of children with and without special needs and serve as a tool to promote social inclusion and foster empathy. When she's not writing, drawing, or coaching, you'll find Katie side-stepping and counter-punching around various NYC parks and boxing gyms or in her Brooklyn neighborhood, supervising Finleigh's squirrel chases.