Book Of The Week: Looking After Louis

 

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I feel blessed that my children are still in the stage where they find people who are "different" to be fascinating and exciting, instead of scary or 'weird.'  They love that people come in all different shapes, sizes and colors.  That some can walk and others can roll.  That people are blessed and gifted in many different kinds of ways.  And I hope that they always keep this perspective.  That every single person in this world deserves dignity and respect. 

To that end, I am enormously grateful to the authors who help parents through this journey by publishing thoughtful, sensitive and beautiful stories about people this world has labeled "different," "disabled," or even, sometimes, "weird."  Everyone should be celebrated for who he or she is, no matter what challenges s/he might face.  A book that tackles this subject with particular grace, is Looking After Louis by Lesley Ely and Polly Dunbar.

In this book, a young girl describes her daily interactions with Louis, an autistic boy in her grade-school class.  She describes her observations of his behaviors and her journey to discovering just what it is that makes this boy so special and beautiful in his own right.  In the story the other children treat Louis with great kindness and respect - just what I want my children to learn to do for every child they meet.

If you're looking for a good teaching book - or even just a sweet bedtime story - then you will definitely want to check out Looking After Louis.