Owen Has Burgers and Drum

October 1, 2013

K-Gr 3-In the first book, Billy and his mother turn a walk in the woods into a veritable treasure hunt, adding acorns and an owl feather to their existing collection of pinecones and rocks. Along the way, the woman compares her body to a car "that runs out of gas" or is driving "on a bumpy road," which serve to inform readers of her special needs as someone with Parkinson's disease who intermittently needs to rest and take medicine. When Billy scrapes his knee climbing a boulder, his mother tends to his abrasion, and he realizes that she is still there for him in the most important ways. Rudimentary yet expressive gouache illustrations walk hand in hand with the text to tell this heartwarming story. Next, seven-year-old Calvin meets his new neighbor and classmate, Owen, who is diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Owen is realistically portrayed as being a cool kid though at times socially awkward. As his idiosyncracies gradually surface to impede their growing friendship, Calvin strives to understand Owen's mildly strange behaviors. Just when their new friendship seems to be falling apart, Owen's strict adherence to the rules saves Calvin and another friend when a fire breaks out at school. Though written with specific intent to bridge the gap existing between children on the autism spectrum and those who are not, a story of genuine friendship, enhanced with colorful, animated illustrations, shines through. Both books offer "Tips for Children" and "Tips for Parents and Educators" that encourage discussion and invite questions about the conditions.-Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME

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