8. Understanding Girls with AD/HD, Nadeau, Littman and Quinn This book discusses how attention deficit disorder may manifest itself in girls from preschool to late adolescence. The authors identify types of ADHD girls. Active girls may act like tomboys. They may socialize with boys. They are active, and may engage in impulsive escapades. Another group of girls shows their ADHD by talkativeness and excessive socializing. They too may become involved in risky behavior. Some girls with ADHD seem to fade into the background. They are shy and inattentive. They may have few friends and are more likely to be depressed. The last group is often escapes diagnosis until adolescence or adulthood. These are the very smart girls who have the ability to put in an extraordinary effort to hyper-focus. Adults see them as achievers but are often unaware of the anxiety and extreme effort the such girls use in order to compensate for their inattentiveness. Such girls are often anxious and self-critical. This is an excellent resource for parents and adolescents. I have only one criticism. The screening checklists in each chapter are fairly non-specific. The lists highlight the fact that ADHD may manifest itself differently in girls. However, some of the items on the lists can be caused by other conditions.  

by Grad L. Flick
This book should be extremely useful to parents and teachers who deal with children and teens with AD/HD. It gives firm but compassionate guidelines on how to help create positive behavioral change.

It gives specific, step-by-step instructions on how to facilitate behavioral change. Although the book contains a number of useful checklists and rating scales, the author does not fall into the trap of "checklist rigidity." He uses these checklists flexibly within the context of a rich understanding of the child and his environment.

I enjoyed his sections on how to phrase commands in an assertive, not aggressive manner. The parent or teacher is invited to rewrite some of his or her commands in a different style. The author enlisted the help of child psychiatrists in writing the section on medications. Thus, the medication chapter is more accurate and comprehensive one finds in many books.

He gives lists of age-appropriate, non-food (thank goodness!) reinforcers to help reward elementary, middle and high school-aged students. The Appendix on neuropsychological reports gives an overview that would help a parent understand how testing is done and how the results might look.

Books for AD/HD Children and Adolescents 

1. Otto Learns About His Medicine by Matthew Galvin
   This illustrated book talks about a young car who visits a special engine mechanic and receives an engine treatment to help him run at the right speed. The author uses this metaphor to explain the nature of ADHD, the process of getting a psychiatric evaluation and good questions to ask about medication. The book is aimed at some elementary school children and some pre-schoolers
   

2. Joey Pigza Swallowed a Key, and Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos 
   Joey Pigza is a kind but impulsive, inattentive boy, living with his divorced mother. In the first book, Joey is diagnosed with AD/HD. The author deals humorously and sympathetically with Joey’s impulsivity and how it gets him in trouble in school and at home.  Eventually Joey and his mother learn how to compensate through humor, educational strategies and medication.

    The second book still retains some of the humor of the first, but deals with more serious issues. Joey’s estranged father arranges to have Joey stay with him for the summer. The father clearly has ADHD symptoms similar to those of his son. Further, the father struggles with alcoholism and legal problems. During the summer, he makes Joey stop he medication. In his father Joey sees what he might have become. This second story deals with the very serious issues of custody disputes, parental disagreement about medication, alcoholism and its effect on a child with AD/HD. Some parents might want to read this book with their older elementary school and middle school children to explain some of these complex issues. 
   
   

3. Distant Drums, Different Drummers by Barbara Ingersoll, 1995(Reviewed in the fall 97 issue of Hypertalk, the newsletter of Baltimore County CHADD)
   This book is aimed at middle and high school students but appropriate for some elementary school students. The author discusses the positive evolutionary aspects of ADHD. She also discusses coping techniques and treatment.    

4. Review by Nicole, age 10
     Do you have ADHD and want to know more about it? The best book for you is Distant Drums, Different Drummers by Barbara Ingersoll Ph.D.. This book is about the problems ADHD kids might have and how to solve the problems. For instance, one of the solutions to the problems is taking a medicine like Dexedrine or Ritalin. Another solution is to keep your room really well organized, so that you can find everything easily. At the end of the book is a self-assessment checklist with things such as: "I get along with my mom", "I take turns and play fair", "I stick with my homework until it’s done", and "I take care of my room and my belongings". You would check off either ‘no problem’ or ‘needs work’. Dr. Ingersoll is a very good writer. This book tells almost every little detail that a child with ADHD might want to know about, except not enough what is good about having ADHD, which is too bad. The author is trying to write a book to teach children about their disorder. The moral is ‘no matter what color, race, or disorder, everyone can be friends if you try’. This book is wonderful, telling children scientific facts in an understandable way that makes the facts un-boring. This book makes children feel good about themselves, though they have the disorder. I try my hardest to have a few more criticisms for the book, but I fail to think of even one more bad thing about the book. It tells how maybe ADHD may be the living warrior of the past disorder. That could make almost any little boy I know with ADHD feel much better about himself. This book is a wonderful book for any child who battles ADHD. This book is a book that I recommend to especially little boys, this is because there are a few chapters which are about age-old warriors, cavemen, and the Middle Ages. The beginning of the book is for either girls or boys. Adolescents may like the book, but there is a pretty good chance that they will not want to read this book. That is because this book seems to be mostly aimed at younger-than-adolescents. The second bad thing about the book is that through the whole book the author writes ‘ADHD’, when some of the people who read the book might have only Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD. I think that the writer should have written "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder". That was only a small part of the book though. Still, my over all summary is: Outstanding!

5.   Eagle Eyes (A child’s guide to paying attention) 1991 by Jeanne Gehret 
   This book, aimed at elementary and some middle school students, It tells the story of a boy who becomes discouraged by his difficulties with attention and organization. He benefits from evaluation and treatment. Eventually, he comes to see the advantages of some of his special characteristics. (See Ms. Gehret’s book about Ben’s sister under "Sibling Issues." 
   
6. Putting on the Brakes by Quinn and Stern (1991)
   This book has become something of a classic during its short existence. It explains, for the older elementary school and middle school child, the definition of ADHD, and gives information about how to improve problem areas, such as disorganization. There is a useful appendix containing information for parents. Parents and children can use this book together. The authors also publish a newsletter for children with AD/HD
   
7. My Brother’s a World Class Pain: A Sibling’s Guide to ADHD/Hyperactivity by Gordon (1992)
   This would be a much better book if the author would change the title. While the title may accurately reflect the feelings of some siblings, the book might get left around and generate some hurt feelings. Because of this, I do not keep it in my waiting room. Once past the title, the book has wonderful, amusing illustrations and the text keeps elementary school siblings interested. The sister eventually does come to appreciate her brother, but kids keep coming back to that title   
   
8. I’m Somebody Too by Gehret (1992)
   Those who have read Eagle Eyes by the same author will recognize Emily, Ben’s older sister. It is aimed at an older elementary school or middle school child. Emily feels that her parents are ignoring her and expecting her to maintain perfect behavior so that they can deal with Ben. Emily and the family work with Ben’s therapist to gain an understanding of Emily’s own needs. This book may also be useful for other girls who feel that their families expect them to be too perfect.  
   
9. Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention by Nadeau and Dixon
   This book is appropriate for younger elementary school aged children and some older children who have short attention spans. This book is fast paced and funny. It discusses the symptoms of ADHD and some possible solutions.  I liked it because it can be read on more than one level. A parent could first read it to a child, and the child could subsequently either read the entire text, or more likely, read the cartoons and their captions. This book received the enthusiastic approval of a seven year old. Although he certainly could have read the entire text, I think that when he was up in his bedroom, he read and reread the cartoon. 
   

10. Review by Nicole, age 10. The book, Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention, by Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D. and Ellen B. Dixon, Ph.D., and illustrated by John R. Rose is a wonderful book for children with ADHD. This book is especially for children ages five to ten. This book gives children a checklist of their problems, and tells how to solve them. Also, since children with ADHD have a short attention span, there are fun games scattered through the book. These games help children with ADHD to stick to the book. There is no point in getting a book if people put it down after only a chapter. I think it might be good to photocopy the games in the book so that you can do all of the games and just photo copy it again when you want to do the games again. I really liked the wonderful cartoons that relate to the text. These will also help children keep reading the book. This is a great book, and I recommend it to all children who have ADD or ADHD, or are being diagnosed for it.

    11. The First Star I See  by Jaye Andras Cattrey
    Review by Nicole, age ten

    First Star I See by Jaye Andras Cattrey was a four star book. It was a charming novel for 2^nd – 5^th graders. It won an "American Bookseller Pick of the Lists" prize. The main character, Paige, has previously been diagnosed with ADD. She daydreams all the time during class, so much in fact, that her classmates call her "spacey." Her class is having a competition to see who can write the best paper on a space subject that they are assigned. She is absent-minded, so that she forgets about her paper until it becomes an urgent priority. Meanwhile, her dog is stealing toys from children. Usually innocent children too. While trying to steal the neighbor’s cat’s toy, the dog almost drowns. Paige’s dog provides distraction for her when she least wants it. This book is good for girls because they will see in it a character like themselves. They can realize that they aren’t the only person in the world with ADD. They will find that they can succeed with ADD, and that you don’t have to be the perfect student to get what you want. I would recommend this book for psychiatrists and social workers to have in their office. It provides something and someone for the children to relate to. Personally I thought that the book was wonderful and would be a good addition to an ADD-child’s library.

    12. That's What Kids Are For by Barbara Roberts (Advantage books, 1998)
    Phoebe is an enthusiastic, creative girl. Because of her high activity level, she has has to struggle to pay attention in class, and has only one good friend. Girls with hyperactive AD/HD as well as other active kids may see something of themselves in Phoebe. Phoebe's principal and her mother are sympathetic but also help Phoebe see that she has some responsibilities for her actions. In the end, Phoebe's energy and daring make her the class heroine. She takes quick action to rescue the class pet. 
    This book is uses superb, sensitive illustrations to follow the text. I especially liked how the pictures conveyed the strong bond of affection between Phoebe and her mother.  In the story, Phoebe is never formally identified as having AD/HD. I like having such a book because it can be used to explore behaviors without limiting ourselves to a specific diagnosis.
    
    
    

Books Dealing with Adult AD/HD

1.    Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perceptive by Thom Hartmann (1993)
   Mr. Hartmann has a unique view of AD/HD. He sees it as a valid cluster of personality traits that have only become problematic as our society has shifted to a more sedentary, detail-oriented lifestyle. He suggests that society should value people with AD/HD because their "action-oriented" style can be useful in the right situation or the right job. He advocates special learning environments for AD/HD children. This book raises the interesting question of how much an individual should conform to society and how much society should make efforts to accommodate individual differences 
   
   
   

2. Unlocking Potential: College and other Choice for People with LD and AD/HD, second edition ed by Taymans, West and Sullivan, Woodbine House, 2000. This book is a useful resource for older high school students and young adults dealing with the transition between adolescence and adulthood. Each chapter is readable and dispenses with long details. At the end of each chapter is a list of resources relevant to the issues addressed in the chapter. The book addresses how individuals with learning disabilities and AD/HD can deal constructively with college and work. There are chapters on legal issues, psychological testing, educational strategies and job choices. I have only one criticism of this excellent book. There should have been some medical input on the section on AD/HD. The brief section on medication was clearly not written by a psychiatrist. 
   
   

3.  Moms with ADD: A Self-Help Manual.  by Christine A. Adamec

   I had mixed feelings about this book. Many parts of this book would be quite useful for a mother with mild AD/HD. The author does a good job of dealing with the family interactions that can occur when more than one family member has AD/HD.  

   It can be difficult for any parent to attend to the needs of a child with AD/HD. The author makes suggestions for simplifying behavioral plans and household routines. She talks about how a mother with AD/HD responds differently to her children with and without AD/HD. She addresses relationship pitfalls between an AD/HD mother and her non-AD/HD child.  

    However, I had concerns about some of the material in Parts 3 and 4. She lists certain types of abusive behavior that make one a “bad mother.” I think that she was trying to make a point that most mothers with AD/HD are good mothers. She seems to cast aside any mother who has ever engaged in abusive behavior. “Bad mother” is the last type of label such mothers need! How many AD/HD women have come close to hitting a child but stopped just in time? Those women should be thankful that someone along the line gave them enough nurturance and support so that they could stop themselves. When we see abuse, we should say, “There but for the grace of God go I.” We should take whatever action is necessary, but we should do it out of love and concern.  

   In Part 4, Getting Outside Help, there were many good points. However as a psychiatrist, I feel that her depiction of our profession is not entirely accurate. She wrote, “Most doctors, including psychiatrists, don’t like treating severely mentally ill people and prefer to treat people with less severe mental disorders.” Yes, there are "boutique" clinicians who treat only the "worried well." However, many of us treat a wide range of people. AD/HD, like many conditions, can vary in its severity. The best psychiatrist is one who has is willing and able to treat AD/HD in all its forms and degrees of severity.  

   She says that she does not feel that AD/HD is a mental illness. What then is it—a chronic viral infection? I think that we are better off being accurate—calling it what it is—and holding our heads high. If society has prejudice about mental illness, we should combat the prejudice, not hide behind euphemisms. One can be accurate while still acknowledging the positive aspects of AD/HD. 
   
   

4.   The Hyperactive Child, Adolescent and Adult (Attention Deficit Disorder through the Life Span) by Paul Wender, MD (1987)
   This was one of the earlier books to discuss criteria for diagnosing and treating AD/HD in older adolescents and adults. The publication of this book and related articles made it easier for child psychiatrists to continue to treat adolescents who had reached adulthood and to actually diagnose AD/HD in adults. Other physicians have since published broader criteria for the diagnosis of adult AD/HD. This can be heavy reading for the lay person.  
   
   

5.  You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy? By Kelly and Ramundo (1993)This book is useful for older adolescents, their parents, and for adults with ADHD. It gives practical, concrete information on how to organize one’s workspace, and how to manage a schedule. It is easy to read selected parts individually. The humorous illustrations are a plus. This is a good book for an AD/HD adolescent to take to college.  
   
   
   

6. Driven to Distraction and Answers to Distractions by Drs. Hallowell and Ratey . (1995 and 1996)
   These books present basic information about AD/HD in a user-friendly format. Answers is particularly good reading for adults with short attention spans because it presents material in short chunks. The books discuss both child and adult AD/HD issues, but the book is aimed at adults. Some adolescents could benefit from these books too.
   
   

7. Women with Attention Deficit Disorder by Sari Solden (1995)
   This excellent book deals with the ways that AD/HD can affect many facets of a woman's life. It addresses shame, coping skills and the value of self-knowledge.
   
   

8. A Comprehensive Guide to Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults edited by Kathleen Nadeau (1995)
   This fairly complete text is aimed primarily at professionals, but may be of interest to the sophisticated layperson who wants a more detailed discussion of AD/HD in adults. The book addresses diagnostic issues including psychological testing and the diagnostic interview. The text also addresses treatment issues.
   
   

9. ADD & Adults: Strategies for Success from CH.A.D.D.(1997)
   This book contains articles written by authors who are prominent researchers and clinicians in the field of attention deficit disorder. The brief, readable articles cover a broad range of topics including medication, job issues, career planning, and relationship issues.  This is a well-rounded book for an adult who is wants to gain an basic understanding of the issues he or she is likely to face.

   
   

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Explaining a Parent’s Mental Illness to a Child

1. Please Don’t Cry, Mom by DenBoer (1994)
This is an illustrated book, written for elementary school aged children. However, its description of recurrent major depression is so good that the book would be valuable for adolescents and some adults. It describes a boy’s feelings about his mother’s depression and her resistance to treatment. Her husband sets limits, and she does accept treatment and begin to improve. The book describes the importance of family participation in the mother’s treatment and the importance of taking one’s medication regularly. Ultimately, the boy is able to gain knowledge and a sense of mastery.

2. Tell Me a Story, Paint Me the Sun by Chaplan (1991)
This is an illustrated book, appropriate for elementary school children and younger adolescents. It describes a girl whose father looses his job and becomes depressed (or starts drinking heavily) Although he does not seek treatment or improve, she is able to talk to other adults and learn that she is worthwhile. This book is useful for the child who must learn to cope with on going parental denial of a mental illness or drug problem.

Tell Me A Story, Paint Me The Sun; When A Girl Feels Ignored By Her Father
Review by Nicole, age 10

     This book tells the story of a child whose father seems to ignore her. The child feels hurt and helpless. Though the book does not say, the illustrations hint that her father is suffering from depression or alcoholism. The girl thinks that if she were more talented or more beautiful that her father would start paying more attention to her. This is not so.
     When this girl talks to her teacher and they share stories; the girl makes an amazing discovery! She finds that her teacher went through the same thing! Without consciously knowing this, she paints a sun with tears around it. Even though the sun is mostly bright and beautiful, it can sometimes cry too. The girl learns that, though her father has a problem, she can still be happy.
     This is a good book for children, ages preschool to 10, who feel ignored by their parents. I really would highly recommend this book.

3. Daddy Doesn't Have to be a Giant Anymore by J R Thomas (1996) Clarion Books
This illustrated book is told from the elementary school aged daughter's point of view. It describes her reactions to her alcoholic father's mood swings and erratic behavior. She is present when family and friends arrange a supportive confrontation to break down the father's denial and get him into residential treatment. When he returns from the treatment, he is on the road to sobriety and is able to talk to his daughter about his past behavior. (Confrontations should only be done under the supervision of a licensed professional. Parents or professionals should read this book in advance to determine whether it is appropriate for a particular child)

4. Sad Days, Glad Days by DeWitt Hamilton (1995) Albert Whitman and Co.
This story tells about the feelings of Amanda, an elementary school-aged girl as she experiences her mother's unpredictable episodes of recurrent depression.  The mother also clearly experiences anguish when she sometimes cannot respond to her child's needs. Her mother and father both help Amanda understand that her mother loves her and that the mother's depressive episodes are not Amanda's fault. Amanda conceptualizes her mother's moods as colors. The illustrations sensitively follow this metaphor to catch the moods and experiences of the mother and the household. Amanda and her mother learn that despite recurrent depression, the mother can still find ways to give of herself to Amanda.

Bart Speaks Out: Breaking the Silence on Suicide
by Linda E. Goldman (published by Western Psychological Services)
A family dog talks about his confusion, hurt and grief when his owner commits suicide. After each of Bart's comments, the child is invited to write, draw or insert a photograph.

I liked the fact that the book slowly works up to a discussion of the suicide itself. It does not traumatize the child by hitting the intense topic too hard or too soon. The book starts with more concrete and immediate events and feelings related to a death. Later in the book, Bart explains about suicide. Through the dog, the child is invited to discuss family and individual reactions to the suicide. Family members express concerns that they might have contributed to the suicide but are then reassured that it was not their fault. The book does not blame the individual who killed himself. However it emphasizes that there are other ways to deal with depression and despair.

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Learning Disabilities

1. The Don’t-give up Kid by Gehret (1990)
This illustrated book is aimed at elementary school aged students. There is an appendix in the back which contains resources and suggestions for parents. The book tells the story of a boy who is persistent and creative, but has difficulty learning to read. Eventually, his self-esteem begins to suffer.

2. The Misunderstood Child (A Guide for Children with Learning Disabilities, 2^nd Edition (1992)
Dr. Silver has updated his classic 1984 book. He has particularly updated the information on ADHD. This book is aimed at parents of children and adolescents with learning disabilities. Particularly good are his sections on the psychosocial difficulties of adolescents with learning disabilities and the parent’s role in treating the learning disability..

3. The Gifted Learning Disabled Student published by CTY Publications and Resources (Date not listed, but recently published)
This is a collection of articles describing the identification and the accommodation of the student who has both areas of great intellectual strength and areas of deficit. The some of the chapters describe the approach which the Johns Hopkins CTY (Center for Talented Youth, also called IAAY) has taken to identify these students. This program also offers weekend and summer programs for gifted students from a wide geographic area.

4. Many Ways to Learn: A Young People's Guide to Learning Disabilities by J. Stern and U. Ben-Ami (Magination Press 1996)
Written for ages 8-14. This book describes types of Learning Disabilities and specific coping strategies for school and home. These strategies include the use of computers, test taking strategies, and self-esteem builders. The book is aimed at the students themselves and encouraged them to develop their own coping strategies to achieve a sense of independence and mastery.

Many Ways to Learn, by Judith Stern, M.A.,and Uzi Ben-Ami, Ph.D
Review by Nicole, age 10
This is a very helpful and useful book for children of all ages with mild or very serious learning disabilities. This book tells many kinds of ways to treat these problems. For that matter, it tells how to cope with things around the house and in every day life. This book guides children and adolescents with LD in several areas. These include why you have a learning disability, and how to make life outside of school more fun. You start to realize that this is no ordinary book like the ones you grab at the supermarket checkout. This book is something special; something to remember in years to come. You can use this book to help overcome your disability and to bring out your really, true talents. This book would be great for families with children and teenagers with learning disabilities.

5. Succeeding with LD: 20 True Stories about Real People with LD by J. Laven
This book contains first person accounts of 20 children, adolescents, adults and families who have succeeded in school or in their profession. They describe happy and sad experiences as well as their unique coping strategies. This would be a good book for parents and adolescents to read. Parents might also choose to read parts of it to children.

6. Unlocking Potential: College and other Choices for People with LD and AD/HD, second edition ed by Taymans, West and Sullivan, Woodbine House, 2000
This book is a useful resource for older high school students and young adults dealing with the transition between adolescence and adulthood. Each chapter is readable and dispenses with long details. At the end of each chapter is a list of resources relevant to the issues addressed in the chapter. The book addresses how individuals with learning disabilities and AD/HD can deal constructively with college and work. There are chapters on legal issues, psychological testing, educational strategies and job choices. I have only