(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best difficult discussions books for children

First, it's nothing you did, you sound like a great dad! Your son sounds A LOT like my six year old, who has a lot of sensory issues, and was later diagnosed with ADHD-Combined type and mild anxiety. Depending on what your insurance allows you can ask for an occupational therapy referral or evaluation. A lot of times insurance won't pay for OT for sensory issues, but will for fine motor issues if he has any. They will work on sensory issues (did wonders with my 6 year old with sensory issues). The way they explained it to me is, "his job is to be a kid, and we help with whatever gets in the way of that!"

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I'd suggest seeing a developmental pediatrician too. They're a bit more skilled / informed in all this stuff. My son's developmental pedi is awesome. The way he explained the sensory stuff to me is "we are all going to be exposed to things we don't like (loud noises, bright lights etc, dirty fingers etc) it's our job as parents to get them used to those things slowly and safety now so they aren't going to prom with headphones on." I know that sounds harsh, and taken out of context of our conversation he might sound like a heartless bastard, but let me add that I adore this man and he's taken great care of both my boys. He also explained that in my sons case that the need for routine, sameness, resistance to change are all (or could be) byproducts of his ADHD. The Dev. Pedi said something like, "think about it like this, you have a million thoughts swirling around in your head all the time.. it's scary for a little kid... It's already hard to concentrate, you're going to cling to and find comfort in what you know (your routine)." He was right, once we put him on adhd meds a lot of those social issues he was having calmed themselves.

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As for the books, my son really enjoys the "Let's read and Find Out About Science" series. A Drop of Blood and Germs Make Me Sick! are two of his favorites. My father in law is an MD and was impressed at how accurate the vampire book is, so that's something. They have tons of other books too.

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As you've gathered, there's a lot of controversy about whether PANDAS is a real phenomenon, and if it is, just how rarely it actually occurs. I'm not a doctor so I won't comment on that directly, but I think as a parent your primary concern is whether having a diagnosis of PANDAS would actually change anything about your daughter's treatment. If she's improving with therapy, and there's a more obvious cause for her symptoms (i.e. her dad has terminal cancer), I can't imagine any doctor is going to be open to medically treating it as PANDAS - which involves a highly experimental, controversial, and risky immunotherapy called IVIG that is only reserved for the most severe PANDAS cases. Beyond that, since it's been so long now and she already received two courses of antibiotics at the time of the original infection, I'm pretty sure the treatment would be exactly what you're already doing - therapy and behavioral approaches to addressing her symptoms.

I'm so sorry your family is going through this, and I hope you're getting the support you need too. Your husband's treatment team may be able to recommend some good resources for your family as well, such as support groups for other kids/spouses of terminally ill family members, some good picture books and workbooks, etc. (Off the top of my head, I might suggest When Someone Has a Very Serious Illness, Because Someone I Love Has Cancer, and Help Me Say Goodbye). Wishing you and your family all the best.

Just released Proxy, Medical Kidnap Files #3 (suspense, available in print and Kindle)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0BGE96

Continue the stories of medical kidnap that started with Mito and EDS.

Fourteen-year-old Seth Wilcox has been admitted to the hospital forty-eight times, according to his mother’s latest social media posts, when Social Services steps in and takes Seth into care, believing his mother suffers from Munchausen by Proxy and Seth is not safe in her care.

Gabriel Tate is now a veteran in dealing with medical kidnap and reuniting children with their families. He knows Seth and his mom, Leva, a tireless mitochondrial disorder advocate. He knows he needs to get Seth back to Leva as soon as he can.

With the authorities hot on their trails, Gabriel and Renata face increasingly difficult challenges. Can they stay one step ahead of the authorities? Can they finally get Seth somewhere he will be safe?

Praise for Proxy, Medical Kidnap Files:

"Oh my goodness!!!! I need more!! I'm freaking out over here. This was my favorite out of the three."

"I didn't want to put any of [the Medical Kidnap Files] down."

"Although [P.D. Workman’s] books are fiction, they hold a remarkable amount of information."

Praise for P.D. Workman

“Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me in ways no one or almost anything else has. And I have found strength in the books I've read."

"The way that P.D. Workman writes just flows amazingly and allows the reader to get really invested in a book."

"This is one author I certainly will be looking out for, I can’t recommend it enough. A fantastic book."

Since English is her second language, I would recommend children’s and YA books to start. You mention MLK and WWI; there are many children’s books on both these topics. This series from Penguin is very popular and includes many historical figures she might be interested in learning about. You can find the MLK one here.

It might also be worth it to get her an English Bible, so that she can experience something she’s already read before and compare the two. Along that vein, look at what movies or tv shows she likes. Many are based off books and could be a good place to start. Wishing her luck!!

I finished Landline by Rainbow Rowell, narrated by Rebecca Lowman. I've previously listened to Lowman narrate Fangirl by the same author and think she does a great job, especially doing both female and male characters. I liked Fangirl better as a book but Landline was still a good listen.

I'm now finishing up Legend by Marie Lu, narrated by Mariel Stern and Steven Kaplan. I'm not a big fan of the narrators (particularly Mariel's voice bugs me) but the book itself is pretty good. I had listened to The Maze Runner book awhile back and thought it was pretty terrible, but Legend seems to be a step up in the YA dystopian genre.

Hello,

I wanted to promote my podcast - The Pop Culture Abstract Podcast. I interview interesting people, my friends, and pretty much anyone that wants to talk about stuff they are passionate about. I've already talked baseball, beer brewing, movies, and much more. This week's episode is the writer and illustrator of a kids book called Where a Booger Goes. There is a new episode each week.

Thanks,

Eugene Tierney

http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Roald-Dahl-ebook/dp/B00F9F0TV6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1420691549&sr=1-1&keywords=roald+dahl+boy

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Book-Science-Secrecy-Cryptography-ebook/dp/B004IK8PLE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1420691613&sr=1-1&keywords=the+code+book+simon+singh

"Boy" is probably "beneath" your son's level and "The Code Book" is may challenge your daughter but I think that those are books that they could both enjoy, so that'd be good bang-for-buck.

I'll also recommend "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," for your son, and, maybe, some classics, like "The Swiss Family Robinson" or Jules Verne but it's difficult, not knowing anything about them (not that you should be posting detailed descriptions of your kids).

I'm a teacher in an urban, low-income public high school. What would make my job easier is ANYTHING off of my Teacher wishlist! This could include supplies, BOOKS, healthy snacks for hungry kids, BOOKS, BOOKS, or BOOKS. ;) Used books are FINE. I have a whole wishlist for these items, and most of the books are personally requested by some of my students!

Suggestions (The following all have penny options!):

• Shakespeare's Insults, requested by their teacher, as I borrowed a copy of this from a coworker for an interesting intro to William lesson using rap lyrics where we learned how to translate Shakespeare's language!
  
  
• Black and White, requested by Isaiah
  
  
• The Outside Shot, requested by Jerriontae
  
  
• Story of a Girl, requested by my student Camay
  
  
• Rooftop, requested by my student Alexis
  
  THANKS!
  
  Mike Mike Mike Mike Mike Mike

I see that this is solved, but if you liked this book, there is one I loved when I was a kid called The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright that you might also enjoy.

Our Bodies, Ourselves 2013 is an awesome reference for her to have that will be helpful throughout puberty and afterwards. I still have my copy and check it out often.

This looks pretty good, too, and it fits her age range.

Just an idea, have you thought about wrapping the books in wrapping paper? That way it's more of a celebration than a somber occasion. Remember that if you don't want her to feel embarrassment, shame, or guilt, you should demonstrate the opposite. Read the books you got her before she does, so you two can talk about it.

I also highly recommend showing her how to use something like this app so she can easily predict her start date and symptoms for herself. There are little happy-face cartoons and it'll empower her to know how to take care of herself.

Geoff Herbach's "Stupid Fast" series is incredible. It's the story is a geeky, kind of awkward boy who discovers that he's, well, really fast when we gets to high school. All the sudden he's a football star. He has to deal with this rapid change in self-identity and figure out who he is. They're great, funny, and full of heart.

Here's the first one: http://www.amazon.com/Stupid-Fast-Geoff-Herbach/dp/1402256302/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369271224&sr=8-1&keywords=stupid+fast

The second won a Minnesota Book Award this month, and the third was just released.

The closest book I've come to find is Up in Heaven by Emma Clark.

I'm sorry to hear about your dog's passing. Know that you gave as much love and joy to your dog's life as your dog gave to yours. I hope you find your book.

I know Dara Hoffman-Fox does great work with gender exploration on their Facebook page and Youtube channel(?). They have The Gender Identity Workbook for Kids on their website and it seems great and age-appropriate.

I think I may know this one... was it like a novel children's book or one with pictures and big text?

EDIT: Was it Stand Tall, Molly LouMelon?

With school starting please run to your local library and get

Stand Tall Mary Lou Mellon by Patty Lovell

https://www.amazon.com/Stand-Tall-Molly-Lou-Melon/dp/0399234160