A Manual for Marco - by Shaila Abdullah

About the Book

Book Synopsis

An 8-year old girl decides to make a list of all the things she likes and dislikes about dealing with her autistic brother, and in doing so realizes that she has created A Manual for Marco.

"Through her genuine and caring accounts about growing up with an older, autistic brother, this 8-year-old also shows her love for her sibling who is special but sometimes does things that are not-so-special. I highly recommend this book written with sensitivity and beautifully illustrated."
--Lorna d'Entremont, M.Ed., Special Needs Book Review

"Shaila Abdullah proves to be a great ambassador for autism, using explanations and warm, welcoming illustrations in A Manual for Marco that give a complex condition a simpler explanation."
--C. Hope Clark, Author of The Carolina Slade Mysteries and The Edisto Island Mysteries

"A Manual for Marco is a welcome addition to children's literature that will help in introducing the condition of autism to young people and providing information that will enable them to understand a little more about it so that it will not seem so scary."
--Wayne Walker, Home School Book Reviews

For more information, please visit www.ShailaAbdullah.com

SHAILA ABDULLAH is an award-winning author and designer based in Austin, Texas. She has written four other books: Saffron Dreams, Beyond the Cayenne Wall, My Friend Suhana, and Rani in Search of a Rainbow. Along with illustrations by the author, A Manual for Marco also includes artwork by IMAN TEJPAR, a 12-year-old artist from Canada.

From the Growing With Love Series
Loving Healing Press
Juvenile Fiction: Social Issues - Special Needs

Review Quotes

"A Manual For Marco by Shaila Abdullah, illustrated by her and Iman Tejpar, is a frank look at what it is like to be a sibling of a challenged brother. Eight-year-old Sofia struggles with the love she feels for her brother and how protective she is when it comes to classmates and friends who don't understand and poke fun, but she also struggles with how Marco's differences mean that he receives a bit more attention and care than she does. This is a dilemma that most kids will struggle with if their sibling is disabled. This story hit home for me and brought back the memories I had as a child dealing with the attention my brother received as a child that I did not. Abdullah has created a book that could help kids who were like me, confused by the situation at home and yet protective of the brother who was not understood by those outside the family. Abdullah is doing important work, and her book is mature in its approach to how these kids relate to one another and how they think and feel. The manual Sofia creates for her brother not only helps her put into perspective how special her brother is, but also how special her relationship with him is to Marco. The images are bright, and parents reading this to children can use the story as a way to bring up these discussions about being disabled and communication. Compassion and understanding are important tools that all children should have, but they are difficult to teach with immediacy"
-- Serena Agosto-Cox, Savvy Verse and Wit

A Manual for Marco is written from the point-of-view of an eight-year-old girl learning how to deal with her autistic brother Marco. She decides to make "a list of all the things that make Marco special and not-so-special" in her purple diary. When she is finished, she realizes she has created a manual for Marco. The book is presented in a notebook format with highlighted characteristics followed by anecdotes to expand on these qualities, both good and bad. The book is illustrated by author Shaila Abdullah, with contributions by 12-year-old Iman Tehpar, Sophia Ali (the inspiration behind the book's narrator), and the author's daughters Aanyah and Aaliyana. At the end of the book, there is an introduction to the Ali family who are the inspiration for this story, as well as some tips for parents by Dr Salima Ali, and a list of helpful autism website resources.
This is a confronting, yet touching book about sibling love, suitable for the whole family. It is perfect for children who are having trouble coping with an autistic brother or sister."
-- Lynda Dickson, Books Direct

"Through her genuine and caring accounts about growing up with an older, autistic brother, this 8-year-old also shows her love for her sibling who is special but sometimes does things that are not-so-special. I highly recommend this book written with sensitivity and beautifully illustrated."
--Lorna d'Entremont, M.Ed., Special Needs Book Review

"Shaila Abdullah proves to be a great ambassador for autism, using explanations and warm, welcoming illustrations in A Manual for Marco that give a complex condition a simpler explanation."
--C. Hope Clark, Author of The Carolina Slade Mysteries and The Edisto Island Mysteries

"A Manual for Marco is a welcome addition to children's literature that will help in introducing the condition of autism to young people and providing information that will enable them to understand a little more about it so that it will not seem so scary."
--Wayne Walker, Home School Book Reviews