★ Top 10 Books about Down Syndrome - Parent Review ★

Babies with Down Syndrome: A New Parents' Guide

Amazon Price: $10.77 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $6.98

This book is a must have for all new parents of babies with down syndrome. It gives an overview of everything you will need to know about raising your baby including therapy resources, medical terminology and information, financial facts about raising a child with down syndrome and anything else you want to know.

Teaching Reading to Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Teachers (Topics in Down Syndrome)

by: Patricia Logan Oelwein

Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $1.89

My son with Down syndrome has been sight reading since the 2nd grade. In 3rd grade, he began sounding out words. This book is responsible for his reading success. If you are the parent or caregiver of a child with Down syndrome, you will need this book. It is explains many milestones of learning to read and explains how children with Down syndrome best master these milestones. Full of games that you can make at home to get your child reading.

Gross Motor Skills in Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome)

by: Patricia C. Winders

Amazon Price: $11.97 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $5.08

We purchased this book when my son was born, to help navigate the new world of physical therapy. It was helpful in the beginning, but after the first few years we put this book away and have had little need for it as they mastered each step of physical growth in their own time without it.

Early Communication Skills for Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

by: Libby Kumin

Amazon Price: $24.12 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $10.94

This book offers constructive advice on hearing loss, signing and improving early communication skills. Talking, reading, signing and having regular hearing tests will improve a child with Down syndrome intelligibility.

Hearing Loss in Children with Down Syndrome
Like many children with Down syndrome, we struggle a lot with speech. The way a child hears makes a big difference in intelligibility. One of my boys with Ds is unfortunate enough to have chronic mild to moderate hearing loss. We undergo the hearing screenings annually, have had many sets of tubes, yet the hearing loss continues, and therefore speech is naturally delayed. It's worth mentioning that children with Down syndrome that have tubes placed in their ears will likely have to undergo surgery to have their eardrum reconstructed. Tubes leave a hole in the eardrum, that typically grows shut, but for children with Ds they usually do not grow shut on their own. The holes, until repaired, create a significant amount of hearing loss themselves.

Teaching Math to People With Down Syndrome and Other Hands-On Learners: Basic Survival Skills (Topics in Down Syndrome) Book 1 (Bk.1)

by: DeAnna Horstmeier

Amazon Price: $15.64 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $10.01

Pros: As a parent of two children with Down syndrome, I've found this book invaluable. This is the book that will walk you through how to ensure your child has the real life money, time, calendar, calculator and measuring skills that they will need to get through daily life. It is a must have.

Cons: Many of the activities in the book for teaching math skills are time consuming to prepare.

Fine Motor Skills for Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents And Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome)

by: Maryanne Bruni

Amazon Price: $11.82 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $10.79

This book offers advice to improve fine motor function, as a parent you can document your child's progress by using the checklist in this book. It is likely that your child with Down syndrome will reach all these goals in their own time, but if you want the best professional advice out there to assist you.. then this is your book. It contains info on writing, buttoning, zipping, stringing beads, etc., all the fine motor movements.

Choosing Naia: A Family's Journey

by: Mitchell Zuckoff

Amazon Price: $8.00 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $0.01

This is a touching story about a families choice to have their child with Down syndrome. It walks you through the emotions and challenges they experienced as well as those of their close family members. I would recommend this to anyone who has a child with Down syndrome.

My Friend Isabelle

by: Eliza Woloson

Amazon Price: $8.77 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $4.72

When my children with Ds were beginning school, I gave this to the teacher asking that she read it to the class. Their classmates have always been very loving to them and I think this book helped us get started on the right foot.

Medical & Surgical Care for Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents (Topics in Down Syndrome)

Amazon Price: $23.00 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $0.01

An invaluable book if you want to educate yourself on medical risks faced by our kids. For example, this book clearly explains that 65% of children with Ds are born with heart problems. There have been a few instances in our past where my boys were experiencing health problems. We were able to diagnose the problem by reading this book and asking for the right test. Many family doctors do not have extensive experience with children with Down syndrome. Many do not necessarily understand the likelihood of heart problems, reflux, spinal instability, etc. It's a good idea to have a pediatrician experienced with Down Syndrome, or to get to know this book.

Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome (A Harvest Book)

by: Jason Kingsley, Mitchell Levitz

Amazon Price: $3.53 (as of 05/26/2012)
Used Price: $2.45

Written by to young men with Down syndrome, this book offers insight into their feelings and experiences while growing up.