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Book Review of The Boy Who Loved Windows: Opening the Heart and Mind of a Child Threatened with Autism

Bookfanatic avatar reviewed on


I was disappointed with the book. The book's title is misleading. The child in the book was never diagnosed as having autism and doesn't seem autistic to me. He definitely has some sensory integration problems. He is hypersensitive. Children who have autism have sensory problems but not all children with sensory issues have autism. Walker, the little boy at the heart of this story, is pointing by the age of 1. By three he's asking questions and conversing a storm. He loves to pretend play. He is social. That isn't what an autistic child is like. I think the author should have called this book something else. "Opening the Heart and Mind of a Child Threatened with Sensory Problems."
It would also have been good if the author had provided references (books, phone numbers, etc.) for the material she used with her son. Floortime, which I'm familiar with, is mentioned but a parent would have to do all the research on their own to find out more even though the author has regular conversations with the creator of Floortime therapy, Stanley Greenspan.