Book Review #1: All Cats Have Aspergers Syndrome

Hoopman, Kathy. “All Cats have Asperger Syndrome.” 2006. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2006

This book discusses Asperger Syndrome, a form of Autism, in a way that may make understanding the disorder easier for students. Author Kathy Hoopman uses cats as a way to illustrate the complexity of Asperger Syndrome while creating an entertaining book. I personally really enjoyed this book because it helps students visualize what exactly is going on in the head of some with Asperger Syndrome. The text connects very well to the photographs of the cats to help the students again better visualize. This book presents Asperger’s in a way that is easily obtainable to children and presents it a way that is engaging and entertaining.

If there was one thing that I did not enjoy about the book was the fact that it was rather lengthy and it could be hard for students (especially at the younger ages) to sit through the entire book. Nonetheless, this book helps its reader understand some of the differences that men and women, boys and girls face with Asperger’s and how that does not mean they cannot live normal lives. I feel that it is such an important message to stress, because so often do children feel like people with disabilities cannot do anything because of that ‘title.’ This book helps address this stereotype and presents the few alterations people with Asperger’s needs to do to live a relatively normal life. As stated in the book, “Sure, he may need a little help following fashionable trends, but don’t forget, everyone is different in his own way and there is a little bit of Asperger in all of us” (61). There was an ongoing usage of ‘he’ which could create stereotypes for students that only people with Aspergers can be male.

Overall, I feel this book depicts Asperger’s in a way that is insightful and humorous (but not too humorous). I feel I would use this book in my classroom to help educate the students on how everyone has his/ her own differences that makes them special in every way.