An illustrated picture book on conversation topics, for children with autism who are learning conversation skills
Joel Shaul’s second children’s book to promote conversation skills for children with ASD’s is published by Jessica Kingsley (in US, UK, Australia).
In conversation, children on the autism spectrum often struggle to select topics of interest to others. Many have strong, narrow interests and feel compelled to introduce these subjects when they talk.
This book provides a simple visual model to help children experience more success in finding common ground in conversation. The “Green Zone” is a visual representation of finding common ground between one person (blue) and another person (yellow) to create a “green zone” that represents the pair’s shared interests. The book, illustrated with dozens of photographs representing the range of other people’s interests, clearly explains what the “Green Zone” is and how to find it, and contains many photocopiable conversation practice activities and reinforcement worksheets based on this simple visual.
Ideal for use in classroom settings or at home, this attractive, full color book is suitable for children on the autism spectrum aged 7 and up.
To order The Green Zone Conversation Book, please follow THIS LINK
Quotes from reviews of The Green Zone Conversation Book
*Click on the quote to connect with the actual review at its web source*
“If you work with students who have unique interests, tend to use monologues vs. conversations or who have difficulty participating in non-preferred conversational topics, you are going to love this book.”
“By creating a visual link between conversation and finding shared interests, children on the spectrum (and many an adult) can discover how to participate in conversations that work. No collection dealing with autism should be without this creative, key handbook.”
“The book is easy to read and full of ideas to reinforce reciprocal conversation and the art of making friends. The book is beautifully designed, very appealing visually and full of captivating pictures.”
“As a speech-language pathologist working with children with autism spectrum disorders, I’m always on the hunt for great social skills books. This is a fabulous book for teaching conversation skills and finding common ground between conversation partners. I’ve adapted the lessons to extend to play for younger children – helping them understand how to find activities both they and their friend will enjoy. I’m so happy to have discovered this book.”
“This book beautifully puts into easily comprehensible words the fact with which many children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder struggle: that not everyone has the same interests that they do. AND, it provides great tips to help children become better able to understand the interests of others.”
“As a teacher of middle school aged kids with autism, and as the mother of an elementary aged son with autism, I can see immediate uses for this fabulous book! The concepts are presented clearly, with terrific photographs of a wide variety of objects, to ensure that all students are able to understand and connect with the information presented.”
“As a teacher who works with autistic children and adults, I’m always looking for ways to make interaction less painful for this population. This book is full of appealing design and photography that makes the work of finding common ground easier.”
“We often joke that our son talks ‘at’ you and not ‘to’ you and he wouldn’t notice if you fell asleep from boredom because he is so enthusiastic about his subject – Minecraft, volcanoes, Lego, tornadoes etc – that he cannot see why it would fail to interest others. Having read the book, it is a very simple and effective way of introducing an ASD child to the art of appropriate conversation.”
Available in Mandarin, published by Huaxia Publishing House; in French, published by Autisme Diffusion; published in Polish by Wydawnictwo Harmonia.
