My Brother Sammy

by Becky Edwards, David Armitage (Illustrator)

In a beautifully illustrated picture book, a boy describes some of the many feelings he has about his younger brother Sammy, who is autistic. By the illustrator of The Lighthouse Keeper.

Genres: Picture Books, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Family, Disability, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Alice Reedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having recently reviewed a children’s book that introduced the idea of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a way that I found slightly problematic, (see Looking after Louis review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) I was excited to find My Brother Sammy. Becky Edward’s depiction of a brother learning to accept a sibling with Special Educational Needs was written in a way that I found to be both moving and realistic.

The narrator of My Brother Sammy doesn’t want a brother that is ‘special.’ He is confused by the sadness and resentment that he feels when Sammy doesn’t reply to his hellos or join in with his games. Then something wonderful happens. Sammy’s older brother begins to enter Sammy’s world; his frustrations fade and he starts to appreciate their differences and form the brotherly bond that he was so clearly craving. This creates a wonderfully positive message about how to interact with children with ASD or other special needs. Sammy’s brother achieves his connection with his brother not through forcing him to engage in the sorts of things that he himself enjoys, but by taking the time to recognise and welcome the ways that Sammy is ‘special.’

‘Sometimes when we go to the park, I don’t play with my friends. I just lie in the green grass with Sammy instead and we watch the sunshine shimmering on the leaves of the trees. Then we both smile because it’s beautiful in a shimmering sort of way.’

This extract perfectly demonstrates Edward’s simple yet emotive writing style which helps the reader to empathise with both Sammy and his brother. The words are complemented by David Armitage’s beautiful water-colour illustrations. Armitage uses colour to reflect the changing emotions of the narrator: red when Sammy knocks down his tower, grey when he admits his frustration at his ‘different’ brother and then bright greens and yellows when the brothers’ friendship starts to blossom.

My Brother Sammy would be a valuable resource for any parent or teacher who wanted to encourage discussion about disabilities and develop ideas of empathy and tolerance for those different to ourselves.

[Alexis Adelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Brother Sammy is a book about a young boy who has a special brother Sammy. He longs for his brother to play with him. He just wants a brother who is not special. Then Sammy gets upset that he says he wants a different brother and tells his brother that he is his special brother. Sammy and his brother then spend the rest of the day together playing and getting along. The young boy is now happy to have sammy as his brother and they get a long great. He now loves that Sammy is his brother.

This book is giving us a view on how the life of having a brother with special needs might be. The moral of the story is that at first it may be hard to know or get along with someone with special needs, but in the end you find out who they really are and how special they can be to you. The plot of the story is mostly straight lined until their is a small climax when the brother and Sammy begin to get along. The illustrations are very colorful and done in water colors. They fill the whole page and draw our attention in. The author does a great job of letting us into this life of the young boy with a special needs brother. It is a great book and it will definitely help young readers understand that not everyone is the same.

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was recommended this book which explores children whose siblings have ASD. Told from the perspective of the older brother, the story structure is repeated on every page for the close. The brother tells us what Sammy does that is different to him and then ends with a wish that alludes to his feelings about having a brother with a social disorder.
In terms of is allowing a place and space for siblings who have members of a family who they cannot 'reach' or understand, this is a nice book which can promote discussion. We are never invited to look into Sammy's inner thoughts unlike Bat in A Boy Called Bat but we do get behavioural glimpses. It was nice that the book ended with the older brother spending more time with Sammy in order to try and better understand him, or emphathise or, simply, to show that he cares but I'm not too sure about the closing line: 'Sometimes I think I'm lucky to have a special brother because that makes me special too.' - Isn't he special to his parents without the need to have a sibling with ASD? Also, why do the parents keep saying his brother is 'special'? What does that even mean? Shouldn't he just know that his younger brother has a condition which means that he socialises, communications and behaves differently to many other children but that he isn't alone in this?

[Kiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a touching story about a young boy who has a brother with autism and his mother is trying to get him to understand his brother is special which is why he does things differently than him. He wants a brother who is just like him. This story is good to read to children of all ages as well as anybody who knows someone with special needs.

[Piyali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written book for children with special needs siblings. The message of learning differently is well enforced in a very empathetic manner.

[Nick Swarbrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books that deal with issues can be heavy-handed in their delivery. I’m afraid that, though I really appreciate the intentions here, the repeated “special” began to grate long before the pay-off.
There were some highlights: the watery washes suddenly turning grey was a great move; the idea that “special” *can* be used in a positive way rather than as an excusing label - but a bit too preachy for me. Families and classes closer to the issues raised may find some points to discuss and might disagree with me, and this is a dreadfully hard area to get right...

[Richard Avalos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a special needs child named Sammy whose older brother wants a new brother because he cannot do the same things he wants to do. Not until he realizes that Sammy can do many of the things he wants but in a different way, does Sammy’s older brother accept him. The illustrations of this book stand out to me because of the beautiful watercolor illustrations that give readers a unique reading experience. Further, the thicker watercolor paint gives a more realistic look to the characters and scene in the illustrations. The character development of Sammy and his brother is simple like many picture books. Furthermore, Sammy is clearly defined by his autistic traits and his older brother is defined has being the fun, energetic, and rough older brother. The theme of this book is that some of us are different from each other and do some things differently. Further, readers can see that this book is sharply focused on this theme and tries to convey the message that sometimes we are different and may do things differently. Moreover, it teaches kids that if something is bothering us because someone does not want to do it your way, try it their way. Overall, I would recommend this book to teach children about the differences of some children. I think this is a good tool to use to show children that doing things other ways may help them get along with those who are different and be more inclusive.

[Linda DiGaetano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very heart-warming book that touched close to home. The story is about a boy who is embarrassed by his brother Sammy who is mentally challenged with Autism. This young boy does not understand why Sammy does things different than him. He finally comes to the realization that he has to accept Sammy for who he is and once he does that he comes to terms with Sammy's disability. I totally can relate to this book as my brother was adopted and was mentally challenges. Although you couldn't tell by looking at him when he spoke you were aware that something was different. It's interesting the stigma that is placed on kids that are different. I did it too. I couldn't understand why my brother was different. While Sammy had Autism and my brother did not, it was still a challenging concept for me to handle sometimes. Eventually there is a point when you group up mentally and you come to terms with a person who has limitations. Great life lesson book for children who don't have challenges to be able to recognize that not everyone is the same.

[Celeste Bittner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about how a brother feels about the specific things his brother does. His mom tells him that he does things in a different way, but the brother just wishes that his brother could do some of the same things. One day when Sammy knocks down the tower he built, the brother becomes frustrated and tells his mom that he wishes Sammy could go to the same school, play with his friends, build castles and towers, and that he does not want a special brother. Then the little boy is able to sit down with Sammy and do the things that Sammy. I loved the way the author told the story to show that the little boy does not understand the things his brother does but wishes that he could do the same things he does and how in the end, he loves having a special brother. Makes me really think about how children could relate to the brother in the book.

[Suzanne Maley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with the emotions of a child who has a brother with autism. The illustrations are more stylistic and fuzzy to invoke emotions rather than giving a clear picture of an event. What I like about this book is that it brings Sammy into the story and Sammy's interaction with his brother is what helps the brother turn the corner in understanding Sammy and dealing with his emotions. In many books it is an adult or the child without autism who causes the change. Presenting Sammy as a participant in the process of understanding and change seems to me that it would be more helpful for children without autism where this book is being used as an introduction to autism or a means of helping a sibling deal with their emotions.

[Dana Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very educational book that discusses an important idea. It is all about a young boy learning how to accept his brother. Time after time his mother explains to him that Sammy is not the same because he is special. He often gets frustrated with Sammy because he wishes he could be more like him, but he comes to realize that it is okay that his brother is special. He learns to adapt to his brothers differences and ends up enjoying just being with his brother Sammy. This is very important for children to understand. Without clearly stating it, Sammy has some type of disability. Children need to know that is no reason for indidivuals who are different to be treated poorly. They are special in their own way.

[Maxine Fife · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about two brothers and one of them is special needs. The narrator is talking about his brother and his mom tells him that his brother is special, but he does not understand that. One day when Sammy knocks over his brothers tower, his brother gets very angry and begins to cry saying he wanted a new brother who is not special. Then Sammy tell his brother he is special too, because Sammy is different from his brother, but his brother is different from Sammy. Then, Sammy and his brother begin playing together and doing other activities together instead of alone. I really enjoyed this book. I found that this book really shines light on what it is like to have a sibling with special needs. I also really enjoyed the illustrations and color scheme throughout this story.

[Joe Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard of this book when I was about 8 or 9, when my little brother had borrowed it from his nursery. At that point, I did not know I was a "sufferer" of ASD- I wasn't diagnosed until I was 10. When I was 10, I saw the book again in the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, and looked through it- I didn't fully understand then that Sammy also had ASD, as I think he's probably supposed to be more severely on the Spectrum than I am. However, I was moved by the touching relationship between the brothers, and the mum as well. Definitely read if you have a child on the Spectrum, or even just to bring up your child to be tolerant, as I know the majority of them are, and the majority of you bring them up that way.

[Lexi Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a rate of 4 stars because I really enjoyed this book and the message that it sends to students, for them to understand what it is like to have a sibling with autism and how life is for those who have someone with autism.

In this book, Sammy's brother tries to get Sammy to venture into the world and to try to do things the way that he does them when all of sudden he stops trying to make Sammy do things the way he does, but instead he goes into Sammy's world and does things the way that Sammy does them. He then realizes that it isn't so bad after all. He was worried about where their relationship would go, but it got better!

[Tiffany Brown]

this book is special, This book speaks from the view of the older brother having a sibling with a social disability. The story does a great job of using colors to tell the story in the pictures. looks like watercolors, red was used to show the anger present when the tower was knocked down. The grey for the frustration and sadness, while the green and yellow opens up when the brothers begin to form a greater bond. The older brother connects with came in a greater way because he looks at things from Sam's point of view. This sheds a new light on disabilities. great read for children of all walks of life.

[Maddy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. It is written from the perspective of a boy whose brother has Autism. He talks about all the special things his brother does, and how sometimes these things can be frustrating. This is a great way for kids to learn about autism. Many children don't exactly know what autism is, and this book is a great way to show kids some aspects of what autism is. It is simple, yet effective in telling the story about having a sibling with autism. Also, it is filled with beautiful illustrations. This is a very sweet story of a boy and his brother, and I think both children and adults should read it.

[Sophia D'Alesio · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was placed on my diversity and social justice disability. I enjoyed this book, but did find it a little challenging for a child to read on their own. There is a lot of text on the pages which could be frustrating to some children while reading. I found that the visuals used throughout the book were detailed but also blurred. They have a water color effect which I enjoyed a lot and found impressive with the details made with water colors. I would utilize this book in the classroom when learning about disabilities and some different characteristics a student might see in their classmates.

[Libbie Huhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. My Brother Sammy is a book about a child struggling with the fact that his brother is different from him because he has autism. The child in the story talks about how he is sad and frustrated that his brother Sammy does things differently than him. He discusses how it is not always easy to have a sibling with special needs. I think this is a good book for children who have siblings with autism or other special needs, because they could easily connect to the narrator in the story if they share the same frustrations and see how to address these thoughts and feelings.

[Kirstin LaBelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character in this story has a little brother named Sammy who is battling mental illness. The main character tries to explain to readers how him and Sammy are different, but even though they are, he loves him anyways.
I gave this book a 3 star rating mostly becuase I enjoyed the illustrations. They were beautifully done with watercolors and were bright and fun to look at. Other than that, you know that Sammy has a mental illness, but you dont know what he has. I wanted to guess autism, but not really sure.

[Brook Donatelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hit close to home, since I have a brother who is on the spectrum. This book is really important for all young children, especially those who may be around someone with special needs. It teaches the different ways of children who are special, and while it may be frustrating for other children, its important for them to learn that these children are special in their own ways. The author does a really good job of showing special needs from the other side. I would definitely recommend this book for young readers.

[Cory Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just an incredible story told from a brothers point of view of someone who has autism who realizes slowly he shouldn't be angry because brother gets treated special and isn't normal. Because he's special the reason I love this story so much is because this is how some siblings think about their siblings who have disabilities that they're better then them and should be treated that way and recieve more attention but slowly realize that their siblings need more so he or she could be better off.

[Mackenzie Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story shows the frustration of a someone who has a brother who has autism. He does not understand why his brother has to be special. He starts to spend more time with his brother Sammy and starts to learn more about him and accept him more. Finally, he opens his mind up to what Sammy has and creates a bond with him. I think this book has a good meaning and goes about it in a way that people can understand. I think this book is good for children who do not understand how certain disabilities make other children handle things differently which I think is good.

[Elise Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Brother Sammy is a book about a brother who goes through his emtions of having an Autistic younger brother. The older brother says he wishes Sammy could go to school with him but his mother says Sammy is special and doesn't learn like the other kids. He just wants his brother to say his name but his mother says he can't talk like us yet and this makes his older brother angry. After a breakdown the older brother started to see his brother in a new way, he was different but in a good way.

[Kiyoko · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy who has a "special" brother who is autistic, and is sometimes unhappy about how the relationship unfolds. I'm not so sure Sammy wants to be a "special" brother either. He probably wants to go to school on the bus and play with friends, too - if he could only express it.

I read this as an illustrated e-book during the Covid-19 quarantine.
3 stars - okay, but I loved the watercolor illustrations.

[Deanna Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows the real struggles of siblings when one has a disability. In the beginning he wants his brother to do normal things with him. But, his mother tells him that Sammy is special and you are his special brother. After that he plays Sammy's way. At the end I love when he says "Sometimes I fell lucky to have a special brother because that made his special too".

[KyLee Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is very touching. It's from an older brothers perspective on what it's like to have an auspices brother. In the story the brother wishes that he didn't have an Autistic sibling but that changes when they spend the day together. This story is great for teaching children that people with a disability can be great too.

[Connor Filipovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My Brother Sammy" is a terrific story about the narrator and his special brother, Sammy. It is a great read for children who have autistic people in their life; but would also be a good read for children who want to know more about autism. This book shows that no matter how different or special somebody is, they are people too.

[Abigail Monte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is about a boy and his brother, who is autistic. This book is great for teaching kids about diversity and differences and being accepting of everyone no matter their uniqueness. As a special Ed teacher, all students should read this to give a perspective of what it is like to have a close family member or friend with these exceptionalities.

[Jett Ventresco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it goes into the side of being a sibling of someone who has autism and how they feel and see their brother or sister. Perspective is something that helps us understand each other and this book capture the perspective of having a family member with autism is like. The water color style of art used in the book is very cooling and relaxing to look at.

[McKayla Costillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very good read. It starts out as Sammys brother is upset and embarrassed that his brother is autistic and does things/ acts differently than other kids do. By the end of the book, his brother realizes it isn't bad to be different and he is now proud that his brother has autism. It's a very sweet and easy book to read and I would definitely recommend.