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Second Chance: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism & His Shelter Dog
Over the past 10 years, author Sandra Gerencher has been on a mission to save dogs from high-kill animal shelters. Her first rescue was P.J., the black and white Pomeranian in the story. She also adopted the orange Pomeranians Shelby and Lil Rascal, and of course, Chance, the big black Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix. All characters in the story are based on Sandra's real life family. The book is filled with softly blended watercolor photos of her loved ones. Her most significant adoption was her son, Terry. He was considered a special needs child because he was born with a genetic disorder known as Fragile X Syndrome. The disorder can cause many cognitive disorders, such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental retardation and depression.
- GenresDogs
28 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2008
About the author
Sandra J. Gerencher
1 book2 followersSandra J. Gerencher is a special education teacher in the Bangor Area public school system. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked at Lehigh University in a school-based program, as a Program Specialist for adults with disabilities. Over the past 20 years she has worked with children and adults with special needs in such areas as counseling, Behavior Specialist Consultation, behavioral research, crisis intervention and abuse therapy. Sandra graduated from Lehigh University with a M.Ed. in Special Education (2004) and from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia with an M.S. in Counseling Psychology (1999).
Visit Chance the Dog's web site at: chancetheshelterdog.com
Visit Chance the Dog's web site at: chancetheshelterdog.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 28, 2012
This book tells a beautiful story and it also serves a significant purpose by explaining adoption in words that a child will be able to understand. This story is told from the point of view of the shelter dog, Chance. Chance doesn’t understand about adoption or why his new owner keeps talking about this being his second chance.
Ryan, explains to chance what adoption means and how Adoption Ryan tells him means to be loved forever. Chance doesn’t care about Ryan’s autism and feels closer to him them any of the other dogs in the home. Chance and Ryan’s relationship is a heartwarming one and is the very heart of this books.
All the pages are beautifully illustrated by pictures of her real-life family of boys and dogs that have been given a second chance by this wonderful woman. This is a beautifully written story and will suit children in the 7-10 age group.
This is a wonderful story filled of emotion that should be shared to children around the world.
A copy of this book was received for free for review, all opinions expressed are my own through reading this story.
This review was first published on http://everybookhasasoul.wordpress.com
Ryan, explains to chance what adoption means and how Adoption Ryan tells him means to be loved forever. Chance doesn’t care about Ryan’s autism and feels closer to him them any of the other dogs in the home. Chance and Ryan’s relationship is a heartwarming one and is the very heart of this books.
All the pages are beautifully illustrated by pictures of her real-life family of boys and dogs that have been given a second chance by this wonderful woman. This is a beautifully written story and will suit children in the 7-10 age group.
This is a wonderful story filled of emotion that should be shared to children around the world.
A copy of this book was received for free for review, all opinions expressed are my own through reading this story.
This review was first published on http://everybookhasasoul.wordpress.com
January 2, 2011
Second Chance is a charming story written in the point of view of a rescue dog. Chance is adopted by a family with an autistic child, Ryan, and three other dogs, P.J., Little Rascal, and Shelby. A special bond develops between Ryan and Chance. There are many things Chance doesn’t understand about his new home (especially why Shelby likes to bite at his paws!), but he gradually learns about his family and his new home. He also doesn’t initially understand Ryan’s behavior or what the word “adopt” means. All becomes very clear and he is embraced by this loving family.
The book is a wonderful way to teach children about autism, and adoption of both children and dogs. I loved reading the story from this confused and frightened dog’s point of view.
The first paragraph of this book brought back memories of when I went to our local Animal Control Center and a beautiful white and brown puppy walked up, sat down, and leaned against my leg. Then he peed all over the floor, and I knew he was going home with me.
The book is a wonderful way to teach children about autism, and adoption of both children and dogs. I loved reading the story from this confused and frightened dog’s point of view.
The first paragraph of this book brought back memories of when I went to our local Animal Control Center and a beautiful white and brown puppy walked up, sat down, and leaned against my leg. Then he peed all over the floor, and I knew he was going home with me.
January 27, 2011
Second Chance is narrated by Chance a shelter dog who is adopted into a family with an autistic boy. He keeps hearing the word adoption and wonders what it is. Ryan is autistic and has trouble communicating with most people but is able to communicate with Chance.
This is a book I would recommend to the right audience: those who are adopted or autistic or have children that are. It's a great book for helping to explain what adoption is to a child. It didn't delve into autism as much as it did adoption but still addressed the subject.
The biggest drawback of this book is the way it was formatted. Small print on dark colored pages made the text difficult to read. There were too many words on each page for it to be a read aloud yet it was a picture book making it a little young for older children who would be able to read it alone.
What I really liked was knowing this was based on a true story. A visit to the authors website and seeing the pictures that the illustrations were based on made me appreciate the book more.
3.5 Stars
Source: Tribute books tour
This is a book I would recommend to the right audience: those who are adopted or autistic or have children that are. It's a great book for helping to explain what adoption is to a child. It didn't delve into autism as much as it did adoption but still addressed the subject.
The biggest drawback of this book is the way it was formatted. Small print on dark colored pages made the text difficult to read. There were too many words on each page for it to be a read aloud yet it was a picture book making it a little young for older children who would be able to read it alone.
What I really liked was knowing this was based on a true story. A visit to the authors website and seeing the pictures that the illustrations were based on made me appreciate the book more.
3.5 Stars
Source: Tribute books tour
January 3, 2009
Second Chance is a wonderful little book that accomplishes a great deal in a relatively small number of warm and wonderfully illustrated pages. First and foremost, it explains adoption in terms that any child can understand - and it does so in an interesting way, via the point of view of Chance, a shelter dog rescued by the author and brought home to live with her, her son, and their three other dogs. The lady keeps talking about adoption, but Chance doesn't understand what that means, nor does he understand what the lady means by his getting a second chance.
Like Chance, Ryan was also adopted, but there is something special about Ryan - he has autism and several related disorders. That doesn't bother Chance at all; in fact, he relates more to this little boy than he does to his new Pomeranian brothers and sister (who aren't as quick to welcome a large, energetic puppy into their lives). In fact, it is Ryan who helps Chance learn just what adoption means. The boy may have bounced around between foster homes rather than being caged up in a shelter, but Chance recognizes how similar their situations were - and he is thrilled to learn that he now has a permanent home with a family who will always love him and take care of him. Adoption, as Ryan tells him, means to be loved forever.
The most telling part of this whole story is the communication between Chance and Ryan. The boy's autism makes communication with other people problematic, yet he can understand Chance just fine. He even looks Chance in the eye when he talks to him - in complete sentences, no less - which is something he never does when talking to humans. This bond formed between Chance and Ryan obviously proves mutually beneficial to them both - and is the very heart of the book.
Chance's early impressions of Ryan (such as his penchant for chewing on his collar) are likely quite similar to a child's first reaction to such a special needs child. That being the case, this book definitely has the potential to help children understand and interact more easily with any friends or family members who have special needs. This is by no means a primer on the nature of autism, but the book does provide a degree of insight into the nature of the condition.
Sandra J. Gerencher's story is as heart-warming as it is instructive, largely because Second Chance is the author's own story - more specifically, the story of the unique bond between her own adopted son Terry (who was born with Fragile X Syndrome) and her rescued shelter dog Chance. The warm and fuzzy watercolor photos that fill each page are of her real-life family of boy and dogs, each one of which was given the gift of a second chance for a happy and healthy life by this caring woman. Having worked with special needs children and adults for over 20 years, Gerencher knows the unique qualities such children have to offer. She also knows the joys that innocent dogs rescued from high-kill animal shelters bring to people's lives. The publication of Second Chance is really just an extension to the important advocacy work Sandra Gerencher has been doing throughout her adult life.
Like Chance, Ryan was also adopted, but there is something special about Ryan - he has autism and several related disorders. That doesn't bother Chance at all; in fact, he relates more to this little boy than he does to his new Pomeranian brothers and sister (who aren't as quick to welcome a large, energetic puppy into their lives). In fact, it is Ryan who helps Chance learn just what adoption means. The boy may have bounced around between foster homes rather than being caged up in a shelter, but Chance recognizes how similar their situations were - and he is thrilled to learn that he now has a permanent home with a family who will always love him and take care of him. Adoption, as Ryan tells him, means to be loved forever.
The most telling part of this whole story is the communication between Chance and Ryan. The boy's autism makes communication with other people problematic, yet he can understand Chance just fine. He even looks Chance in the eye when he talks to him - in complete sentences, no less - which is something he never does when talking to humans. This bond formed between Chance and Ryan obviously proves mutually beneficial to them both - and is the very heart of the book.
Chance's early impressions of Ryan (such as his penchant for chewing on his collar) are likely quite similar to a child's first reaction to such a special needs child. That being the case, this book definitely has the potential to help children understand and interact more easily with any friends or family members who have special needs. This is by no means a primer on the nature of autism, but the book does provide a degree of insight into the nature of the condition.
Sandra J. Gerencher's story is as heart-warming as it is instructive, largely because Second Chance is the author's own story - more specifically, the story of the unique bond between her own adopted son Terry (who was born with Fragile X Syndrome) and her rescued shelter dog Chance. The warm and fuzzy watercolor photos that fill each page are of her real-life family of boy and dogs, each one of which was given the gift of a second chance for a happy and healthy life by this caring woman. Having worked with special needs children and adults for over 20 years, Gerencher knows the unique qualities such children have to offer. She also knows the joys that innocent dogs rescued from high-kill animal shelters bring to people's lives. The publication of Second Chance is really just an extension to the important advocacy work Sandra Gerencher has been doing throughout her adult life.
November 13, 2015
This book allows for a through understanding of not only adoption for children and animals but talks about special needs children in the system. As I mentioned earlier in my review of Red In The Flower Bed I have next to no background on the subject of adoption but I am also in the dark about autism. This book definitely shed light on both subjects in a completely different way than the previous book in that it goes more into detail in words instead of with pictures. The pictures themselves are pretty and add to the story but are not necessary to the story like in Red In The Flower Bed which is good for older kids.
The way the author uses the dog's story to explain what constant shifting in early childhood is like, is amazing. As Chance showed, going to your new family to get answers to the many questions one has brings you closer together and helps you learn new things about one another. I think that is a great message for anyone entering a new home with a new family.
Second Chance is a great book for a child learning to live with a new autistic family member or if they are an adopted child themselves. This book is equally good for children with new pets and how to explain what shelters are and how to acclimate to having a pet. Due to the clear and curious way of storytelling I am pleased to give this book a four. You can learn more about this book, and the author and her family above by following the links above. Happy Reading!
Read more reviews at http://flyingofftheshelves.blogspot.c...
The way the author uses the dog's story to explain what constant shifting in early childhood is like, is amazing. As Chance showed, going to your new family to get answers to the many questions one has brings you closer together and helps you learn new things about one another. I think that is a great message for anyone entering a new home with a new family.
Second Chance is a great book for a child learning to live with a new autistic family member or if they are an adopted child themselves. This book is equally good for children with new pets and how to explain what shelters are and how to acclimate to having a pet. Due to the clear and curious way of storytelling I am pleased to give this book a four. You can learn more about this book, and the author and her family above by following the links above. Happy Reading!
Read more reviews at http://flyingofftheshelves.blogspot.c...
March 1, 2011
The idea of writing about a boy with autism who can only communicate properly with a dog is interesting enough. Add to it the dog's point of view/voice and it makes for an even more interesting premise.
Chance, a shelter dog, is adopted by a family whose child, Ryan, is autistic and has a few other disorders as well. Like the dog, Chance, Ryan has also been adopted, so Ryan and Chance become best friends, helping each other understand their adoption situation and its implications. Most of the story is dialog with very little to no description.
Second Chance is a recommended read for children who need to understand what adoption is about. It's also useful in teaching children that being 'different' isn't necessarily bad or inferior. I liked the fact that it's a true story which gives the narrative a warm and personal touch.
The reason why I didn't rate this book higher is the language. The book's too short to be a middle grade read, the language is too simple for an intermediate reader. Judging from the illustrations, reading level difficulty and book length, the author would have been better off marketing it as a picture book. With no description beyond the illustrations Second Chance is a picture book suitable for readers aged 6 to 9.
Formatting is bad, the print is too small for a children's book, which makes it hard to read out loud, or give it to a child to read, however the story makes up for it, hence the five stars.
Chance, a shelter dog, is adopted by a family whose child, Ryan, is autistic and has a few other disorders as well. Like the dog, Chance, Ryan has also been adopted, so Ryan and Chance become best friends, helping each other understand their adoption situation and its implications. Most of the story is dialog with very little to no description.
Second Chance is a recommended read for children who need to understand what adoption is about. It's also useful in teaching children that being 'different' isn't necessarily bad or inferior. I liked the fact that it's a true story which gives the narrative a warm and personal touch.
The reason why I didn't rate this book higher is the language. The book's too short to be a middle grade read, the language is too simple for an intermediate reader. Judging from the illustrations, reading level difficulty and book length, the author would have been better off marketing it as a picture book. With no description beyond the illustrations Second Chance is a picture book suitable for readers aged 6 to 9.
Formatting is bad, the print is too small for a children's book, which makes it hard to read out loud, or give it to a child to read, however the story makes up for it, hence the five stars.
June 28, 2013
This short book (only 28 pages) has a significant message and is easy to read. Chance is a shelter dog who is adopted into a family where the young boy is autistic. The child is also adopted and Chance doesn't understand what that word means. Both of them adopted into a warm and loving home but the only one who understands Ryan is Chance. A beautiful book with a great message about accepting those with a challenge unconditionally.
The artwork is beautiful and the book is based upon a true story, Sandra's real life family.
The artwork is beautiful and the book is based upon a true story, Sandra's real life family.
February 6, 2011
This is a story about Ryan, a boy with autism and the rescued dog, Chance. The story is told from the rescued dog's point of view which was very entertaining. Both of them were adopted and they can understand each other! Their story made adoption easy to understand and while it was very emotional, it was also funny.
This book is recommended to 9-12 years old, a great gift for anyone.
This book is recommended to 9-12 years old, a great gift for anyone.
January 2, 2011
Review will be on my blog: Reading,Reading& Life
December 5, 2014
Based on a true story, this book tells of an boy with autism and the shelter dog who became his best friend.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews