Joan FasslerRecensioner

Howie has cerebral palsy and desperately wants to learn how to move his wheelchair himself. After many tries and a lot of practice, he is finally able to do it on his own and wheels himself to his father for a big hug. This story is simple yet it still gives a lot of details about the life of a child with cerebral palsy and does a good job of explaining it. I think this would be a great book to read in a classroom. I enjoyed how when Howie is happy the illustrations have color and when he is sad it is black and white. That is a great, easy visual cue for children.

Howie is a little boy who is wheelchair bound due to cerebral palsy. He requires extra help from his mother but, he gets very frustrated, as he wishes he could do for himself. Through physical therapy and determination, he achieves his special wish, moving in his wheelchair all by himself. This book teaches children, no matter what challenges you're faced with, through determination you can achieve anything.

Howie can't really do anything for himself. He can't really write his name, drink his milk himself, or build with his building blocks. He seems to be an impatient person and when he wants something, he wants it now. He likes playing ball with his sister and grandmother. Howie learns a lot at school and does exercises every day to strengthen his muscles. More than anything else, he wanted to move around himself without any help. He didn't give up and when one day his dad came to get him from school, he finally turned his wheel around and wheeled all the way to where his dad was standing. I like how to author didn't make Howie a victim to his disability and made him determined to get what he wants. I can't imagine how difficult that must of been and I'm in awe at his strength.

this story is about a handicapped little boy who is good at helping himself with things, and shows that he can be more independent.
ages 3-6
pierce county library

This book was super cute. I think it teaches a good lesson about how we shouldn't assume that just because these kids are disabled they are not helpless. I do think though that it could teach kids not to offer help to those who are disabled. I think that we should help them but not in an obnoxiously patronizing way- which I think was the main purpose of the book but it got confused.

"Howie Helps Himself" is not only a book of discovery, it is a book of accomplishment too. The book starts out listing everything Howie cannot do, and how others help him throughout his day. It then goes on to describe some of the emotions Howie feels throughout the day such as frustration, amusement, and discouragement, as well as different situations at school, which can be very relatable to children of all abilities and ages. His main goal in the book is to push his wheelchair all by himself. He recognizes that this will take hard work and practice which is universal in accomplishing something hard. At the end of the book, he triumphantly wheels himself to his father and they both celebrate as they drive home. I thought the tone of the book started out in a negative way with listing everything he cannot do and it was almost more informative of his condition than promoting inclusion. Considering its publication date is 1974, I can tell the themes in the book need updating.

Howie has cerebral palsy but he still enjoying life and just want to be able to move his wheelchair himself.
Age Level: 3-5 years old
Source: Pierce College Library

this book shows the strive of a young boy determined to do things himself and do them well
source pierce county library
ages 4-6

A story about a young boy wanting to do things on his own to show is independence. Personality: Set tasks for themselves and complete task they begin

In this story, a young boy with cerebral palsy is absolutely determined to learn to push himself in his wheelchair. Howie loves his family and school but he faces challenges because of his illness with cerebral palsy. By learning to push himself in his wheelchair, he becomes a more understanding person with higher self-esteem. The illustrations for this book are realistic and flow nicely with the story, offer context to early readers. I would recommend this book to students ages 4-8.
This book was found at the Pierce College Library.

thought this was a great book to help understand the meaning of coping with a death. the love the young boy shared with his grandfather touch him deeply and when grandfather die he learned the valuable word that's grandfather would say to him in order to make his day!!!!!! age group 4-6½

This is about a young boy with cerebral palsy that is determined to learn to push himself in his wheelchair. this could be read to a child in a wheel chair or to a child or small group that are curios about children in wheelchairs, ages 4-8
Plot

This book was inspirational and could teach children and even adults great lessons in life!
Ages: 3-5
Plot

Howie is wheelchair bound due to cerebral palsy and desperately want to be able to push himself around.

this book is about a boy who has cerebal palsy and how helps himself to walk
source: Amazon.com
ages: 4-8

Appropriate for ages 4-5. Great book on a boy who has CP and is able to come to grips with himself.

This Book is about a boy who happens to be in a wheelchair. this book would be good for a child who is also in a wheel chair and or has mobility challenges. This book could also be useful for children who want to know about how children in wheel chairs or children who have mobility challenges because it could teach that child how to help their friend that has these ability problems. Though I would only use this book in a small group and or one on one. this book could also build a child's self esteem level ages 5 to 8

About a boy named Howie that is bound to a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. All he wants is the freedom to be able to push himself where he wants to go.
ages 3-5
pierce college library

Age:3-6
Source:Pierce Library
A young boy with cerebral palsy enjoys his life with his family and school but wants to know the freedom that comes with being able to move on his own.

A child named Howie loves his family and school but he faces challenges because of his illness with cerebral palsy. All Howie wants to do now is to push his own self around in his wheelchair.
Age: preschool
Book Found: Amazon

Howie has cerebral palsy and more than anything he wants to move his chair by himself.

Age: preschool
source: pierce library

This book describes how being in a wheelchair doesn't affect a child's ability to complete every day tasks.

Howie has cerebral palsy and has to be in a wheel chair. He wants more than anything to move his wheel chair by himself. It shows that children in special needs situations are completely capable to being independent.

this book tells us about a how a little boy with disability used inner strength and determination to be able to overcome the weakness in his arms and legs

I work with a couple of students who have Cerebral Palsy. I truly appreciate how this story was written with such respect.