by Clarabelle van Niekerk and Liezl Venter. Illustrations by Clarabelle van Niekerk
"This is a good book," says Tony Attwood, who literally wrote the book on Asperger syndrome (The Compete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome, 2008). In fact, Dr. Attwood has much else to say about this much-admired book. At SNP, we're delighted it received recognition from the Dolly Gray selection committee. Through the month of February, Special Needs Project is offering Understanding Sam and Asperger's Syndrome at a special price, downright steal.
Answering the question "Why is Sam different?", this warm story tells of the challenges of living with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. This firsthand view of the life of an undiagnosed child presents behaviors and characteristics that are common among children with this disorder. Sam doesn't like his pancakes to touch, his sister is annoyed with his repetitive song, and his new coat hurts his skin, but once he is diagnosed, teamwork-based support helps Sam's life become a little easier. With endearing illustrations, the book includes 10 helpful tips geared toward children, showing them how to respect and accept differences as well as to interact with a classmate or friend with Asperger syndrome.
A third-person past-tense narrative tells the story of Sam, a boy with Asperger syndrome. Positive qualities are listed first: "Sam loved to giggle…. Sam was a happy boy." Next come some of his challenges: he is afraid of loud noises, he has trouble making friends, and he does not like change. When he leaves the house at night, walking all the way to the local fairgrounds because he loved the Ferris wheel so much, his parents know that something must be done. They take him for a checkup and receive the diagnosis. The doctors and therapists give them some suggestions for helping their son at home and at school. The book concludes with Sam playing the cello at a school concert. Because of the interesting story line, the positive approach, and the notion that others can learn to help Sam instead of expecting him to change, this is an excellent introduction to the topic. The pictures are bright and lively, showing mostly happy faces. The book concludes with 10 helpful tips to remember when a friend or a classmate has Asperger's. A useful introduction for both children and adults.—PreSchool-Grade 2.—School Library Journal
About the Authors
Clarabelle van Niekerk
 Clarabelle was born in South Africa of Afrikaans descent and is now an American citizen. She earned her degrees abroad, graduating from Bloemfontein Teachers College with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She also holds a degree in fine arts from the University of Orange Free State South Africa. Clarabelle toured Europe as an accomplished cellist for The Free State Orchestra, lectured at The Zwelitsha Art College and founded The London Puppet Theatre. Internationally acclaimed, Clarabelle has received many awards including a (South African) Grammy award for best CD, The Perry Cumberland Excellence in Puppetry Award, The ARC of Crawford County, Inc. Educator of the Year Award for Children with Special Needs, and several book cover art awards. She continues to exhibit her artwork in museums and galleries in the United States and abroad.
Clarabelle is currently a resident artist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, where she creates and participates in ‘art infused’ educational programs. Clarabelle’s cross-curriculum programs utilize music, painting, voice, dance movement, and acting to enhance the learning experience and improve social skills of young children. Inspired by their experiences with many children such as ‘MAC’, Clarabelle teamed up with her daughter, Liezl Venter, to co-author Understanding Sam, their first picture book, which Clarabelle also illustrated.
Clarabelle resides in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where she continues to participate in educational programs for children sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
 Mac and Clarabelle – Mac is 10 years old and has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. He recently played the lead role in "African Safari” a children’s play that Clarabelle directed.
Photo courtesy of
The Titusville Herald, August 2007
Liezl Venter, MA, CCC-SLP
 Liezl was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania. As a speech language pathologist, she has extensive experience and is widely recognized as a specialist in working with students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Liezl led a primary school language unit for students with Asperger’s syndrome in London, United Kingdom. As the clinical lead, she initiated and developed a comprehensive initiative for the integration of performing arts within the curriculum for the successful remediation of social skills. In this role, she also acted as a lead clinician on a highly specialist multidisciplinary team, providing consultative and specialist diagnostic and early intervention services to children with severe speech and language disorders. Whilst in the United Kingdom, Liezl was also the clinical lead at the Royal National Institute for the Blind specifically, working with young adults with Asperger’s syndrome. Here, she developed functional social skill programs to deliver successful communication outcomes.
Liezl has also collaborated with Clarabelle as a dynamic “mother and daughter” duo, and together, they have worked in schools for the Councils on the Arts for Erie and Titusville using the performing arts to improve student’s social skills and academic achievements. She is a certified member of both the American Speech Language Hearing Association and Speech Pathology Australia.
 Liezl (l) kisses Mac on the cheek at the end of the performance of
The Elf and the King, a play written by Clarabelle van Niekerk, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Mac is 4 years old in this photo.
Council on the Arts - 2002
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In 1869, John Muir wrote, "When we try to pick out anything by itself we find that it is bound fast by a thousand invisible cords that cannot be broken, to everything in the universe." That's surely true of human growth and existence. At Special Needs Project we do our best to be a comprehensive resource for the entire community concerned with disability and child development. If there are books or other materials you think we should offer--we hope you will share them with us.
