Kari Dunn Buron

A journey experienced by two can be more rewarding and remarkable than facing unknown paths alone. Without a doubt this is a message which can be felt within the opening chapters of Adalyn's Clare, a book written by Kari Dunn Buron.

Our first glimpse into Adalyn's world comes when we find her sitting alone in a pop-up tent within a room in her elementary school. In Buron's words, Adalyn is thinking a "pop-up tent is like a hug, giving you just enough security and comfort to make life bearable show more again." It isn't long though before someone finds Adalyn and shows her that gratifying experiences await outside the walls of the tent. That someone is Clare, a spunky yellow puppy whose ability as a service animal will have a great impact on Adalyn's life.

Things don't always go smoothly as Adalyn and Clare roam the elementary hallways. There are many moments when the safety of Adalyn's pop-up tent beckons but Clare is always there to help Adalyn find her way.
Throughout this book, Adalyn gains the ability to overpower the obstacles within her path. With Clare's help, she finds the strength to navigate her way around the obstacles autism presents. At times funny and heart-warming Adalyn's Clare is sure to show how the bond between a little girl and her service dog bring friendship, adventure and support when her worries get too big. show less

The cover turned the boy off right away. He asked me to hide it when we picked it up from the library for fear it be seen as a "baby book." On the other hand, the actual technique seemed to hit a chord with him to deal with anxiety-producing situations before they ratchet up too high, so we can add it to the toolkit for him.

I feel like there are not enough children's books on anxiety. The amount of insight this book puts into the text and feelings of this character is eye opening for those who do not have anxiety disorders. But, the main purpose of this book is relaxation techniques for children with anxiety. This is an early-reader style how-to kind of book that is much more engaging than something a doctor or a therapist might tell you. This book displays a visual thermometer to allow children to show there show more they fall in bottled up anxiety, and helps give the language of anxiety disorders to readers. With this book as a tool, children can express how they feel more clearly and using terms that most can understand. This is the main purpose behind this book. show less

Uses a 5 point scale approach to help teens and young adults understand social boundaries. The book is very clear and easy reading, with lots of examples and diagrams. Ideal to help teaching about relationships and how other people might understand a situation.