My Brother, Matthew

by Mary Thompson

A book especially for siblings. My Brother, Matthew is narrated by a young boy who describes the ups and downs of day-to-day life as he and his family adjust to his new brother, Matthew, who is born... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0933149476
• ISBN13: 9780933149472
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Woodbine House
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.0" x 9.7"
• Age Range: 5 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 5

Customer Reviews

My Brother, Matthew

Without really knowing if autism was profiled in My Brother, Matthew I knew immediately I wanted this book because my non-verbal son is named Matthew as well. This is well suited to teach children about compassion and helps other siblings who have a disabled member in their family by sharing the range of the brother's feelings. My Brother, Matthew is written from the perspective of older brother David, in his voice starting from the day his brother was born. David knows everything about his brother, but he does get frustrated at times when he walks slower or talks funny. Matthew was born with disabilities that required him to remain in the hospital with tubes and wires connected to machines. The parents were at the hospital all the time leaving David with his grandmother to do puzzles. He was not happy being in the dark about his brother and it all materialized for him when he was allowed to view his brother through the window. This was a confusing time for David because no one had any answers to why his brother could not eat or breathe the way other babies could. Within the pages of My Brother, Matthew it looks like the boys are two to three years apart since they are older and close in size. The book jumps in time quite a bit from Matthew being just a baby to an elementary school aged child. I am not sure how effective it is to gloss over so much time, but the illustrations are very engaging. The boys have light skin with blonde hair and for many of the pages are wearing the same clothing. My Brother, Matthew shows the impact a disabled child has on the other sibling in the family and follows along with the development of their relationship. Instead of instant bonding one would find in a movie of the week, the gradual process is believable by going through the process of loneliness, jealousy, frustration and acceptance.

A Must Have for Siblings of Special Needs Kids

This is a wonderful book. We received it as a gift, and my daughter asks me to read it quite often. It is a sensitive, but not saccharine, story about a brother who has a younger special needs sibling. It covers the older brother's disappointment when his birthday party is ruined because the younger brother is in the hospital. It talks about the parents being overly protective of the younger sibling, but the older brother just wants to play with him. It really covers so much more, and all of it is right on the mark. If you have kids who are special needs and siblings who are not (in this age range -- our kids are 6 and 4), it is a must read. This book really hits the mark without being too heavy handed. The illustrations are nicely done as well. Highly recommended.

Brotherly Love

When David first sees his newborn brother Matthew attached to a support system, he is initially shocked. Matthew's slow development requires him to remain in the hospital for an extended period of time. David gives clarity, voice and reason for siblings of people with special needs. One can feel his sadness and resentment when his party is pre-empted because of his brother's vast needs; one cringes with him when Matthew unwittingly embarrasses him. David does not pretend all is sunshine and roses; despite his concern and resentment, there is the underlying brotherly love. He naturally feels protective of Matthew and in so doing, forms a bond with his brother that is truly heartwarming indeed.This is an excellent book for families and educators. In fact, this book is really for everbody and is a good bonding as well as teaching tool. Readers of all ages will be able to relate to David's feelings and see how he and his brother flourish.

This was a very good book to read to my young son.

This book was a very good book about a child dealing with a brother with special needs. I read this to my 5 year old son and it helped him understand why mom and dad spent so much time trying to teach his brother things. It explains things like why they should feel special to have a brother/sister with special needs. I thought this was a very good book and would recomend it to anyone who wants to read it to a young brother/sister.

An Enduring Message For All

This is a wonderful story! Told from the point of view of an older sibling, it portrays realistically the vast array of feelings and emotions that are part and parcel of having a special sibling. Sometimes the older child(ren) inadvertently get lost in the shuffle. Yet the bond between David and Matthew is there and it is strong. Matthew responds to David in a manner that astounds even their parents. I especially found this to be relatable because since my youngest child Matthew has begun speech therapy, his therapist has designated his brother Jordan as his "coach." And that's been a big deal. Jordan isn't as apt to feel pushed aside this way. And he's learning just how much Matthew looks up to him, not just as his "coach" but as his big brother. I highly recommend this book to families everywhere!