DANIEL
ISN’T TALKING by Marti Leimbach
Marti Leimbach, Daniel Isn’t Talking (Anchor Books, 2006).
Available in hardback, paperback, Kindle, Nook, Abridged audiobook, and in Spanish.
(Nonfiction)
Recommended by Barbara Penrod Andrey
I recently reread Daniel Isn't Talking by Marti
Leimbach. The book starts out with a young family with two children. The
youngest, Daniel, is three years old and not talking. His mother, Melanie, has
noticed a few more traits that have her concerned. Her husband, Stephen, is
unconcerned saying he is just being a three year old. Melanie pushes and starts
taking him to different doctors to voice her concerns. She finally gets a doctor
to fully evaluate her son and receives a diagnosis. Daniel has moderate autism.
The book focuses on the struggles a mother goes through in
order to properly take care of her child. The good and the bad. Melanie never
gives up hope and keeps researching and seeing new doctors. She learns about
play therapy and through this method is able to hear Daniel finally talk and
learn to interact with others.
My son may not have autism but he did have a moderate speech
delay and slight delays in other areas. I understand the struggle when your
child can't say his or her own name. This book gives hope to any parent who has
a child with a delay. I recommend this book to anyone whether they have a child
with autism or not. This book is also great if you want some understanding of
what it is like for a parent, friend, or family member who has a child with
autism or developmental delay.
