Danson: The Extraordinary Discovery of an Autistic Child's Innermost Thoughts and Feelings

Burns, Michele Pierce; Wambua, Danson Mandela

ISBN 10: 0980028841 / ISBN 13: 9780980028843

Published by St. Lynn's Press, 2009

About this Item

The book is in good condition with all pages and cover intact, including the dust jacket if originally issued. The spine may show light wear. Pages may contain some notes or highlighting, and there might be a "From the library of" label. Boxed set packaging, shrink wrap, or included media like CDs may be missing.

Seller Inventory # BSM.YCZ2

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Danson: The Extraordinary Discovery of an Autistic Child's Innermost Thoughts and Feelings
• Publisher: St. Lynn's Press
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0980028841
• ISBN 13: 9780980028843
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: good

About this title

Synopsis

Danson is a collection of 50 poems by an 8-year-old non-verbal autistic boy, Danson Wambua, with commentary by his mother Michele. This book comes at a moment of intense public focus on the mysteries of autism. For the families of over a million autistic children, Danson's poems offer hope and illumination. Imprisoned by his autism for the first 7 years of his life alternately frustrated, angry and loving Danson suddenly begins to speak, pointing to letters on an alphabet board. What he reveals in his extraordinary conversations with his mother Michele, is the complex inner world of autism. Danson is a gifted child-poet (reminiscent of Mattie Stepanek) who writes with insight, intelligence and spiritual depth. This is the voice that is going to change the lives of all the children of need, says admirer Bill Cosby.

From the Back Cover

"Danson Mandela Wambua is an amazing young boy... He has lovingly cracked the door to his inner universe and let us peek in at his hiding place. What you will discover, as did I, is truly and undeniably astounding."
-- from the Foreword by Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks

Michele Pierce Burns and Danson Mandela Wambua are mother and son. Danson is 8 years old, cannot speak and often struggles through the simplest of activities. Yet he is a poet, a master of words. Danson offers us a window into an autistic child's complicated inner world, told by his mother and through his own poetry - poetry of astonishing wisdom and insight, pain and sadness, but most of all, love.

"Danson is a modern-day Rumi. His writing is stunning and beautiful, like his person."
-- Susan L. Taylor, Editor Emerita of ESSENCE

"Danson is more than a prophet - he is what this world needs. This is the voice that is going to change the lives of all the children of need."
-- Bill Cosby