"This well-told story is more than just a good story that will hold children's interest. It is significant because of the difficult issue it tries to present, with a remarkable degree of success."
--PARENTS magazine
"This bilingual book in Filipino and English has super illustrations. It's a funny, sweet story about a sisters view of her brother's autism, and her attempt to understand his world."
--PATIENT-CENTERED GUIDES (www.patientcenters.com)

Lara Saguisag brings to us a heartwarming story about Ginny's search for her brother's mysterious playmate which she believes is an elf! This takes her to an amazing discovery of the world of autism. The whimsical illustrations in the book are done by illustrator Marcus Nada. There's a Duwende in My Brother's Soup! is the first Filipino children's story that helps develop a greater understanding, awareness, and acceptance of children with autism.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way the brain receives and uses information coming in from the senses. Children and adults with autism have extreme difficulty learning language and communication skills, relating to other people and coping with the outside world. It is uncertain what causes autism but research does link it to biological and neurological differences in the brain. It has not been proven yet if it is hereditary, or caused by conditions in the environment.
Of every 10,000 children born, about 15 to 20 will have autism, regardless of their racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. It has been found to be four times more common in boys than in girls.
Through specialized teaching and appropriate supports from parents, teachers, and caregivers, many individuals with autism can learn to make sense of the world around them. Some of their behavior and difficulties related to autism may change or diminish over time. Eventually, they are able to function productively at home and in the community and lead nearly normal lives. - from Amzon