Quirky Kids

This classic, coauthored by New York Times columnist and pediatrician Dr. Perri Klass, has been fully revised and updated to reflect the recent significant changes in the recognition and care of children whose development doesn’t go as expected. It includes new information about therapeutic interventions, managing co-morbidities, and getting support for children with developmental differences at school. Additional information covers community resources, initiatives at hospitals, clinics, and even theme parks, that make life easier for children with developmental differences and their families. The authors also offer a stronger focus on self-care for parents in this new edition, with the pediatrician’s perspective of supporting families as they go through the diagnostic process over time.

"Highly recommended . . . Practical, compassionate, and thorough.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“Terrific . . . Thoroughly researched . . . An exceptional resource for anyone working to provide the best care for children with special needs.” —The Plain Dealer 

"Reassuring but frank, Klass and Costello walk parents through the steps of helping a quirky child, beginning with talking to the child's pediatrician, coping with the parents' sense of loss of a perfect child, getting a diagnosis and negotiating the maze of evaluations and evaluators.. . .a good place for parents of quirky kids to start their research." —Publishers Weekly

“A wise and profoundly comforting book.” —Michael Thompson, Ph.D., coauthor of Raising Cain

“A superb, original, hugely needed book . . . The first and the definitive guide to understanding these marvelous kids. Free of jargon, full of facts and wisdom and practical advice.”  —Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., coauthor of Driven to Distraction

“As I read this wonderful and helpful book, I kept nodding in agreement: ‘Yes, this is right, this is good, very true!’ Parents and pediatricians need this book. A+.”  —Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A., author of The Out-of-Sync Child

"An empowering mix of accessible information, reasoned advice, realistic strategies, honesty, empathy, and perspective." —Heidi Murkoff, author of the What to Expect series of pregnancy and parenting books, creator of WhattoExpect.com, and founder of the What to Expect Project

Perri Klass, MD, FAAP, writes the weekly column, “The Checkup,” for The New York Times. She lives in New York City. Eileen Costello, MD, FAAP, is a clinical professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine. She lives in Jamaica Plain, MA.