Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World

Bibliography 

Montgomery, S. (2012). TEMPLE GRANDIN: HOW THE GIRL WHO LOVED COWS EMBRACED AUTISM AND CHANGED THE WORLD. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN: 978-0-547-44315-7.

Plot Summary 

TEMPLE GRANDIN is an informational biography about Temple Grandin, a professor, scientist, speaker, and designer of humane livestock systems who has autism. This book tells all about her childhood, her challenges with communication and sensory experiences, her love for animals and more interesting, her way to understand the world through visual thinking. All of this leading to her improving the treatment of animals and changing how people understand autism.

Critical Analysis 

TEMPLE GRANDIN is a strong informational nonfiction book because it presents facts about Grandin's life in a clear and engaging way for young readers. This book is inclusive by centering the focus around a person with autism. Plus, Grandin is not presented as someone to pity. Instead, author Montgomery showcases how Grandin's differences are actually part of her strength. 

Montgomery helps readers understand autism in a more personal way. Grandin's challenges with communication, social skills, and sensory struggles are explained perfectly. The focus is also on her intelligence, determination, creativity, and problem-solving skills. This is a brilliant way to be inclusive because it does not define Grandin by her disability.

Overall, TEMPLE GRANDIN is a meaningful representation of those with autism and a great informational book about it as well as animal science and innovation.

Review Excerpts

"The biography of an exceptional woman who, remarkably, made use of her condition to discover her calling and changed her own and many animals' lives." Kirkus, starred review.

"Sy Montgomery has succeeded in pulling back the covers from the mystery of autism, as expressed in the life of Temple Grandin. Montgomery s biography takes the reader from Temple s infancy to her current position as professor at Colorado State University." Children's Literature, starred review.

Connections

This book would work well in an information unit, biography unit, inclusivity unit, or an animal science unit. Students can analyze how Montgomery organizes the information to explain Grandin's life and work. It can also be used to open up discussions about autism, neurodiversity, animal science, etc.