JUST KIDS

On the school playground, Cindy snaps at Ashley: ``Don't touch me! You've got bugs—you're in the retard class.'' Thankfully, things look up after this harsh beginning, for Cindy is required to spend some time each day in the special-needs class. This photo-essay is warm but unsparing—the world of children with Down syndrome, epilepsy, attention disorders, and autism isn't softened up—and mostly free of jargon. The full- color photographs are of ordinary classroom scenes, as well as speech, physical, and occupational-therapy routines, and by putting a child's face to information about his or her difficulties, Senisi provides readers with the familiarization they need to accept special-needs children and break their isolation. As the teacher explains, ``Labels belong on boxes of raisin bran. Sticking labels on real people with real feelings is a silly thing to do.'' Despite an out-dated, text-heavy design and long paragraphs of explanation, Senisi's book makes the special-needs children real, not worthy of pity, but just their measure of respect. (Picture book. 8-11)