While Milo and his sister travel on a subway, Milo observes other passengers drawing them in his sketchbook. But appearances don’t always reveal the whole story Milo learns. When he and his sister arrive at the prison to visit their mom, so does a boy from the subway. The illustrator’s signature illustrations are the perfect complement to the moving, understated text.
Milo Imagines the World
“Do you want to play?” That’s what Jamie, with her favorite yellow truck, asks new kid Dylan, who only seems to want to line up his cars. This story gently explores learning about others and finding new ways to have fun. One of the most common issues for kids with autism is friendship. Children’s books sometimes depict the neurotypical child as doing their autistic pal a favor by befriending them, often forcing them to change a part of themselves. This story shows us that children with autism are more than capable of making meaningful contributions to relationships, and suggests how neurotypical children can alter their own approach to create a true connection.
Do You Want to Play? Making Friends with an Autistic Kid
This picture book explores sensory differences. For the young girl in the story, the vibration in her feet when she runs, the tap-tap-tap of her fork on the table at mealtime, the trickle of cool water running over her hand — these are the things that calm her jitters down. This book is for anyone who has ever felt the need for a wiggle, stomp, or squeeze!
Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down
Seven-year-old Anthony has autism. He flaps his hands. He makes strange noises. He can’t speak or otherwise communicate his thoughts. Treatments, therapies, and theories about his condition define his daily existence. Yet Anthony isn’t improving much. This debut work of fiction sheds light on the inner and outer lives of children with nonspeaking autism, and on their two worlds — and how they navigate their way through the multitude of theories about autism that have affected the lives of many children and their families. As one of the few works of fiction written by a person with non-speaking autism, it offers readers an insider’s point-of-view into autism and life in silence, with warmth, humor, and sharp intellect.
In Two Worlds
Nobody knows comics trivia like Stanley knows comics trivia. It’s what he takes comfort in when the world around him gets to be too much. And after he faints during a safety assembly, Stanley takes his love of comics up a level by inventing his own imaginary superhero, named John Lockdown, to help him through. Help is what he needs, because Stanley’s entered Trivia Quest — a giant comics-trivia treasure hunt — to prove he can tackle his worries, score VIP passes to Comic Fest, and win back his ex-best friend. See our interview with the author, Sally J. Pla ›
Stanley Will Probably Be Fine
Sadie feels like her thoughts are soaring into the clouds and she can’t bring them back down to earth. She has trouble paying attention, which makes keeping track of schoolwork, friends, chores, and everything else really tough. Sometimes she can only focus on her mistakes. When Sadie talks to her parents about her wandering, dreaming mind, they offer a clever plan to help remind Sadie how amazing she is. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers with more information on ADHD, self-esteem, and helping children focus on the positives.
My Wandering Dreaming Mind
Charlie feels like he has a whirling, twirling motor running inside him all the time and sometimes he just can’t settle. When his mom wants to talk to him, he figures he’s in trouble … but she has a surprise for him instead! Includes a Note to Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers with more information on ADHD, behavior management, and helping children focus on the positives.
My Whirling Twirling Motor
In this pocket guide for individuals who support autistic students, nine-year-old Diego (who is nonverbal) concisely articulates the challenges and dilemmas he faces with his sensory system, communication, and motor system. He thoughtfully explores the implications and possibilities of these challenges as a primary school student. His experiences nudge educators, therapists, parents, and students to rethink their approaches to supporting individuals who are autistic and non-speaking. Diego’s words reveal a disarming truth. The real experts of autism are actually autistic themselves.
Anatomy of Autism: A Pocket Guide for Educators, Parents, and Students
This book opens a window into nonverbal autism through dozens of short, autobiographical essays each offering new insights into autism symptoms, effective and ineffective treatments, and the inner emotional life of a severely autistic boy. In his essays, author Ido Kedar, a brilliant 16-year-old with autism, challenges what he believes are misconceptions in many theories that dominate autism treatment today while he chronicles his personal growth in his struggles to overcome his limitations.
Ido in Autismland: Climbing Out of Autism’s Silent Prison
Alfonso Julián learned to communicate when he was seven years old and showed that people with non-speaking autism have a lot to say and contribute. In this book, Alfonso presents a collection of his personal writings about his experience. Alfonso continues to write and advocate for non-speaking individuals.
Autistic and Awesome: A Journal from the Inside
Naoki Higashida shares his thoughts and experiences as a young man living each day with severe autism. In short, powerful chapters, Higashida explores school memories, family relationships, the exhilaration of travel, and the difficulties of speech. He also allows readers to experience profound moments we take for granted, like the thought-steps necessary for him to register that it’s raining outside. Acutely aware of how strange his behavior can appear to others, he aims throughout to foster a better understanding of autism and to encourage society to see people with disabilities as people, not as problems.
Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8: A Young Man’s Voice from the Silence of Autism
Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming 13-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that provides a window into how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds. It is a “… wise, beautiful, intimate and courageous explanation of autism as it is lived every day by one remarkable boy.”
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism
Detailed, almost delicate illustrations of a diverse cast of characters affirm the joy in differences, all because each and every one matters. The illustrator’s signature style is worth multiple examinations.
You Matter
All creatures whether furry, slithery, or feathered, show affection. Lush illustration and rhythmic, gently rhyming verse combine to demonstrate just how it’s done. A bit of factual information about animals is included.
Ways to Say I Love You
Several colorful letters are together on a playground. Because they are different (one is too round, another comes from the wrong side of the alphabet), they learn to come together in a very satisfying way. Bold graphic design and limited text create a memorable and easy-to-digest story of acceptance.
Swing
Three animals ask the strange creature who drags a large suitcase into their midst what it contains. As he rests, they are humbled by what they learn. This accessible story, simply illustrated, is gently told and sure to evoke a range of emotions in readers — including the importance of treating newcomers with kindness.
The Suitcase
Children may see themselves and how they treat a favorite toy in this book. Narrated by a slightly grumpy and overly handled teddy bear named Louis, expressive illustrations and understated humor may make children think about how they treat their toys that love them, nonetheless.
Louis
Holly loves doing experiments and learning new things in science class! But when she finds out the next experiment is making slime, she’s worried. Slime is made with glue, and glue is sticky. Holly has sensory issues because of her autism and doesn’t like anything sticky! With help from family and her teacher, Holly receives the accommodations and encouragement she needs to give slime a try.
Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism
A powerful story about the extraordinary mind of a young nonverbal girl with autism, her passion for space exploration, and the bond between sisters.
Planet Earth Is Blue
Tally is smart, compassionate, and she has a superpower: autism. Inspired by young coauthor Libby Scott’s own experiences with autism, this is an honest and moving middle-school story of friends, family, and finding one’s place.
Can You See Me?
Very Big Crab reassures Little Crab when they leave their tiny tidal pool for the large sea. Few details are needed as illustrations swirl expressively across pages as the pair makes their way to the joys that they find in the ocean.
Don’t Worry, Little Crab
How do you feel when you see red? Does pink make you feel differently? Explore feelings with colorful animals in rhyming text and simple illustrations, easy to find with color-coded felt tabs.
Let’s Play, Happy Giraffe! A Book of Colorful Animals
Jingwen feels more like he’s on Mars than in Australia when he, his younger brother Yanghao, and their mother relocate from China. English is a breeze for Yanghao but a struggle for Jingwen who hears it as just gibberish. Line and wash illustrations cleverly depict the language confusion as well as the brothers’ plausible relationship. Even with serious issues present (the boys’ father has died; their mother works long hours) this remarkable book is witty, engaging, and entirely credible.
Pie in the Sky
Twelve-year-old Lucy lives with her father in Rockport, Massachusetts. Her mother, a marine biologist, died several years earlier. Lucy and her best friend and neighbor with a passion for science are making a field guide about marine animals: Fred writes; Lucy draws. Loss, grief, and healing are deftly handled in this memorable, striking novel in which community, art, science, and love intersect.