Books are great teaching tools for children and adults alike, as they are helpful in addressing some of the challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder (asd). For many people on the spectrum and their families, reading books about autism is a great way to educate and help manage everyday life.
best books to explain autism to a child
There are so many amazing books written with kids in mind that highlight the special abilities of people on the autism spectrum. sharing these books with children and adults is vital for their understanding and acceptance.
You are reading: Books to explain autism to a child
all my stripes: a story for children with autism by shaina rudolph and danielle royer
this book is about a zebra named zane who has autism. At first, Zane fears that her friends and classmates will treat him differently because of her autism. Later, she finds out that she has nothing to be scared of and begins to see her unique ability as a special power.
why is izzy covering her ears? by jennifer veenendall
izzy is a first grader who is misunderstood due to the unusual way she behaves. This book is ideal for children with autism or children who know someone with autism.
noah chases the wind by michelleworthington
Follows the story of Noah, a curious boy with autism. noah loves to read to find answers to his questions. there was one question, however, that none of his books could answer. this book is a great read for anyone who wants to understand autism from a different perspective.
hey roar you little hazel reeves dinosaur
This book is part of a series about a dinosaur named Roar. like most children with autism, roar thinks differently. In each part of the series, Roar is shown using his special abilities that he uses for each adventure.
different like me by jennifer elder
This classic book introduces the reader to several important names in history who were on the spectrum. some examples are albert einstein, sir isaac newton, and lewis carroll.
autism books for siblings
some books are written with siblings in mind, where one character is on the spectrum while the other is not. These books are perfect for a child with autism and their sibling(s), illustrating the differences and rewards of playing and caring for each other.
we are all different by fiona bleach
This book helps brothers and sisters of children with autism understand what it’s like to be on the spectrum. In addition to accessible information about the characteristics of autism, the book also provides helpful suggestions on how to make family life easier for everyone.
my brother charlie by holly robinson peete
Written by actress Holly Robinson Peete, My Brother Charlie is a story told by Charlie’s older sister. In the book, Charlie’s sister mentions how autism makes her brother different. She highlights the fact that children with autism may be great at doing specific things, like memorizing the names of all the American presidents, but may need more help making friends or communicating feelings.
leah’s voice by lori demonia
leah’s voice is a moving story about two sisters facing the challenges of being on the spectrum. the brothers find a way to play and bond despite their differences.
views from our shoes by donald joseph meyer
Written specifically for children with an autistic brother/sister, this book is a collection of sibling stories of children affected by autism, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and other disabilities. there is also a glossary of terms.
books for autistic preschoolers
Preschoolers need colorful and entertaining books to explain autism and promote acceptance. there are plenty of books out there that do a great job of simplifying a complex subject and make it easy and fun to read together.
we are amazing 1,2,3! a story about friendship and autism by leslie kimmelman
This big golden book is about the new Sesame Street character, Julia. Julia has autism, and in the story, Elmo introduces her to Abby. Abby discovers that although Julia does things differently, there are many things they have in common.
i see things differently: a first look at autism by pat thomas
pat thomas, psychotherapist and counselor, writes about the characteristics of autism in a practical yet sensitive way. there are full illustrations on every page of this book, and the story teaches preschoolers how children with autism see and do things differently.
nathan’s autism spectrum superpowers by lori leigh yarborough
See Also: The Best Books on Israel – Five Books Expert Recommendations
This cute storybook follows a boy named Nathan who has superpowers brought on by his autism. Some of his superpowers are supersonic hearing, routine retention, and real, literal powers.
books for students with autism
For children with autism, school is the place where they learn to interact with others. can be challenging for some, especially when other children around them don’t understand their behavior. These books on how autistic and non-autistic children can get along are valuable teaching aids.
a friend like simon by kate gaynorthis book is excellent for introducing a school-age child to autism. The story is about Simon, a boy with autism, and how he made friends at school.
Since We’ve Been Friends: An Illustrated Book on Autism by Celeste Shelly
This autism storybook is about two friends, one on the spectrum and one not, and how they bond. they do the usual things together, like watching movies, reading books, and talking about animals. Matt, who has autism, receives support and friendship from her friend.
uniquely connected: a story about autism and its gifts by julia cook
This interesting book follows a boy named Zack. Zack is obsessed with watches and has autism. The story is told from Zack’s point of view so that readers who aren’t on the spectrum gain a deeper understanding of how he can affect someone.
books for autistic teenagers
Being a teen with autism can pose some tough obstacles. these books can help teens with autism (and those around them) cope with the social and emotional demands they face every day.
the survival guide for children with autism spectrum disorders (and their parents) by elizabeth verdick
This uplifting book is a must-have for children on the spectrum, their parents, and other family members. This book is intended to be read by a person with autism and their parents. includes a section that explains autism in detail and a part called “why me?” that encourages acceptance with a positive attitude.
the asperkid (secret) book of social rules: the handbook of not-so-obvious social guidelines for tweens and teens with asperger’s syndrome by jennifer cook o’toole
This book is a great way for teens with Asperger’s Syndrome to learn about social norms and how to handle social situations. The book has comic-style illustrations so aspies can practice their social skills before trying them out in the real world.
anything but typical by norah raleigh baskin
Meet Jason, a 12-year-old boy living in a neurotypical world. Jason wants to be friends with Rebecca, who he only meets online. Jason wants to meet her in person, but he’s afraid that Rebecca won’t like him when she finds out about her autism. this book is great for anyone with autism who is worried about fitting in.
books written by autistic authors
Sometimes the best way to learn about something is to see things from someone else’s point of view. These books by authors with autism are a valuable resource for any friend, family member, or teacher who wants to delve into the autistic mind for deeper understanding.
the reason i jump: the inner voice of a thirteen year old boy with autism by naoki higashida
This book is written by Naoki Higashida, 13, who does not speak. higashida describes how it feels to do certain things. she answers questions about why he doesn’t make eye contact and why he jumps, to which he replies, “when I jump, it’s like my feelings go up to heaven.”
no you won’t: essays from a nostrange mind by sparrow rose jones
This book is a collection of stories told by sparrow rose jones, who first published them on her blog. jones shares intimate details about his life with autism. she hopes to “bridge the social gap between autistic and non-autistic people” through this book.
challenging by michael scott monk jr.
This fictional novel follows Clay Dillon, who took 30 years to realize that he is probably autistic. With this new knowledge comes major changes in Clay’s everyday life.
thinking in images, enlarged edition: my life with autism by temple grandin
temple grandin, an autism advocate and animal scientist, first published this book in 1995. in this updated book, grandin talks about her own autistic characteristics and how she built a successful career in the neurotypical world despite of the challenges.
autism books for parents
Being a parent of a child with autism can often be a challenge that requires substantial research, resources, and guidance. Fortunately, there are plenty of books to help you raise an autistic child.
autism: raising a happy autistic child by jessie hewitson
See Also: Why should we care about the Septuagint? | OUPblog
Award winning writer Jessie Hewitson writes about the basics of parenting a child with autism, including how to recognize the signs of autism in a child. This book is a must for parents with a child or children on the spectrum.
the loving impulse: how parents and professionals can help children on the spectrum become successful adults by temple grandin ph. d.
In this book, Grandin writes about how parents can “restore hope and motivation to their child, and what to avoid.” Focused more on dealing with adulthood, the book contains eight stories told by people on the spectrum.
empowered autism parenting: celebrating (and defending) your child’s place in the world by william stillman
This book is about raising kids on the spectrum without getting them pathologized or over-medicated. there is also a discussion of the 10-step approach to building strong relationships with an autistic child.
playing, laughing and learning with children on the autism spectrum: a practical resource of play ideas for parents and caregivers second edition by julia moore
Parents can sometimes be unaware of the best ways to play and have fun with their autistic child. This book addresses that dilemma by providing specific play activities broken down into manageable stages. game ideas are taken from different themes and include music, art, puzzles, outdoor games, and other physical activities.
how to teach an autistic child to read
Keep in mind that all children learn differently. while some children on the spectrum are visual learners, others learn better with sound or touch. these differences can make a difference in the way you approach the reading process. Sometimes children with autism can read words but can’t understand what they are reading, which is known as hyperlexia.
In a study called Patterns of Reading Ability in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, psychologists at the University of Oxford found that children with autism had average reading skills. in fact, some of them read very well, but have poor grades in terms of reading comprehension.
The good news is that many children with ADD with or without hyperlexia can still learn to read with the help of improvised teaching methods.
Here are some helpful suggestions for teaching a child with autism to read:
- for young children, choose a storybook with a simple story. each element (images, plot, words) should not be too complicated.
- don’t wait until the child starts talking. It is a mistake to think that a child with autism needs to talk first before being exposed to books and reading. there is significant evidence that reading can help a child develop verbal skills.
- make reading a part of a child’s daily activities, rather than a chore that can only be done at a desk encourage him to read street signs, menus, toy box labels, and other text on real-life objects.
- Be interactive as you read. it’s great if you can:
- point to the pictures as you read
- change your voice and facial expressions to add more interest to the story
- use puppets or toy figures to act out the story
It is important to find age-appropriate books that consider a child’s individual learning level. be sure to look for autism-specific books that can help children recognize their amazing qualities and unique abilities. For older children, books can provide great ways to understand social norms and communicate better with the people around them. Reading about autism is a great step toward better understanding yourself, a friend, a classmate, or a sibling on the autism spectrum.
resources
patterns of reading ability in children with autism spectrum disorder. (November 2006). retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6890576_patterns_of_reading_ability_in_children_with_autism_spectrum_disorder
hyperlexia. retrieved from https://csld.org/hyperlexia
Five tips to help nonverbal children with autism learn to read. (December 26, 2017). retrieved from https://www.autismspeaks.org/expert-opinion/five-tips-helping-nonverbal-children-autism-learn-read
30 best children’s books on the autism spectrum. retrieved from https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/30-best-childrens-books-about-the-autism-spectrum/
kim barloso is a freelance writer and editor based in the philippines. she works from home while caring for two children, one of whom has autism.
See Also: 20 Best Books of 2020 – Best Fiction and Nonfiction 2020