The Best Autism Children's Books
All Cats Have Asperger’s Syndrome, I Am Utterly Unique and More
As more children are being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, families are looking for unique ways to tell their children about autism.
As autism spectrum disorder diagnoses have crept up to 1 in 150 children in the United States, many families are struggling with the question on how to describe autism to their children. Whether a family is looking to explain a child’s autism to either himself or his siblings, one of these books will be a great starting point.
All Cats Have Asperger’s Syndrome
One of the most recommended autism children’s books is All Cats Have Asperger’s Syndrome by Kathy Hoopmann [Jessica Kingsley Publishers]. This book provides information about Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) by comparing cats to children with this high-functioning form of autism. The information is presented with accompanying pictures and helps ease the child into an understanding of his differences from his peers.
One comparison in the book states “An Asperger child often has exceptionally good hearing, and loud sounds and sudden movements may scare him.” The picture accompanying the text is a cat bunched up on his haunches looking as though it was just startled. The pictures and the text in the book are put together in a way that instantly provides reassurance to the child as he learns more about his differences.
I Am Utterly Unique
Published by the Autism Asperger Publishing Company, I Am Utterly Unique – Celebrating the Strengths of Children with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism was written by Elaine Marie Larson. The author goes through the entire alphabet and makes a positive statement about children with AS or high-functioning autism. In an era where much negative attention is paid towards autism spectrum disorders, this book is a breath of fresh air and puts a positive spin on the uniqueness of autism.
Here are a few examples from the book:
- B – I have a busy brain.
- E – I have enormous enthusiasm.
- O – I have an original outlook.
- Q – I ask a quadrillion questions.
My Friend with Autism: A Coloring Book for Peers and Siblings
Written by Beverly Bishop, this Future Horizons release helps friends and siblings learn more about the child with autism. Bishop, a parent of a child on the spectrum and a teacher, wrote the book for the students in her son’s elementary school. My Friend with Autism has garnered a five-star rating from customers who purchased the product from Amazon.com.
While the book is written for children aged nine through 12, it is also appropriate for younger children as it presents information in a clear and concise manner. This book is a must-have for all families who have a child with an autism spectrum disorder.
As the public becomes more aware of autism spectrum disorders, and the different ways that symptoms may present, there is likely to be more acceptance of these differences. The decision to tell a child of his diagnosis is a personal one, however using one of these books will help make that conversation go more smoothly.
