Book recommendations for helping children understand the autism spectrum

One of the many things I love about the LGBTQ in Technology Slack is that it’s got a shedload of people one can ask for advice on just about any topic.

Last week, one of the parents on the group asked about book recommendations to help her 5-year-old daughter become a better, more considerate classmate to a member of her kindergarten who is on the autism spectrum.

Because the list of links that resulted seems like it might be useful to other people, I’ve copied the recommendations into a blogpost.

• Neurotribes by Steve Silberman was very enlightening for me but it is a little dense and contains more historical facts than perhaps you’re looking for. If you have the time though to read (or listen to) it it does help understand the state of the world quite well.
• Look me in the Eye is written from the perspective of an autistic person, where he mainly recounts stories of his childhood.
• A Field Guide to Earthlings is one that has been recommended in here a bunch of times that I’ve been meaning to read.
• We’re Amazing 1, 2, 3! A Story About Friendship and Autism is part of Sesame Street’s autism initiative that has expanded to include a new character with autism. Elmo introduces his longtime friend Julia to Abby, who’s a little confused at first because Julia isn’t saying hello. Elmo explains that Julia has autism, so she does things a little differently.
• The Children’s Guide to Autism is a book that a friend who works with kids relies on most.

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