Useful Books and Literature

Useful Books and Literature

Primary age information books:

• Alis Rowe. The Girl With The Curly Hair
  Multiple illustrated visual guides, written for specific ages. She also covers anxiety, shutdowns, social energy, executive functioning, boys’,
  and girls’ presentations.
• ‘Can I tell you about series.’
  Can I tell you about Autism? By Jude Welton
  Can I tell you about PDA? By Ruth Fidler and Phil Christie
  Can I tell you about ADHD? By Susan Yarney
  Can I tell you about Sensory Prosessing Difficulties? By Sue Allen
  These short guides are intended for friends, family, and professionals.
• The Secret Life of Rose. Rose and Jodie Smitten.
  Mum (Jodie) and daughter (Rose) write about what Autism is, and where she sometimes struggles. Jodie then gives the ‘adult’ interpretation and tips on how to manage and cope with these struggles.
• The Girl who Thought in Pictures. The Story of Temple Grandin by
  Julia Finley Mosca.
  A picture book of the story of Temple Grandin.
• Books by Naoki Higashida, ‘The Reason I Jump’, and ‘Fall down 7
  times Get up 8’.
  Translated by KA Yoshida and David Mitchell. Naoki, a nonverbal autistic teenager, has great insight into his autism. He has leant to use a keyboard and has been able to write about his behaviours, thoughts, and actions.

Picture/Story books 5 to 8 yrs.

• Books by Sara Leach
  Sarah is an award-winning Canadian author. These books are all about Lauren, an 8 yr. old Autistic girl, and how she manages in Elementary school. Being a Canadian publication, some language differs from UK publications.
• Slug Days
  Lauren is autistic. She has good days and bad days. Bad days are slug days
• Penguin Days
  Lauren goes to a family wedding. She must experience different clothes, and people hugging her.
• Duck Days
  Lauren must cope with other children’s reactions to her autism

Novels for 8 to 14

• Books by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott.
  Ways to be me. Libby’s character Tally works through her diagnosis whilst in Y6.
• Can you see me. Tally is entering into Y7. Libby uses her own person diary entries, woven into a story about Tally and her first weeks in Y7.
• Do you know me. Tally is determined to make sure that people see who she really is, but she has a worry…. The school trip.
• M is for Autism. By Students of Limpstead Grange school and Vicky Martin.
  The character ‘M’ gives insight into her thoughts and feelings about school, autism, her worries, and much more. The second book ‘M in the Middle’, relates specifically to teenage years, emotional crushes, and anxiety.
• Books by Elle McNicoll, ‘A Kind of Spark’, and ‘Show us who you are’. Fictional characters who are autistic, who use their autistic personality to courageously challenge what they see as wrong.
  Like A Charm by Elle McNicoll. In this, her newest novel the lead character has dyspraxia, rather than autism.
• The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd. Ted, a led character in this book is autistic. Ted and his sister Kat set out to solve a mystery.
• The Guggenheim Mystery by Robin Stevens. The follow on from the London Eye mystery with Ted and Kat.
• Flamingo Boy by Michael Morpurgo. Set during the second world war, the character of Lorenzo is autistic, with very few spoken words.

For older teenagers and adults

• Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Adults by Dr. Luke Beardon.
  A guide for older children, parents and adults diagnosed later in life.
  Luke explores topics such as education, employment, parenthood, criminal justice system, friendships, and much more.
• Exploring Depression and Beating the Blues. A self help guide by
  Michelle Garnett and Tony Attwood.
  A guided workbook, for those with ASD, who might be experiencing depression.
• Cards Against Anxiety by Dr. Pooky Knightsmith
  A series of cards, and explanation book, for tips to reduce anxiety. Once you have found a helpful tip, you have a card to carry around as a helpful reminder of a tip to use when anxious.
• The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward.
  Detailed book about periods from an autistic author. Picture guide on menstrual products, and how to manage and cope with menstrual products, as well as the emotional and hormonal highs and lows.
• The Spectrum Girls Survival Guide by Sienna Castellon
  Sienna outlines coping strategies on how to manage growing up, from surviving the education system to friendships, body image and understanding emotions.
• PDA Paradox by Harry Thompson
  Harry, who has PDA looks back at his younger self. An honest, but turbulent memoir.
• Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome by Luke Jackson. Luke
  writes about his teenage years, and his younger ASD, ADHD siblings. He writes about bullying, friendships, and school issues

Novels Young Adult/Adult

• The Boy made of Blocks by Keith Stuart
  Saturdays at Noon by Rachel Marks
  The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas
• Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella. Whilst the book is not specific to autism, the extreme social anxiety experienced by Audrey, and the ways that she leans to cope and move forward makes for a good read.
• The Curious incident of the Dog in the Night, by Mark Haddon

Books for adults/parenting

• Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Children by Dr. Luke Beardon
  An accessible and easy to read introduction to Autism
• The Complete Guide to Asperger Syndrome by Tony Attwood
  A go-to guide on learning about the autism spectrum
• Autism and Girls by Temple Grandin and Tony Attwood
  Dr Grandin brings across the presentation of girls on the spectrum from the inside.
• Girls growing up on the spectrum by Shana Nichols, Gina Marie
  Moravcik and Samara Pulver Tetenbaum. A guide for professionals and parents of pre-teen and teenage years.
• Nobody Nowhere by Donna Williams. The first of many books by Donna. This is an autobiography of her childhood, and early life.
• The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum by Temple
  Grandin and Richard Panek. Temple offers her own experience as an autistic person, along with new discoveries about the autistic brain.
• Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults by Luke Beardon.
  Both books address that autistic individual might experience anxiety and provides an upbeat and optimistic guide and strategies to try and minimise anxiety.
• Pathological Demand Avoidance-My Daughter is Not Naughty by
  Jane Alison Sherwin. Jane’s daughter, Mollie is eventually diagnosed with PDA aged 7. Jane provides a commentary on her daughter’s behaviour and reveals strategies which helped.

Books for in-depth reading/ professionals

• Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Sarah
  Hendrickx
  A valuable guide for professionals as a well parents supporting girls and young women.
• A Guide to Mental Health Issues in Girls and Women on The
  Autism Spectrum. Dr. Judy Eaton. For professionals working with autistic girls and their families. Includes case studies and offers advice on working with parents and carers.
• Catatonia, Shutdown and Breakdown in Autism. By Dr. Amitta
  Shah
  A go to guide for professionals to understand and treat autistic catatonia.
• Exposure Anxiety- The Invisible Cage by Donna Williams. This
  extreme presentation of anxiety is understood to be experienced by a
  high proportion of autistic individuals, leaving them inside an invisible
  cage, leading to isolation

True Life Family Stories

• A Friend Like Henry by Nuala Gardner.
  The first of three books about her son Dale, and his therapy dog, Henry.
• A Real Boy by Christopher Stevens and Nicola Stevens.
• The Boy Who Loved Windows by Patricia Stacey
• A Normal Family by Henry Normal and Angela Pell
• Gentle Giant, by Wendy Robinson