Best Books To Read About Autism For World Book Day

When the children were first diagnosed as autistic, I immediately jumped on Amazon and ordered a ton of books. I wasn’t sure what to buy, but it was a way of making me feel more in control. I feel that knowledge is power and I wanted to understand as much as I could about the children being autistic.

There are so many amazing books out there, but I can only recommend the ones we’ve read. Then when Kelly was diagnosed autistic in his forties, we wanted to learn more about adults and autism, so I’ve included some great books for autistic adults too.

To celebrate World Book Day today (3 March) here are some of my favourite books:

The Reason I Jump: One Boy's Voice From the Silence of Autism by Naoki Higashida and translated by David Mitchell

This is by far my favourite book. I loved it so much, I sent my mum a copy too! It’s easy to read and both children read it too. It really resonated with the children as it answers questions such as ‘Why do I like watching TV adverts over and over?’ My son said ‘Oh I love doing that too.’ It’s the book that I keep picking up, even though I’d had it a while now. The author Naoki is non-verbal but shares why he does the things he loves, so perfectly. Definitely one for your list.

Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life Full of Labels by Sara Gibbs

This book has only just been published and already has hundreds of five star reviews on Amazon - so I’m not alone in loving it. Sara is a comedy script writer and was diagnosed autistic as an adult. Here, she shares her journey of all the different labels she’s been given over the years from cry baby, scaredy cat, spoiled brat, weirdo, and show off - but more than anything else, she'd been called a Drama Queen. No one understood her behaviour, her meltdowns or her intense emotions. This is a funny and impactful book that I couldn’t put down.

The Girl With The Curly Hair - Aspergers and Me by Alis Rowe

Alis is founder of The Girl With The Curly Hair Project so I was keen to get her book. Her book is divided into easily approachable chapters and the diagrams are helpful in understanding visually what is being explained. It’s easy for children to read themselves too.

What Every Autistic Girl Wishes Her Parents Knew by Inc Autism Women’s Network

The book is full of essays. They are conversational, and they're directed at parents whose daughters have been diagnosed with autism. It’s a good book to pick up and put down. I wouldn’t read it all in one good, but I’ve seen a lot of reviews with people loving it!

An Asperger Dictionary of Everyday Expressions - by Ian Stuart-Hamilton

This was one of my favourite books. Don’t be put off with the Asperger’s term as this book is useful for everyone autistic. Both our children take a lot of words and phrases literally, so this book is literally a dictionary which explains the meaning. Both children loved it and found it really useful. Just as a warning - there are some swear words and sexual terms in there too, so it’s not one to be left alone with children!

Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder): How Seeking a Diagnosis in Adulthood Can Change Your Life by Philip Wylie

This book discusses the process, the pros and cons, and the after-effects of receiving an autism diagnosis in adulthood. It also outlines the likely stages of the journey to diagnosis, this book looks at what the individual may go through as they become aware of their autistic characteristics. Also it’s helpful if you are an adult seeking a diagnosis. It also covers common reactions after receiving an autism diagnosis - from depression and anger to relief and self-acceptance.

The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward

This is a great guide to all things period related. It’s a good idea to get your daughter ready and talking about periods ahead of time - especially as a lot of autistic people have sensory processing too. This book was a great one to read together. Easy and simple to understand without being too overwhelming.

Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott

The book is about an eleven-year-old girl called Tally, who is autistic. The book explains what Tally finds hard in life. It also covers demand avoidance, which Tally has, as does the author Libby Scott. Our daughter read some of it when she was 10 but couldn’t get into it. I’ve heard such great things about it and a lot of children really resonated with the character, so I didn’t want to miss it off the list.

It would be great to know which books about autism you love and think I should read.