Our favourite picture books about autism
20 November 2024
Picture books are a powerful tool for teaching children about the world around them. With vibrant illustrations and stories, they can offer a gentle introduction to complicated topics. For children, both autistic and otherwise, picture books about autism can build understanding and acceptance.
Whether you are helping your child find stories that represent their experience, or building empathy with siblings and peers, these books can be helpful and enjoyable.
The list of books below, recommended by ACD staff and volunteers, explore autism in engaging, informative, and sensitive ways. Happy reading!
A Day with No Words
By Tiffany Hammond, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove
A Day With No Words is a colorful and engaging picture book for young readers. It shares what life can look like for families who use nonverbal communication, and use tools to embrace their unique method of “speaking.”
The story highlights the bond between a mother and her child. It follows them on a day when they use a tablet to communicate with others. The author is an autistic mother of two autistic sons and the creator of the popular @Fidgets.and.Fries social media platform. A Day With No Words normalises communication methods outside of verbal speech and it affirms and celebrates autism through its representation.
All My Stripes
By Shaina Rudolph, illustrated by Alison Singer
Zane, the zebra, feels different from the rest of his classmates. He worries that all they notice about him is his ‘autism stripe.’ With the help of his Mama, Zane comes to appreciate all his stripes and the unique strengths that make him who he is!
All My Stripes shows us how to embrace not only who we are, and the importance of embracing the people around us who are brilliantly different thanks to their own amazing, colourful stris.
Benji, the Bad Day, and Me
By Sally J. Pla, illustrated by Ken Min
Nothing is going well for Sammy. He walks home in the rain and finds his autistic brother Benji is also having a bad day. Benji has a special place where he feels safe, but Sammy doesn’t have one, and he thinks nobody cares how he feels. But somebody is noticing and has an idea to help Sammy feel better.
Benji, the Bad Day, and Me embraces the great variety of difference the emotions of siblings. It also shows the reader that on bad days, you can count on family to be there for you.
Masterpiece
By Alexandra Hoffman, illustrated by Beatriz Mello
Masterpiece is the story of Samuel, an autistic boy who sees the world differently from his peers. When Samuel’s teacher asks his class to create a piece of art, his beautiful way of looking at the world makes him a true masterpiece!
The story shows the other children in his class learning empathy, acceptance, and understanding. Beatriz Mello’s beautiful illustrations include things such as noise-canceling headphones, which aren’t usually shown in books.
Remarkable Remy
By Melanie Heyworth, illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom
Remy’s friend truly accepts and values Remy’s autistic ways. There are so many gifts and strengths to appreciate, like imaginative inventions, new ways to connect with nature, how to communicate without words, and how to be a loyal friend.
This picture book with fabulous illustrations is written in gender-neutral language. The author is autistic with autistic children and hopes this book will help encourage others to welcome new autistic friends into their world.
Some Brains
By Nelly Thomas, illustrated by Cat MacInnes
A young girl shows us how we are ALL different and that being neurotypical can be COOL! It helps us appreciate just how different from each other children can be. Through excellent illustrations, “Some Brains” also shows us what some neurodivergent children may struggle with and what makes them feels better.
Talking is Not My Thing
Written and illustrated by Rose Robbins
Rosie is autistic and nonverbal; she likes to have fun. She communicates her ideas and thoughts with her brother through body language, drawing, and gestures. This warm-hearted picture book is a beautiful story to share and build an understanding of nonverbal communication.
The Ice Cream Sundae Guide to Autism
By Debby Elley and Tori Houghton, illustrated by J.C. Perry
Autism is a bit like an ice cream sundae. There are lots of ingredients that go into it. There are so many types of sundae glasses out there. Some are plain and simple, some are loud and proud! Sundae glasses are a bit like people – we’re all different. Because we all have different personalities, autism doesn’t look the same in everybody.
This picture-led book uses ice cream sundae ingredients to represent various aspects of autism such as sensory differences and special interests. It explains the different facets of autism in a neutral way. The reader can create their own individual ice cream sundae to illustrate their personal strengths and challenges, highlighting how it makes them unique and helping to build confidence and self-awareness. It includes colourful illustrations and workbook activities to help children understand autism.