Greta and the Giants What’s this book about? This inspiring picture book retells the story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who has led a global movement to raise awareness about the world’s climate crisis using allegory to make this important topic accessible to young children. This inspiring story and a gentle way to introduce activism and climate change but does not mention autism however as Greta is a self-advocate and talks about her Aspergers as a super power in the media I thought it is worth having on a neurodiversity kids book directory.  The detailed pictures of the forrest and wildlife really bring the book to life and shows kids what is worth saving.  Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Target Apple Books Also available on Kindle

Benji, The Bad Day and Me What’s this book about? Nothing seems to be going right for Sammy today. At school, he got in trouble for kicking a fence, then the cafeteria ran out of pizza for lunch. After he walks home in the pouring rain, he finds his autistic little brother Benji is having a bad day too. On days like this, Benji has a special play-box where he goes to feel cozy and safe. Sammy doesn't have a special place, and he's convinced no one cares how he feels or even notices him. But somebody is noticing, and may just have an idea on how to help Sammy feel better. Sammy has had a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day that just won't stop.  In this tender story about siblings, author Sally J. Pla shares her experience of raising sons with different personality traits and needs. Benji, the Bad Day, and Me embraces the philosophy that we are all part of a wide spectrum of neurodiversity. And on those really bad, rotten days, you can always count on family to be there for you. It is a super emotional and uplifting story for the age range. A story for older siblings that sometimes get frustrated by the "special" treatment and attention that younger children can *appear*  to receive. Illustrations were beautiful and well detailed. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Target

Wendell The Narwhal What’s this book about? Everyone in the ocean can make music. His big, pointy horn can't go "pop pop pop" or "clappy clap clap" or even "whoosh". Desperate to join the symphony of the seas, a narwhal is unable to make a noise, until he considers the beautiful music of teamwork. Wendell struggles with over-sensory stimulation and struggles to be in such a crowded ocean. This book is music related, by getting the audience to make music sounds with their mouth to create an acapella in the classroom. The endearing illustrations make the sea come to life therefore this book is intended for the younger audience.  Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Target

Tom’s Special Talent What’s this book about? Tom isn’t sure if he has any talents at all when he sees how good his friends are at writing and reading. But a school competition soon helps him to find his own very special talent! Children with Dyslexia or a learning difficulty often find school a daunting and sometimes terrifying daily task. Tom's story also explains that kids don't have to be good at everything in School. In an environment where certain skills, like writing and reading, are praised and highlighted more than others, it is important for kids to recognise that everyone has a 'special talent' of their own. It encourages other kids to be mindful of the differences that exist between their friends and classmates and to be aware that all children, regardless of their talents, learn differently.  It is well written, beautifully executed illustrations and also at a level for most children to understand. It is a book that should be in every school to help explain to children that everyone is different and that with help they can achieve whatever they wanted from life. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Also available on Kindle

A Friend Like Simon What’s this book about? When an autistic child joins a mainstream school, many children can find it difficult to understand and cope with a student that is somewhat ‘different’ to them. This story encourages other children to be mindful and patient of the differences that exist and to also appreciate the positive contribution that an autistic child can make to the group. This is a great book to help children understand what children with autism are like. It teaches young students about what it means to be compassionate, understanding, and welcoming and also helps children to understand the positive traits of children with ASD and to help them be understanding and welcoming. This book is recommended for 3-6 year olds.  Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Also available on Kindle

Understanding Sam What’s this book about? Sam doesn't like his pancakes to touch, his coat hurts his skin, and his sister is annoyed by his incessant singing. Sam is a young, happy boy who behaves differently than other children. He loves to giggle and he loves to play the cello. Sam feels and thinks differently than other kids; he is more emotional and cries a lot. Sam is often misunderstood and has a hard time making friends. Sam's mom and dad are very supportive parents. Once he is diagnosed, teamwork-based support helps Sam's life become a little easier. This heartwarming story tells of the challenges of living with Asperger Syndrome. This firsthand view of the life of an undiagnosed child presents behaviors and characteristics that are common among children on the spectrum. With endearing illustrations, the book includes 10 helpful tips geared toward children, showing them how to respect and accept differences as well as to interact with a classmate or friend with Asperger Syndrome. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Books

The Real Boy What’s this book about? Oscar knows he’s different. He can’t remember where he comes from, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of magical herbs and their uses, and he just does not understand human interaction. As the apprentice to Caleb, the last magician in the magic-steeped Barrow, Oscar's job is to collect the herbs, prepare the charms and tinctures, do his chores, and avoid trouble. That changes when a mysterious destructive force arrives and it is up to Oscar and his friend Callie to protect the Barrow and its inhabitants. It's a tale about the follies of greed and grown-ups who think they deserve to have everything come easily to them without considering the many people who have less than they do. It is beautifully written and elegantly structured, this fantasy is as real as it gets. Unfortunately other than the amazing picture cover, this book does not have pictures, it is chapter based and has fairly small writing, therefore again recommended for the older student. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Target Also available on Kindle & Audible 

Superstar What’s this book about? This uplifting story follows space-obsessed Lester Musselbaum as he experiences the challenges of his first days of public school: making friends, facing bullies, finding his "thing," and accidentally learning of his autism-spectrum diagnosis. A touching peek into the life of a sensitive autism-spectrum boy facing the everydayness of elementary school. This book is chapter based and has fairly small writing for a kids book, it also has no pictures therefore recommended for the older student. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble GooglePlay Target Also available on Kindle

My Mouth is a Volcano! What’s this book about? All of Louis thoughts are very important to him. In fact, his thoughts are so important to him that when he has something to say, his words begin to wiggle, and then they do the jiggle, then his tongue pushes all of his important words up against his teeth and he erupts, or interrupts others. He compares his mouth to a volcano, as it is always erupting. This story takes an empathetic approach to the habit of interrupting and teaches children a witty technique to capture their rambunctious thoughts and words for expression at an appropriate time. It isn't until he is doing a presentation as star student in front of the classroom when some of his classmates begin to interrupt him that he realizes the problem. He thought his classmates were being so rude, and couldn't believe that was the same thing that he was doing. Told from Louis’s perspective, the story provides parents, teachers, and counselors with an entertaining way to teach children the value of respecting others by listening and waiting for their turn to speak. This book can be used as a way of showing the value of respecting others and waiting their turn to talk within a conversation. Age recommended for this book is ages 6-9. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Target

It’s Hard To Be a Verb What’s this book about? "It's Hard to Be a Verb!" by Juila Child tells the story of a little boy, Louis, and his struggle with learning how to embrace his ADHD. Louis has a hard time keeping his "wiggles" under control and focusing on small tasks at hand and in school. Louis' mom and teacher tell him all he was to do is learn to "focus," but no matter how hard Louis tries he has a hard time focusing. Louis' mom finds ways to teach Louis how to take control of his need to move and wiggle during times he needs to focus. This book is recommend for parents, teachers, and anyone with a child or student who struggles with their wiggles. The major theme in the book is learning differences. The text of the book is "loud" or seems to "move" and even changes color visually representing Louis' internal need to get up and move. This cook is to teach a class about learning differences and to help them better understand how a person can try and try, but sometimes we need extra help to succeed in what we are trying to do. This book is a great mirror for students who are like Louis who are extra wiggly and a window for students to understand those around them who have extra wiggles. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Target

Counting By 7s What’s this book about? Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old girl living in California. She is not your ordinary middle school girl, she is a genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. Willow is also an outsider, a girl possibly somewhere on the autism/Asperger's spectrum (although that is never stated). Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. This story is about her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family. This book grabs readers interest and touches on topics that are not usually discussed. The themes discussed in the book are grief, adoption, overcoming, finding happiness, and discussing families that go against the “norm”. In the book WIllow makes the comment “if you find that you are lost, keep swimming against the tide”, which is a great message to share with young readers who are experiencing tough situations in their lives. This book is a novel with chapters and no pictures, so would suit the older student reader.  Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble GooglePlay Target Also available on Kindle & Audible

Anything But Typical What’s this book about? A story told entirely from the point of view of Jason, a 12 year old autistic boy who is a creative-writing whiz and deft explainer of literary devices, but markedly at a loss in social interactions with “neurotypicals” both at school and at home. He is most comfortable in an online writing forum called Storyboard, where his stories kindle an e-mail-based friendship with a girl. The author describes Jason’s attempts to interpret body language and social expectations, and ultimately how Jason moves through his failures and triumphs with the same depth of courage and confusion of any boy his age. This book is an enlightening story for anyone who has ever worried about fitting in. This book is in black and white, and with chapters therefore suiting middle school students.  Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble GooglePlay Target Also available on Kindle & Audible 

A Whole New Ballgame What’s this book about? From Kindergarten, Rip and Red have been best friends whose fifth-grade year is nothing like what they expected. They have a teacher named Mr. Acevedo, who doesn't believe in tests or homework and who also happens to be their new basketball coach. Easy-going Rip is knocked completely out of his comfort zone and for Red, who has autism and really needs things to be exactly a certain way, the changes are even more of a struggle. Together these two make a great duo who know how to help each other and find ways to make a difference in the classroom and on the court. This is a fun realistic fiction story that kids who love basketball (and others) will enjoy. The characters in A Whole New Ballgame are complex and well-developed, The author has captured the wide range of personalities and emotions on display in any middle school therefor being a great book for the older elementary student. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Googleplay Target Also available on Kindle 

A Friend For Henry What’s this book about? Henry has been on the lookout for a friend. A friend who shares. A friend who listens. Maybe even a friend who likes things to stay the same and all in order, as Henry does. Henry is in an inclusion classroom with other children looking for a good friend. His first friend didn't understand is specific ways of doing things, as Henry likes things a certain way, and when things don’t go his way, he gets very flustered. This makes it very difficult for him to make friends but towards the end he finds another friend that accepts him for himself. This books shows the importance of every child to be able to have a friend they can count on no matter what. This book will help children who are on the autism spectrum, but also kids who don't understand that behavior. It is straight forward and with the simple pictures of Henry's reactions when things go wrong enhance the message. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Chronicle Books Target

Noah Chases the Wind What’s this book about? Noah sees, hears, feels, and thinks in ways that other people don't always understand, and he asks a lot of questions along the way. Noah loves science, especially the weather. Noah is curious about the weather and how it effects him. He reads and reads, and one day decides to follow the wind to see where it goes. His books usually provide him with the answers he needs, until one day, there's one question they don't answer—and that is where Noah's windy adventure begins. This book doesn't focus specifically on children on the spectrum but does speak to all children who are curious and whimsical and celebrates the inquisitive nature of all children including those on the autism spectrum, who cannot stop asking a question until an answer has been unearthed. The rich and adoring illustrations really make the book come to life and contains a page of information for parents, caregivers, and educators about the importance of helping children feel good about their differences and know that being different is okay. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Googleplay Apple Books Kobo

Cooper and the Big Apple What’s this book about? Cooper the cat is purrfectly content with his life in Texas. So when his best friend Jennifer tells him they’re taking a trip to New York City, he’s not really sure what all the fuss is about. But, like a good friend, he embarks on the new adventure with her. Jennifer takes Cooper to climb the Statue of Liberty, to visit the Stock Exchange, and to attend a Broadway musical, and to see many other New York City landmarks. At each new location, Cooper realizes the Big Apple is not what he expected and even more than he imagined! The illustration are a lively combination of drawing, coloring and collage which were created by the author’s Autistic child Riley Cohn. Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Also available on Audible 

Tacos Anyone? What’s this book about? Autistic Michael, is a 4 year old boy who has an older brother, Thomas who doesn't understand his atypical behavior.   Thomas explains his confusion about autism. This book shows his frustration when his brother refuses to play with him. Thomas wants to be able to understand Michaels needs which he learns by getting advice from his mother and Michael's play therapist. Michael loves when she rolls him into a taco using a blanket, which is where the book’s title comes from.  This book is fully color illustrated AND even bilingual (English and Spanish). Where can I buy this book? Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookroo