Autism is a neurodiverse condition that can affect how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them. It is is a spectrum condition, meaning that whilst all autistic people share certain difficulties, being autistic will affect them in different ways.
Autism can be hard to understand for children, parents, family and friends. Sharing stories about other children with autism can put a child’s mind at ease, make the experiences easier to cope with and more understandable.
A friend for Henry
by by Jenn Bailey
Follow Henry’s school day as he tries to find a friend who enjoys the same things as him.
Age: 3+
How to Fly with Broken Wings
by Jane Elson
Willem has Autism and two main aims in life: to fly and to make at least two friends of his own age. Willem and Sasha form an unlikely friendship. Because they share a secret. Sasha longs to fly too. This is a charming tale about overcoming obstacles and finding friendship in unlikely places.
Age: 11+
Looking After Louis
by Lesley Ely
Louis’s classmates find a way to join him in his world by using imagination, kindness and a special game of football.
Age: 4+
Me and Mister P
by Maria Farrer
Arthur just wants a normal brother. When a polar bear arrives to stay he helps Arthur to enjoy Liam’s company rather than always seeing the negative side of his brother’s behaviour. Great for any football fans.
Age 8+
Scarlet Ibis
by Gill Lewis
After a fire in their flat caused by their mother smoking, Scarlet and her autistic brother are sent to different foster homes. This is the story of Scarlet fighting to keep her family together.
Age 10+
How to Look for a Lost Dog
by Ann M Martin
11-year-old Rose is autistic and obsessed with homonyms. Her father gives her a stray dog, which she names Rain (Reign, Rein). The dog becomes her best friend – her anchor in a confusing world. When Rain goes missing during a storm, Rose refuses to stop looking for her.
Age: 9+
My Brother is Autistic
by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos and Marta Fabrega
Having a brother with autism can be hard, especially at school. Maybe if the children knew more about autism they’d stop teasing him.
Age: 5+
Roar’s Strumming, Let’s Get Humming
by Hazel Reeves and Dave McTaggart
One of a series of books about Roar the Dinosaur. It invites children, mothers, fathers, carers and professionals to celebrate the strengths of children with Austism.
Age: 5+
Through the eyes of us
by Jon Roberts
‘Through the Eyes of Us’ is a beautiful, colourful picture book for children which gives insight into the world of children with autism following the experiences of Kya, who has severe autism.
Age: 4+
Autism
by Louise Spilsbury
Explains what autism is and how it might affect people’s behaviour.
Age 6+
M is for Autism
by The Students of Limpsfield Grange School, Martin and Vicky Martin
Age range: 9+
M. That’s what I’d like you to call me please. I’ll tell you why later. Welcome to M’s world. It’s tipsy-turvy, sweet and sour, and the beast of anxiety lurks outside classrooms ready to pounce. M just wants to be like other teenagers her age who always know what to say and what to do. So why does it feel like she lives on a different plane of existence to everyone else? Written by the students of Limpsfield Grange, a school for girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder with communication and interaction difficulties, M is for Autism draws on real life experiences to create a heartfelt and humorous novel that captures the highs and lows of being different in a world of normal.
Isaac and his Amazing Asperger Superpowers!
by Melanie Walsh
Meet Isaac. He’s a superhero! He might look like everyone else, but he has a kind of autism called Asperger’s. Inside this book he’ll tell you all about what it’s like to have his Asperger superpowers.
Age: 3+
Tomas Loves…
by Jude Welton and Jane Telford
Meet Tomas, a little boy who loves trains and hates change. This book encourages children to recognise what they have in common with him as well as what makes him different.
Age: 2+
Useful Organisations
National Autistic Society:
Charity providing information about Autism, and campaigning on behalf of people with autism.
Hampshire Libraries 
No books for autistic teens or adults? Also Aspergers is no longer a term used – just autism or ASD. Many autistic people inc myself prefer autism to be described as a neurodiverse condition or brain difference, rather than a disability. Thanks 😊
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Hi Viv,
Thank you for your feedback on this blog and we have now updated this. This blog is part of a collection called When a Book Might Help which is solely aimed at children but we do have lots of books aimed at young adults and adults too.
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