If you are interested in building or expanding your library of neurodiversity books, as I am, check out the descriptions below! Looking to help a child celebrate their neurodiversity, be proud of their differences and understand their strengths in your speech therapy sessions? A carefully-chosen neurodiversity storybook is a great place to start!
Affiliate links are used in this post. Click on the book image if you want to check it out further. I provide book length and reading level indicators when possible. If you are searching for other picture books, I have these blog posts about selective mutism books and social emotional books.
1. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures. The Story of Temple Grandin
Julia Finley Mosca (Author),Daniel Rieley (Illustrator)
This award-winning book about autism pioneer, Temple Grandin, describes how she went from being a nonspeaker to using her unique thoughts and visual thinking to invent improvements for farms around the world. When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, much less become one a powerful voices in modern science. Yet, she did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms and farm animals. Great example of channeling preferred interests into a career! Temple Grandin’s book, “thinking in pictures” had a profound impact on how I approached therapy with autistic students!
Amazon customers report the reading age to be from ages 4-9.
2. Wonderfully Wired Brains. An Introduction into the World of Neurodiversity
Louise Gooding (author) Ruth Burrows (illustrator)
An informative and inclusive children’s neurodiversity book. This inspirational book was written by a neurodiverse author, Louise Gooding, who challenges misconceptions and explains the workings of a neurodivergent brain.
Neurodiverse people and those with neurological differences can feel isolated, socially. Wonderfully Wired Brains teaches children aged 7-9 about the abilities that neurodiverse individuals have, shows them advocates who are challenging neurodiversity stereotypes, and gives them a safe space to explore their differences. It explains diagnoses that impact the brain, including each area of neurodiversity and what it can mean for anyone with that neurological difference. The font and colors used have been selected to accommodate a range of neurodiverse readers! Great neurodiversity book for a speech therapy library!
Reading age: 7-9
96 pages
3. Every Brain is Beautiful: A Little Kids’ Guide to Neurodiversity
by Sara Furlong
A neurodiversity book for the younger crowd. Four best friends, Puppy, Kitty, Bunny and Teddy, have a lot in common and a lot of differences as well. Learn about the four friends and all of the qualities that make them unique!
This book is a great way to explain neurodiversity to children 3-6 as well as to support inclusion and acceptance among all children. A gentle read to help kids understand that everyone sees the world differently, and that’s a good thing.
Reading age: 3-7 years
35 pages
4. Neurodiversity! What’s That? An Introduction to Neurodiversity for Kids.
Nadine Ramina Arthur (Author)
This neurodiversity book is a fun introduction to neurodiversity written by a neurodivergent mom. It defines keywords and ideas shared by the neurodiversity movement. It advocates that different brain types shouldn’t be viewed as disorders but doesn’t underestimate the challenges of thinking and learning differences. The book mentions the diagnoses of autism, PDA, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia and Irlen Syndrome.
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It uses large clear fonts on a light-coloured background, making the book easier to read for dyslexics and those with visual challenges.
Reading age of 7 and older
26 pages
5. My Brain is a Race Car!
by Nell Harris
This book, written by a neurodiverse author, likens the neurodiverse brain to a race car. “Brains are just like cars, they all drive round and round a track, picking up information and then bringing it back. Some brains are Race Cars that like to drive extra fast. Sometimes though, they forget to stop and fully complete a task.” Driving fast cars all the time and not servicing or maintaining them can cause overheating and burnout. That same logic can be applied to our brains. This neurodiversity book is an explanation of common traits in a neurodivergent brain. It presents self regulation tools to the child. Great book for children with ADHD. This book makes me want to gather up my racecar toys and use it to teach students the importance of self-regulation!
UP to 10 years
24 pages
6. My Body has a Bubble
by Nell Harris
A book about the personal space bubble and written by a neurodivergent author. Inside that bubble is more bubbles, all of them representing a different layer. These bubbles are invisible to the eye so we need to learn how to protect our own bubbles and to respect others! This book teaches that you know when your personal space has been invaded by how it feels. It’s hard to imagine boundaries that don’t physically exist, but does exist emotionally. When you’re neurodivergent, those social cues are hard to see. Bubbles gives a physical image to an invisible concept.
This a light rhyming story that can be a great conversation opener on what personal space means to you. Personal space can be critical for the comfort of neurodivergent people.
This is the author’s second book in the ‘Neurodiversity Without All The Terminology’ series.
3-12 years
29 pages
7. Some Brains: A Book Celebrating Neurodiversity
Nelly Thomas (author) Cat MacInnes (illustrator)
The illustrations are beautiful and lifelike. A kids book about how being neurodivergent is ok. The book has definitions and information in the back. While it doesn’t provide a ton of detail about what being neurodivergent means, it is a good introduction and good conversation starter.
No age range given
8. Do You Want to Play? Making Friends with an Autistic Kid.
Daniel Share-Strom RSW (author) Nagmeh Afsinjah (illustrator)
“Do you want to play?” says Jamie, with her favourite yellow truck, to new kid Dylan, who likes to line up his cars. Many other children’s books on this subject often depict the neurotypical child as doing their autistic peer a favor by being their friend. This book takes a refreshingly different approach. It highlights that autistic children are capable of making meaningful contributions to friendships, and suggests that typical children can alter their own approach to foster a connection. Written by a social worker, it shines with positivity. It’s a child focused way of teaching young children about how to approach and connect with autistic peers.
I could see using this in a speech therapy or friendship group to teach a neurotypical child how to approach and play with an autistic child.
4-8 years
36 pages
9. Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down
Lindsey Rowe Parker (author) Rebecca Burgess (illustrator)
An engaging picture book about sensory differences written by a neurodivergent author and mom of multiple sensory kids! It’s good for explaining to a child, or a parent, why some children need different types of sensory input! Seems like a great addition to an Occupational Therapist’s (or any therapists) library! A great portrayal of the lived experience of a child with sensory needs and a playful book that children will love! I think the illustrations seem to capture and show the inner jitters of a child with sensory differences.
On a side note, also a great book for teaching action words! Multi-use book for speech therapy!
4-6 years
50 pages
10. The reason I jump
Author – Naoki Higashida
A must-have neurodiversity book for your speech therapy library! This book is the inner voice of a 13-year-old with autism and it is an emotional ride. It does a fantastic job of showing how he processes sensory experiences and emotions. This is a one-of-a-kind biography that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine.
I’ve never read a memoir like The Reason I Jump. Parents, teachers, therapists and family members who never thought they could truly get inside the head of an autistic person are shown the complexity of their mind. Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know.
Questions such as:
- “Why do people with autism talk so loudly and weirdly?” (cringe)
- “Why do you line up your toy cars and blocks?”
- “Why don’t you make eye contact when you’re talking?” and
- “What’s the reason you jump?” Naoki’s answer: “When I’m jumping, it’s as if my feelings are going upward to the sky.”
Naoki writes with such vividness and explains his world in living color:
- “Your head feels trapped inside a motorcycle helmet three times too small.”
- “The fabric softener in your sweater smells as strong as air freshener fired up your nostril.”
- “Relief will come only when you are too exhausted to stay awake.”
Even those who fancy themselves to be “experts” in autism should read this book. I could see using excerts in my speech therapy sessions or recommending it to my older autistic students.
This is his personal account and not all people with autism will not have the same experiences. He indicates he might be better off if the people around him were more understanding of his lived experiences. In that spirit, this book would be useful to carefully use with neurotypical peers of an autistic student.
The author is an AAC user.
I listened on Audible-a 2 1/2 hour read. Highly recommend!
Happy reading!
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