WebJunction

Picture Books

Waiting for Benjamin by Alexandra Altman (Albert Whitman 2008)
Alexander experiences feelings of disappointment, anger, embarrassment, and jealousy when his younger brother is diagnosed with autism.
The Flight of a Dove by Alexandra Day (Farrar Straus Giroux 2004)
Four-year-old Betsy, an autistic child, begins to improve after she sees a dove, one of the animals at her preschool, fly into the air. Based on a true story.
My Brother Sammy by Becky Edwards (Millbrook 1999)
A boy describes some of the many feelings he has about his brother Sammy, who is autistic. 
Looking After Louis by Lesley Ely (Albert Whitman 2004)
When a new boy with autism joins their classroom, the children try to understand his world and to include him in theirs.
Joey and Sam : “A Heartwarming Storybook About Autism, a Family, and a Brother’s Love” by Ilana Katz (Real Life Storybooks 1993 ).
Although it is sometimes hard to have a younger brother like Sam who is autistic, Joey is proud when Sam’s special class performs at a school assembly.
Ian’s Walk by Laurie Lears (Albert Whitman 1998)
Ian, who is autistic, takes a walk with his sisters and demonstrates how he sees, hears, smells, and tastes things differently.
Playing by the Rules by Dena Fox Luchsinger (Woodbine House 2007)
When Great Aunt Tilda comes to visit, it takes her a little while to learn to understand Josh, who has autism, just as it takes him some time to get used to her.
Tobin Learns to Make Friends by Diane Murrell (Future Horizons 2001)
A great tool for learning one of the most basic social skills, this colorful picture book is quite effective in teaching social skills to children with autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and other pervasive developmental disorders. Readers follow Tobin, a train, as he learns to make friends and engage in proper social activities. (reQuest)
Andy and His Yellow Frisbee by Mary Thompson (Woodbine House 1996)
The new girl at school tries to befriend Andy, an autistic boy who spends every recess by himself, spinning a yellow frisbee under the watchful eye of his older sister.

Middle School Fiction

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin (Simon & Schuster 2009)
Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.

Wright & Wong series by Laura J. Burns
The Case of the Prank That Stank #1 (Razorbill 2005)
Seventh-graders Agatha Wong and Orville Wright, who has Asperger’s syndrome, try to prove that the prank they organized did not cause the fire that burned down their rival school’s field house.
The Case of the Nana-Napper #2 (Razorbill 2005)
Agatha believes that her Nana has been kidnapped and enlists Orville to help find out what has happened to her.
The Case of the Trail Mix-Up #3 (Razorbill 2005)
When one of their classmates goes missing during the seventh-grade camping trip, Orville and Agatha set out find him.
The Case of the Slippery Soap Star #4 (Razorbill 2005)
When his mother is accused of stealing jewelry at a charity dinner, Orville and Agatha team up to find the real thief--and their prime suspect is a famous soap opera actor.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (Putnam’s 2004)
A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards’ families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister.
Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko (Dial 2009)
Moose Flanagan, who lives on Alcatraz along with his family and the families of the other prison guards, is frightened when he discovers that noted gangster Al Capone, a prisoner there, wants a favor in return for the help that he secretly gave Moose.

Bones & the Duches Mystery series by Alexandra Eden
To Oz and Back : A Bones & the Duchess Mystery (Allen Knoll 2002)
Bones, a former police officer, teams up with Verity, a clever twelve-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, to try to solve the mystery of two missing girls.
Holy Smoke : A Bones & the Duchess Mystery (Allen Knoll 2004)
Bones Fatzinger, a former police officer, teams up again with Verity Buscador, a clever twelve-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, to investigate a mysterious church fire.
The Duchess to the Rescue : A Bones and the Duchess Mystery (Allen Knoll 2006)
Bones, a former police officer, once again teams up with Verity, a clever twelve-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, who helps clear Bones of vandalism charges.

Piggy by Mireille Geus (Front Street 2008) YA
Lizzie struggles to overcome the closed, internal world of autism when a new girl moves into her neighborhood, befriends her, then insists that Lizzie join her in seeking revenge on the boys who tease them.

Aspberger Adventure series by Kathy Hoopmann
Blue Bottle Mystery : An Asperger Adventure (Jessica Kingsley 2001)
Ben finds an unusual old bottle buried in the school yard, and in a roundabout way it helps Ben and his family find out what is causing some of the persistent problems he has both at home and at school.
Of Mice and Aliens : An Asperger Adventure (Jessica Kingsley 2001)
Ben’s attempt to cope with his newly diagnosed Asperger Syndrome is complicated by the crash landing in his back yard of an alien who knows nothing about Earth’s rules and norms.
Lisa and the Lacemaker : An Asperger Adventure (Jessica Kingsley 2002)
Lisa, a girl with Asperger syndrome, discovers a series of basement rooms under her friend Ben’s house and spends hours exploring the remnants of a past era.

The Boy Who Ate Stars by Kochka (Simon & Schuster 2006)
Upon moving to a new apartment, twelve-year-old Lucy befriends an autistic boy who lives upstairs and, along with her friend Theo and a pampered pooch, takes Matthew on neighborhood adventures hoping to open him up to the world around them.
Rules by Cynthia Lord (Scholastic 2006)
Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with an young paraplegic. 
Knowing Joseph by Judith Mammay (Blooming Tree Press 2008)
Brian has always done well in school and on the soccer field, avoided conflict, and pleased his parents, even if they do seem to ignore him often, but when Joseph, his autistic brother, enters first grade and starts playing soccer, Brian is in trouble in more ways than one. (CIP) Autism. Brothers. Bullies. Schools. Interpersonal relations. Family life.

Kristy and the Secret of Susan (Baby-sitters Club #32) by Ann M. Martin (Scholastic 1990)
Thinking it unfair that her new baby-sitting charge Susan gets treated differently because she is autistic, Kristy decides to change that situation.
Nobody’s Perfect by Marlee Matlin and Doug Cooney (Simon & Schuster 2006)
Megan, a popular and outgoing fourth-grader, is sure that the "perfect" new girl dislikes her because she is deaf, but persistence and a joint science fair project help Megan see that the two girls have something in common after all. 
Buster and the Amazing Daisy by Nancy Ogaz (Jessica Kingsley 2002)
When Daisy, who is autistic, joins a mainstreamed class and trains Buster the rabbit for a pet show, she faces new challenges and makes new friends.
The Truth Out There by Celia Rees (DK Ink 2000)
Thirteen-year-old Josh begins digging into the mystery of his Uncle Patrick, an autistic boy who died at Josh’s age while investigating the crash of a flying saucer, and a terrible family secret is uncovered.
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork (Scholastic 2009) YA
Marcelo Sandoval, a seventeen-year-old boy on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, faces new challenges, including romance and injustice, when he goes to work for his father in the mailroom of a corporate law firm.
Are You Alone On Purpose? By Nancy Werlin (Houghton 1994) YA
When two lonely teenagers, one the son of a widower rabbi and the other the sister of an autistic twin, are drawn together by a tragic accident, they discover they have more in common than they guessed.

Nonfiction

Russell is Extra Special : A Book About Autism for Children by Charles A. Amenta (Magination 1992)
Describes the daily life, likes and dislikes, and habits of Russell Amenta, who is a happy boy despite being severely autistic.
Autism (Health Matters series) by Carol Baldwin (Heinemann 2003)
Knowledge promotes understanding among children who are likely to encounter schoolmates with chronic medical conditions. More than just a guide to causes, symptoms, and treatment, this series identifies ways to help, and provides motivating stories of people who've achieved success despite their conditions. (reQuest) 
The Hidden Child : Youth with Autism (Youth with Special Needs series) by Sherry Bonnice (Mason Crest 2004)
The story of Livie and her brother Tucker, a child with autism, is presented to demonstrate the strength needed to face the emotions surrounding autism. Facts about autism and symptoms are also discussed. (BWI)
Mori’s Story : A Book About a Boy With Autism by Zachary M. Gartenberg (Lerner, 1998)
A boy discusses his autistic brother, including his home life, foster home, schooling, and how the disease affects the whole family.
Autism (Health Issues series) by Sarah Lennard-Brown (Raintree 2003)
Whether researching a paper or looking for guidance, preteens and teens will find answers to critical health questions here. These guides present pro and con perspectives punctuated by case studies of real-life situations and solutions. Lists of books and websites direct readers to additional information.
Coping with Asperger Syndrome (Coping series) by Maxine Rosaler (Rosen 2004)
Presents information about Asperger’s syndrome, including theories concerning its cause, its various characteristics, and management of the condition.
Talking to Angels by Esther Watson (Harcourt 1996)
Christa can't explain her world, and most people don't try to understand it. But Esther Watson's powerful picture book gives readers a profound view of Christa's reality. (reQuest)

Parent Shelf

A Real Boy : A True Story of Autism, Early Intervention, and Recovery by Christina Adams (Berkley 2005)
Overcoming Autism by Lynn Kern Koegel (Viking 2004)
Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum : A Parent’s Guide to the Cognitive, Social, Physical and Transition Needs of Teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorders by Chantal Sicile-Kira (Perigee 2006)
Parenting Your Asperger Child : Individualized Solutions for Teaching Your Child Practical Skills by Alan T. Sohn (Perigee 2005)
Does My Child Have Autism? : A Parent’s Guide to early Detection and Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders by Wendy L. Stone (Jossey-Bass 2006)
The Everything Parents Guide to Children with Autism : Know What to Expect, Find the Help You Need, and Get Through the Day by Adelle Jameson Tilton (Adams Media 2004)
Could It Be Autism? : A Parent’s Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps by Nancy D. Wiseman (Broadway Books 2006)