Children's Book Suggestions | Autism Awareness Month

Some of our favorite books for and about kids with autism, for readers age 4-14. More books can be found in the library's online catalog.

Updated March 14, 2025
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
This beach is loud!
Cotterill, Samantha
Paper Book
Patience, understanding, and a soothing exercise saves the beach day when excitement turns to sensory overload. Going to the beach is exciting. But it can also be busy. And loud. Sand can feel hot or itchy or sticky...and it gets everywhere! In This Beach Is Loud...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

My brother Charlie
Peete, Holly Robinson
Paper Book
From bestselling author and actress Holly Robinson Peete--a heartwarming story about a boy who happens to be autistic, based on Holly's son, who has autism."Charlie has autism. His brain works in a special way. It's harder for him to make friends. Or show his true feelings. Or stay safe." But as his...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

A boy called Bat
Arnold, Elana K.
Paper Book
The first book in a funny, heartfelt, and irresistible young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum. For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises--some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

The extraordinary adventures of Alice Tonks
Kenny, Emily
Paper Book
"Has heart, soul and so much spirit." Lindsay Galvin, author of Darwin's Dragons "Disappearing animals, twists and turns, and an amazing autistic protagonist."  Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of Dosh "Exciting, deftly plotted and full of surprises." Sinéad O'Hart,...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Get a grip, Vivy Cohen!
Kapit, Sarah
Paper Book
In this perfectly pitched novel-in-letters, autistic eleven-year-old Vivy Cohen won't let anything stop her from playing baseball--not when she has a major-league star as her pen pal. Vivy Cohen is determined. She's had enough of playing catch in the park. She's ready to pitch...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Ellen outside the lines
Sass, A. J.
Paper Book
Winner of a Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor! A heartfelt novel about a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old navigating changing friendships, a school trip, and expanding horizons for fans of Rain Reign and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World. ...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Can you see me?
Scott, Libby
Paper Book
  With diary entries written by eleven-year-old Libby Scott, based on her own experiences of autism, this pioneering book, written in collaboration with esteemed author Rebecca Westcott, has been widely praised for its realistic portrayal of autism. Tally is eleven...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Paige not found
Wilde, Jen
Paper Book
A thrilling adventure story that examines consent and privacy in a way that books have not had to before this generation where everything is online. Nothing about us, without us. When Paige learns that her parents enrolled her in an autism study without telling her, her world turns...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Speak up!
Burgess, Rebecca
Paper Book
For fans of Click and Brave, this touching coming-of-age middle grade graphic novel debut follows an autistic girl who finds friendship where she least expects it and learns to express her true self in a world where everyone defines her by her differences. Twelve-year-old Mia...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

A different sort of normal
Balfe, Abigail
Paper Book
I'm not like the other children in my class . . . and that's an actual scientific FACT. Hi! My name is Abigail and I'm autistic. But when I was a child I didn't know I was autistic. In fact - it wasn't until I was in my thirties that I discovered my...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 8-12)

The girl who thought in pictures : the story of Dr. Temple Grandin
Mosca, Julia Finley
Paper Book
NSTA Best STEM Books for K-12 Selection NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books Selection Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award Recipient A Mighty Girl Book of the Year If you've ever felt different, if you've ever been low, if you don't quite fit in, there's a name...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 5-8)

The autism-friendly guide to periods
Steward, Robyn
Paper Book
Written by autistic author Robyn Steward, this is a detailed guide for young people aged 9 to 16 on the basics of menstruation. Created in consultation with young people, an online survey and a group of medical professionals, this is a book that teaches all people about periods, which can...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 9-16)


Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.