April is a month full of celebrations, including the celebration of neurodiversity with Autism Awareness Month.   In fact, April 2^nd is World Autism Awareness Day – a day to “Light it Up Blue!”   For more information, visit Autism Speaks. I want to share with you a few Autism Spectrum resources; first is a LibGuide I created –  “Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome Resources”   

Second is a wonderful website I discovered a couple of years ago – Disability is Natural – I highly recommend reading Kathie Snow’s monthly articles which encourage People First Language. 

Lastly, I’ve included  a list of elementary and middle school books that have a protagonist or secondary characters that are on the Autism Spectrum.  I have read and reviewed all of the books on this list, and am happy to share my research paper if you are interested!  Click here for a printable list, including some non-fiction resources as well.

Elementary School Fiction:

Hoopman, Kathy. (2001) Of Mice and Aliens: An Asperger Adventure. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Peete, Holly Robinson. (2010). My Brother Charlie. New York: Scholastic Press.

Tourville, Amanda Doering. (2010). My Friend has Autism.  North Mankato: Picture Window Books.

Welton, Jude. (2008). Adam’s Alternative Sports Day: An Asperger Story. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Middle School Fiction:

Baskin, Nora Raleigh. (2009).  Anything but Typical.  New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Brenna, Beverley. (2005). Wild Orchid.  Calgary: Red Deer Press.

Crowley, Suzanne. (2007).  The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous.  New York:  Greenwillow Books.

Dooley, Sarah. (2010). Livvie Owen Lived Here. New York: Feiwel and Friends Book.

Dowd, Siobhan. (2007). The London Eye Mystery.  New York: A Yearling Book.

Ersking, Kathy. (2010).  Mockingbird. New York: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated.

Houtman, Jacqueline. (2010). The Reinvention of Edison Thomas. Honesdale: Front Street.

Roy, Jennifer. (2010) . Mindblind. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish