Books
Books about neurodivergence and raising neurodivergent children.
Thumbsucker by Eliza Fricker
In the publisher’s words:
Spoilt. Weirdo. Fussy. Hypochondriac. Chatterbox.
Eliza spent her childhood being told she was all of these until her autism diagnosis as an adult revealed why she had experienced the world so differently. But what does it mean to grow up knowing you are different, misunderstood, 'difficult'?
Funny, witty and tender, Sunday Times bestselling author and illustrator Eliza Fricker uses her own memories of growing up in the 80s to explore how neurodiversity presents itself in everyday life and what neurodivergent children really need from the people who love them.
Can’t not won’t by Eliza Fricker
In the publisher’s words:
Eliza Fricker gets it. Her compelling, hard-hitting and irreverently humorous illustrations follow a family through the early days of school avoidance, the process of accessing support and the challenges of coping in the meantime. Can’t Not Won’t illuminates the absurdity and frustrations that often arise when dealing with health, social and educational systems, and will help any parent in the same boat feel seen. This guide acts as a way to communicate these difficult circumstances with others.
Wonderfully relatable, the book also includes written guidance for parents and professionals on what works best when it comes to managing school avoidance.
A Different Way to Learn by Naomi Fisher
In the publisher’s words:
'If you are a parent worrying whether self-directed education will work for your child, because you have been told that they have special needs which can only be met in the school system - think again'
Neurodivergent children experience and interact with the world differently to many of their peers. Standard educational systems often fail to adapt to their unique strengths and ways of learning. School, and even the act of learning, can become a source of great anxiety and trauma. Self-directed education offers an alternative to traditional schools that can help neurodivergent children develop at their own pace and thrive.
Blending theory, practical advice and lived experience, clinical psychologist Naomi Fisher introduces the world of self-directed learning and tailoring the learning environment to your child.
This comprehensive overview of self-directed learning is packed with ideas on how to implement it at home and includes interviews from parents of neurodivergent children on how you can make learning differently work for you and your child
Autism: How to raise a happy autistic child by Jessie Hewitson
In the publisher’s words:
Written by Jessie Hewitson, an award-winning journalist, Autism is the book she wishes she had read when her son was first given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
It combines her own experiences with tips from autistic adults and other parents - including author David Mitchell - as well as advice from autism professionals and academics such as Professor Simon Baron-Cohen.
Autism looks at the condition as a difference rather than a disorder and, keeps your child's happiness at the centre of the conversation. This book includes guidance on what to do if you think your child is autistic, how to understand and support your child at school, how to create an autism-friendly home and how to navigate the healthcare system, to ensure your child can advocate for themselves with confidence.
This parenting journey may not always be easy, but you have come to the right place to get started.
Why can’t I just enjoy things? A comedian’s guide to autism by Pierre Novellie
In the publisher’s words:
Comedian Pierre Novellie was on stage when a heckler suggested he was autistic. Usually, this disruption would be water off a duck's back but two things made this heckler different: first, he was himself autistic. Second, he turned out to be absolutely right.
This random encounter led Pierre to a diagnosis of autism at the age of 31 that unravelled his world, explained his struggles and answered questions that had bothered him for his entire life: why were the other kids obsessed with Britney Spears instead of The Goon Show? Why don't people ever say what they mean? Why is everyone chewing so loudly?
At once a hilarious and insightful journey through autism and neurodivergence, an entertaining explainer for the uninitiated and observational comedy for the neurodiverse, this is the perfect read for anyone who has ever asked themselves: Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?