The Book Doctor: Help me find books for my 5-year-old with autism!
Published on: 30 January 2020 Author: Anna McKerrow
Every day, we receive questions about which books children might enjoy from parents, carers, teachers and librarians. In The Book Doctor's monthly surgery, we help answer some of those queries...
Dear Book Doctor,
I am desperately trying to find books for my autistic 5-year-old to read. He can decode and use phonics quite well, just a little bit behind his peers, but his grasp of narrative is extremely poor. So I need lots of books with extremely simple stories. I have been looking around and school have given some very simple ones but they still seem just too confusing for him.
Thanks,
Dan
Hi Dan,
Well, to start, I'd recommend Morag Hood's books because they're funny and very simple - try I Am Bat and Aalfred and Aalbert. Where Did You Go Today? by Jenny Duke is a really simple book with few words about a trip to the park, which your son might enjoy.
I like Taro Gomi's books, which are very simple and reflect everyday experiences - I Really Want To See You Grandma is so nice. Or what about Jump and Shout by Mike Dumbleton and Peter Carnavas? This is a very simple and rhyming book, also about a day at the park, which has an overall 'story' but nothing too complicated.
Your son might also like less story-led books like the ones by Susan Steggall - try Busy Boats and Life of a Car. They're very simple books and they're all about recognising cars, garage, home and so on, which can be quite reassuring.
We've also had a great response from many families of children on the autistic spectrum to the simple and interactive books that we worked on with Child's Play, like Off to the Park. Whilst not quite stories, they are great for relating to every day life.
Just while I'm writing, I thought I'd also mention Through the Eyes of Me and the second book in the series, Through the Eyes of Us, by Jon Roberts and illustrator Hannah Rounding.
Whilst they are not exactly what you are asking for, you might still like to check them out - they are fun picture books that feature autistic characters, based on the family's own experience. Even if they're not right for your son, they might be useful for sharing with friends and family who are learning about the autistic spectrum.
Hope that helps!
Book Doctor
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