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Autism Spectrum Disorder Book Store

Our reviews of the best books and videos on autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Asperger's Disorder. To suggest a book, email us. To return to AutismWeb, click the back button on your browser.

For Families New to Autism and PDD

No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out-Of-Control Behavior. Meltdowns — crying, kicking, tantrumming — are hard on any parent, especially if a child has autism. Autism expert Jed Baker Ph.D. teaches a four-step program for preventing and managing your child's meltdowns. His program is based on behavioral principles.

Managing Meltdowns

Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew. Ellen Notbohm, parent and autism columnist, tries to empower parents, encourage them to trust their instincts, and find balance in their lives. An uplifting book, with practical advice on everything from meltdowns to sensory overload, from a mother who has "been there" too.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Other ASDs. Long title but a very worthwhile book for parents starting their autism journey. Chantal Sicile-Kira walks you through the diagnosis, treatment options and coping strategies, from her dual perspective as a former case manager for people with disabilities and as a parent of an adult son with autism.

Could it be Autism? Could It Be Autism?: A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps by Nancy Wiseman tells you how to find out if your child is developmentally delayed as early as four months of age. The book provides checklists, discusses screening tests, and, if your child has autism, tells you how to design an effective treatment program to help him reach his potential. It says taking action is better than waiting to see if autism develops.

The First Year: Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed Child. First Signs' Nancy Wiseman takes parents beyond the diagnosis into health care, insurance and educational concerns.
 

Toilet Training for Autism

Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism or Other Developmental Issues by Maria Wheeler. Children with autism and PDD can be especially hard to toilet train. This popular guide has many tips and examples of how to teach youngsters, through repetition, rewards, picture schedules and reducing sensory problems.

Diets and Biomedical Treatments (Return to top)

The Autism and ADHD Diet: A Step-by-Step Guide to Hope and Healing by Living Gluten Free and Casein Free (GFCF) and Other Interventionsby Barrie Silberberg, mother of a boy with Asperger's Syndrome. Her son's behavioral symptoms improved dramatically after starting a diet free of gluten, casein, artificial dyes and preservatives.

ADHD Autism Cookbook The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet. A popular book by two Defeat Autism Now practitioners, developmental pediatrician Pamela Compart M.D. and nutritionist Dana Laake. Advice for feeding picky eaters, and a good explanation of how and why the diet can work. Recipes include information on calories, protein, fiber, etc., per serving. Updated edition with 100 new recipes and advice for packing school lunches.

Special Diets for Special Kids: Understanding and Implementing Special Diets to Aid in the Treatment of Autism and Related Developmental Disorders by Lisa Lewis, Ph.D. One of the first books to explain the gluten-free, casein-free diet and how it can help treat autism. Lewis runs the Autism Network for Dietary Intervention with Karyn Seroussi (below). Her explanation of the science behind the diet is not as easy to follow as Seroussi's; but this book has more than 150 recipes for breads, cakes, candy, chili, mac and cheese, more.

Special Diets for Special Kids Two Special Diets for Special Kids Two by Lisa Lewis Ph.D. A sequel to her first book (above) with more than 175 new gluten-free, casein-free recipes for peanut butter bread, bananaberry shake, oven fries, barbequed chicken pie and other foods that kids will eat.

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders by Kenneth Bock M.D. and Cameron Stauth. They say that a child's genetics "load the gun, and environment pulls the trigger." Environmental assaults on the developing immune system may include heavy metals, viruses, vaccines and poor nutrition. Dr. Bock uses a detective approach in presenting case studies. Broader in scope than Children with Starving Brains, with a focus on allergies and other conditions.

Unraveling the Mystery of Autism

Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother's Story of Research and Recovery by Karyn Seroussi. An excellent book for parents considering a gluten-free, casein-free diet to treat autism or PDD. Seroussi's son recovered from autism by strictly adhering to this diet. She provides a thorough discussion of her son's problems with foods, intestinal yeast, and vaccines.

Enzymes for Autism and other Neurological Conditions. Author/parent Karen L. DeFelice discusses the role of enzymes in helping people with autism digest foods that create problems for them. Many parents use enzymes in addition to a gluten-free, milk-free diet, while some use them instead of the diet.

Children with Starving Brains

Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder by Jacquelyn McCandless M.D. Outlines treatments based on the theory that autism is a biomedical illness resulting in brain malnutrition. Genetics, in combination with exposure to pesticides and heavy metals in vaccines, can lead to immune system problems, gut dysfunction, and yeast and viral infections, says Dr. McCandless, whose granddaughter has autism.

Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians by Bryan Jepson M.D. with Jane Johnson. Discusses immune system and detoxification problems in autism, brain inflammation, the effect of mercury, and autism as an environmental illness. Dr. Jepson is medical director of Thoughtful House, an autism research and treatment center in Texas. "Changing the Course of Autism was written with physicians in mind. It contains over 50 pages of references to published scientific studies supporting the information and treatment options provided by Dr. Jepson," said Unlocking Autism, which asked parents to buy the book for their pediatricians.

Special Diets for Special People Special Diets for Special People: Understanding and Implementing a Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diet to Aid in the Treatment of Autism and Related Developmental Disorders. The newest how-to book, with more than 150 recipes, by GFCF diet guru Lisa Lewis, Ph.D.

Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide. Comedienne Jenny McCarthy, whose son recovered from autism, interviews Jerry Kartzinel M.D. about Defeat Autism Now biomedical treatments. Dr. Kartzinel simplifies biomed theories and discusses steps parents can take while waiting to see a DAN doctor. He provides dosages for supplements, explains yeast overgrowth and diets, and outlines lab tests. Aimed at parents new to biomed. People seeking more details may prefer the Bock and McCandless books (above).


Overviews of Autism, PDD and Asperger's Syndrome (Return to top)

1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism or Asperger's by Ellen Notbohm and Veronica Zysk. Practical tips and strategies for helping a child with his learning problems, sensory integration, communication, behavior and social skills. Books by Notbohm are a pleasure to read. Revised edition.

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Dr. Tony Attwood. One of the best books on AS, Attwood relies on research and personal accounts of people with Asperger's to present a positive, enlightening picture. Includes information on sensory and coordination problems, and difficulties with empathy in people with Asperger's.

Parent Survival Manual: A Guide to Crisis Resolution in Autism and Related Developmental Disorders, edited by Eric Schopler, Ph.D., founder, Division TEACCH at University of North Carolina. The TEACCH method is used in many schools. Based on interviews with parents and behavioral experts, this book provides solutions to common problems involving aggression, communication, hygiene, social skills, eating, and sleep.

Overcoming Autism: Finding the Answers, Strategies, and Hope That Can Transform a Child's Life by Lynn Koegel Ph.D. (who was featured on The Supernanny) and Claire LaZebnik. Teaches how to use behavior modification, from both a clinician's and a parent's perspective. Koegel uses a form of behavior treatment called Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT). PRT targets certain pivotal skills, such as motivation, that affect development in many other areas.

The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's. Temple Grandin, the subject of a new HBO movie, discusses her intriguing life with autism. Born at a time when autism was not widely understood, Grandin overcame obstacles to become a professor and advocate. She says autism gives her special insight into the animal world, contributing to her noteworthy career in animal science. Her book offers practical advice for understanding autism, from an insider's perspective.

The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Completely Revised and Updated: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration by Patricia Bashe and Barbara Kirby, the founder of the popular Asperger web site, OASIS.


Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Verbal Behavior (VB) (Return to top)

Let Me Hear Your Voice

Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family's Triumph Over Autism by Catherine Maurice. Maurice writes a personal and emotional account about discovering that two of her children had autism and how both children recovered through ABA therapy. Though the experience of recovery is not universal, her book is a powerful testimony to the benefits of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Behavioral Intervention for Young Children With Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professionals, edited by Catherine Maurice, Gina Green and Stephen C. Luce. An excellent how-to manual for families starting a home teaching program using Applied Behavior Analysis. Includes a chapter on how to pay for ABA, which can be costly, and samples of data collection sheets and programs.

Right from the Start: Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism by Sandra L. Harris and Mary Jane Weiss, ABA experts at Rutgers. A guide to Applied Behavioral Analysis methods and how they can be used to teach speech, language, social skills and self-help skills through repetition and rewards. Harris and Weiss help parents evaluate school programs, home ABA and center-based ABA.

The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children With Autism and Related Disorders by Mary Lynch Barbera, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and parent of a child with autism, and Tracy Rasmussen. One of the few parent-oriented books about using Verbal Behavior to teach communication, speech, self-help skills, potty-training and more.
 

A Work in Progress

A Work in Progress: Behavior Management Strategies and A Curriculum for Intensive Behavioral Treatment of Autism edited by Drs. Ron Leaf and John McEachin. This ABA classic provides practical advice and easy-to-understand explanations about how to set up an ABA program. It discusses how to teach toilet training, social skills, play skills and conversation, along with how to address eating problems and disruptive behavior.

Educate Toward Recovery: Turning the Tables on Autism by Robert Schramm, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. A teaching manual for parents who are new to the concepts and language of Verbal Behavior therapy. He includes information on children who don't respond to conventional ABA methods, and on how VB can be used along with the Relationship Development Intervention method.


Getting What Your Child Needs From the School District (Return to top)

From Emotions to Advocacy Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide. A must-read for every parent trying to get the best program possible from the school system. Lawyer Peter Wright and psychotherapist Pamela Wright explain special education law, how to interpret and and use test scores, how to write letters to school officials, and how to be an effective advocate. Easy to understand. Includes sample letters for you to use.

Educating Children with Autism by the National Research Council. An excellent resource for parents seeking research to support their educational requests. It examines the research and claims behind the major teaching methods; identifies the characteristics of effective preschool and school programs; and discusses ways to better prepare teachers and parents.

Wrightslaw: All About IEPs Wrightslaw: All About IEPs, the newest book by Peter and Pamela Wright, uses a question-and-answer format to explain IEPS, ESY and other confusing jargon to parents who are new to special education. Also a handy reference guide for experienced advocates who need to look up answers quickly at meetings.

Speech Therapy (Return to top)

Baby Babble - Speech-Enhancing DVD for Babies and Toddlers. Created by speech pathologists, this popular DVD uses sign language, facial exercises, and speech sounds and words to promote speech development in babies, late talkers and kids with developmental delays. Volume 2 is Baby Babble 2 - First Words: P B M sounds.

Do-Watch-Listen-Say: Social and Communication Intervention for Children with Autism. Kathleen Ann Quill show parents, teachers and speech pathologists how to teach children social and communication skills. Easy-to-read. Includes a tool for assessing a child's language.

Bee Smart Baby Vocabulary Builder

Videos by Bee Smart Baby Vocabulary Builder 1 introduce words through simple scenes that show different types of the object being taught. Good for children with speech delays, PDD or autism.

Baby Signing Time Volume 1 DVD teaches signs and words to toddlers and preschoolers. Engaging format.


Therapies and Teaching Methods (Return to top)

Engaging Autism Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think. Stanley Greenspan M.D. and Serena Wieder Ph.D. explain the Floortime method of playing with a young child in order to teach social interaction and communication skills. They encourage a broader view of autism than traditionally used.

You're Going to Love This Kid: Teaching Students With Autism in the Inclusive Classroom by inclusion expert Paula Kluth Ph.D. A guide to understanding students with autism and teaching them effectively in a "regular" classroom. Ideas for improving reading, handling behavior and promoting friendships with non-disabled children. A great gift for your child's teachers. Kluth's newest book, Just Give Him The Whale!, shows how to use a student's special interests to teach academics, social skills and communication.

Relationship Development Intervention with Young Children: Social and Emotional Development Activities for Asperger Syndrome, Autism, PDD and NLD by Steven E. Gutstein. Dr. Gutstein developed the Relationship Development Intervention Program (RDI) to help children become excited about expanding their world, rather than to be afraid of it. Many families are using RDI in addition to ABA and other teaching methods.

Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew by popular author Ellen Notbohm. "Chapter One, 'Learning is Circular,' all the way through chapter ten, 'Teach Me How to Fish,' fills those of us who love someone with autism with hope and encouragement. We can do this," says Nancy Cale of Unlocking Autism.


Social Skills (Return to top)

Model Me Kids: Videos For Modeling Social Skills for children and teens with autism and Asperger's. Model Me Confidence DVD teaches self-esteem; topics include peer pressure, self-advocacy, choosing friends and group discussion. Time For School features a child narrator and elementary school children modeling conversation and behavior at school. Topics include saying hello, listening to the teacher, showing interest in others and playground behavior. Time for a Playdate shows how to greet your guest, talk about a topic and more.

Social Story Book

The New Social Story Book by Carol Gray. Gray helps parents and teachers create stories to teach children with autism and Asperger's how to act in different social situations. This new edition has more than 150 stories that explain to kids how to listen, respond to a bully, switch to a new activity, and more. Includes a CD with stories that you can edit to fit your child's or student's needs, and then print.

Autism/Aspergers: Solving the Relationship Puzzle by Dr. Steven E. Gutstein. Psychologist Gutstein sought to discover why children with autism lack the social skills that come so easily to others. The result is his Relationship Development Intervention program for teaching social skills.
 

Autism Social Skills Book

The Autism Social Skills Picture Book by Jed Baker Ph.D. Aimed at elementary and middle schoolers, it teaches skills such as how to maintain and end a conversation, how to greet someone, how to interrupt someone, how to accept "no" for an answer, and what to do when feeling frustrated by an assignment. Kids will like the photos showing the right and wrong ways of handling common social situations.

Playing it Right! Social Skills Activities for Parents and Teachers of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Including Asperger Syndrome and Autism. Rachael Bareket provides a series of activities to help preschoolers and elementary school students develop social skills.
 

Join In and Play

Join In and Play and other children's books by Cheri J. Meiners are designed to teach kids social skills. They show what children should do and say in common social situations. Other books in this series include Share and Take Turns, Understand and Care and Be Polite and Kind. Siblings will enjoy these, too.


Sensory Integration (Return to top)

The Out of Sync Child

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Kranowitz. Does your child spin, fear swings or refuse to eat certain textures of food? This popular book explains sensory integration disorder in children who may or may not have another diagnosis. Includes suggestions for sensory experiences you can provide at home to help your child learn to regulate his senses.

The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Kranowitz. A companion to her first book, this edition includes many ideas for parents who want fun and educational activities for a child with sensory problems. Siblings may enjoy these activities, too. Includes "recipes" for fun activities (such as Shaving Cream Car Wash or Paper Bag Kick Ball) for various ages and sensory systems.

Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Resource of Play Ideas for Parents and Carers by Julia Moor. Contains lots of ideas for how to use play to help your child, focus his attention, handle sensory problems, and, importantly, have fun. This updated edition includes advice on using the internet and digital cameras to make resources and for activities.

101 Games and Activities for Children With Autism, Aspergers and Sensory Processing Disorders by occupational therapist Tara Delaney. Recipes for fun activities to improve sensory, communication, social and motor skills. Includes a section for adapting popular board games for a special child.

The Sensory-Sensitive Child: Practical Solutions for Out-of-Bounds Behavior by Drs. Karen A. Smith and Karen R. Gouze, child psychologists and parents of children with SI problems. Parenting tips for understanding and managing behavior caused by sensory problems.


Children's Books about Autism and Asperger's (Return to top)

My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete, actress and wife of a former NFL quarterback, and her daughter Ryan. The story is loosely based on their own experiences as the mother and twin sister, respectively, of a boy with autism. In the book, a girl explores the ups and downs of life with a twin brother who has autism, with an emphasis on love and acceptance. Ages 4-8.

Everybody Is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With Autism. The author, art therapist Fiona Bleach, promotes acceptance of autism. For ages 4-8.

ColoringBook.jpg (4062 bytes) My Friend with Autism: A Coloring Book for Peers and Siblings by Beverly Bishop. Bishop, a teacher, wrote this book for teachers and students at her son's elementary school to help them understand his autism.

Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome?: A Guide for Friends and Family by Jude Welton, illustrated by Jane Telford. A boy named Adam, who has Asperger Syndrome, explains AS to his friends from his point of view. For children ages 7 to 15.

Autism Acceptance The Autism Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone With Autism by Ellen Sabin. An interactive and character-building book about the challenges of autism. It focuses on respecting everybody's differences and treating others the way you would want to be treated. For ages 9 to 12.

Autism Through a Sister's Eyes: A Young Girl's View of Her Brother's Autism by Eve Band Ph.D. and Emily Hecht. Dr. Band, a psychologist, writes this book in the voice of Emily, a real fifth-grader who explores her questions about autism and her feelings about her brother with high-functioning autism.

 

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