Ashlie (she/her) is an educator, librarian, and writer. She is committed to diversifying the reading lives of her students and supporting fat acceptance as it intersects with other women’s issues. She's also perpetually striving to learn more about how she can use her many privileges to support marginalized groups. Interests include learning how to roller skate with her local roller derby team, buying more books than she'll ever read, hiking with her husband and sons, and making lists to avoid real work. You can find her on Instagram (@ashlieelizabeth), Twitter (@mygirlsimple) or at her website, www.ashlieswicker.com.
Neurodivergent kids need to see themselves in books, but neurotypical kids need this window into the lives of their peers just as much. Neurodivergence is an umbrella term for anyone who processes information in a way that is not typical for their age. It’s not a diagnosis in and of itself, but can refer to conditions that include autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and dyspraxia. This is not a complete list, and we’re learning more about neurodivergence all the time. Not long ago, care for neurodivergent kids centered around teaching them to conform to neurotypical patterns of seeing the world. Thankfully, as our understanding grows, best practice has shifted to coping mechanisms and highlighting strengths, as opposed to marking differences as deficits.
It’s 2025, and the ignorance on display is staggering. I can’t say that adults are a lost cause, but as an early childhood educator, I know that kids are much more open-minded and ready to hear non-patronizing explanations about what is happening in front of them. If a child is visibly different and another kid asks why, the way adults respond is more telling than the words we say. It’s not helpful to respond to “Why is she flapping her arms like that?” with “SHH! Don’t stare!” Now we see flapping as shameful and embarrassing and unspeakable. If you have the knowledge, answer with “I think that’s something she does to make herself feel calm and comfortable.” If you’re not sure, that’s fine, too. “I don’t know, but that’s okay. Everyone is different.”
End the stigma and make life more comfortable for neurodivergent kids. And when in doubt, start with books.
Picture Books with Neurodivergent Kids
A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond and Kate Cosgrove
Told from the first-person point-of-view of a young, nonverbal boy, this story reinforces the fact that nonverbal people have complex thoughts and plenty of words to share. The use of AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) devices in the story reminds us that there is more than one way to speak, and even people who look or communicate differently very likely understand the world around them. Cherry on top? This story is written by an autistic mother of autistic kids.
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Brilliant Bea by Shaina Rudolph, Mary Vukadinovich, and Fiona Lee
Dyslexia is often misunderstood, even by educators. Because it can complicate reading and writing, people sometimes assume that it means a dyslexic person is unintelligent. This book reminds us how unfounded that is. Bea is an amazing storyteller, but struggles when it’s time to put her words on the page. A sharp teacher notices her “brilliant brain” and gives her a tape recorder to help her play her words back. Bea is affirmed, not shamed, and guess what? She grows up to be an author.
Remarkable Remy by Melanie Heyworth and Nathaniel Eckstrom
This simple story is a great introduction to meeting autistic people and celebrates the joy of having autistic friends. Praised for speaking directly and not beating around the bush, Remarkable Remy is especially suited to younger audiences.
Too Much!: An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutiérrez and Angel Chang
Here’s a reassuring, rhyming picture book that follows a child experiencing sensory overload, complete with descriptions of coping mechanisms! The vivid illustrations reinforce the sensory struggles, and extensive back matter helps teachers and parents identify sensory issues and help the young ones in their lives feel more in control.
Masterpiece by Alexandra Hoffman and Beatriz Mello
Samuel, illustrated wearing his noise-cancelling headphones, loves blue. As we navigate his class and meet his teachers and peers, we learn about how autism makes Samuel who he is, and who he is is a masterpiece. This one is particularly praised for it’s lovely illustrations.
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete, Ryan Elizabeth Peete, and Shane W. Evans
This is a family story from the perspective of a twin who does not have autism, while her brother does. Although this story definitely centers on the neurotypical people and their reactions to an autistic child, it also highlights identifying the strengths of a neurodivergent peer and finding joy in the special ways to communicate with them.
Next Level: A Hymn in Gratitude for Neurodiversity by Samara Cole Doyon and Kaylani Juanita
This might be my favorite book starring an autistic character. This is a love letter from an autistic mother to her autistic son, and her love is fierce, unapologetic, and completely centered on the experience of her child. Doyon asks not for awareness or acceptance, but a celebration of autism. Gorgeous illustrations convey a range of feelings with representative details that add richness to the text. Next level, indeed.
The Compulsion Cloud by Averi Ridge Castaneda and Vicky Kuhn
Holly is followed by a mean, scary cloud that makes demands and threatens her loved ones. This isn’t a fantasy story—this is Holly’s Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) making her life so difficult. When Holly’s therapist helps her see that standing up to the cloud can make it go away, things start to look a little less scary.
Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Tiffany Rose
Abdul loves to create stories, but his paper is always a mess. When an author comes to visit this class, Abdul is ashamed to show him his messy first tries. That is, until he’s shown the author’s own messy notebook! Encouraging him to keep reworking until the story feels right, the author inspires Abdul to trust that his story will come out strong! Readers with executive functioning struggles and dysgraphia will appreciate the reminder that difficulties organizing your thoughts on paper do NOT translate to a lack of ability.
How Are You, Verity? by Meghan Wilson Duff and Taylor Barren
Vertify is faced with one of the conundrums of American communication when they realize that “How are you?” is not so much a question as a greeting. This new development is made even more complicated when their field trip is canceled, and a genuine version of the question is asked. Gorgeous pictures, fun marine life facts, and valuable back matter about neurodivergent kids make this a grand-slam of a purchase.
Hopefully, you’ve found a book about neurodivergent kids to inspire someone of any ability in your life! Want more awesome picture books that celebrate differences? Check out this article about books featuring fat children. Happy reading!
The following comes to you from the Editorial Desk.
This week, we’re highlighting a post about the literary events that should be on your calendar for the rest of 2025. From awards announcements to famous authors’ birthdays to Banned Books Week, these are the dates readers should have on their radars. Read on for an excerpt and become an All Access member to unlock the full post.
The Most Anticipated Literary Events of (the Rest of) 2025
For some, the major literary events of the year come as a pleasant or interesting surprise—something to enjoy in the moment, rather than to anticipate. For others, there’s big appeal in bookmarking these occasions in advance to plan, predict, and build around. I and the rest of the editorial team are in the business of thinking ahead about what the year has in store for book lovers, publishers, industry experts, and the like, which is why we all got together toward the end of 2024 to plot out everything from birthdays of literary greats, to anniversaries of books that have made a deep cultural impact, to literary awards and events coming up this year. We’ve been marking these events as they happen on the site for what’s shaping up to be a very busy year in books, but there are still so many big, exciting literary events of 2025 to anticipate.
Whether you’re a book-focused or -adjacent content creator, someone who beefs up their TBR with literary awards honorees, or a book lover who appreciates being in the know, I’m here with a starting place for calendaring out the rest of this storied year…
Sign up to become an All Access member for only $6/month and then click here to read the full, unlocked article. Level up your reading life with All Access membership and explore a full library of exclusive bonus content, including must-reads, deep dives, and reading challenge recommendations.
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