Neurodiversity-Affirming Books for Teenagers

• Being Ace – Edited by Madeline Dyer
  An anthology of short stories by and about asexual teens, many of whom are also neurodivergent, disabled, or queer.

• The Autistic Trans Guide to Life – Yenn Purkis & Wenn Lawson
  An empowering and practical guide for autistic trans teens, covering identity, self-advocacy, and wellbeing.

• Queerly Autistic – Erin Ekins
  A compassionate guide for LGBTQIA+ teens on the autism spectrum, filled with affirming advice and real-life insights.

• The Awesome Autistic Go-To Guide – Yenn Purkis & Tanya Masterman
  A straightforward and friendly guide for autistic tweens and teens, co-written by an autistic adult.

• Me and My PDA – Glòria Durà-Vilà & Tamar Levi
  A helpful introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance for young people, written in an affirming and accessible tone.

• The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide – Siena Castellon
  Written by an autistic teen, this book supports girls navigating adolescence and Autism.

• Wonderfully Wired Brains – Louise Gooding
  Celebrates neurodivergent brains by explaining how they work and how differences can be strengths.

• The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods – Robyn Steward
  Offers clear, accessible information about menstruation for autistic teens.

• The Brain Building Book – Dr. Liz Angoff
  A strengths-based workbook that supports tweens and teens in understanding their unique brains.

• A Different Sort of Normal – Abigail Balfe
  A graphic memoir that details Abigail’s late autism diagnosis and self-discovery journey.

• Can You See Me? – Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott
  A novel about masking and school life, based on the real experiences of co-author Libby Scott, an autistic girl of colour.

• The Amazingly Disorganised Help Dictionary – Georgia Productions
  A humorous and relatable guide for teens who feel like their brains don’t work in conventional ways.

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Neurodiversity-Affirming Picture Books

🧠 Neurodivergent Identity & Self-Acceptance

• Some Brains – Nelly Thomas
  A fun, inclusive Aussie picture book celebrating the differences in how brains work.

• Just Right for You – Melanie Heyworth
  Helps children understand and appreciate their unique neurodivergent traits with warmth and clarity.

• The Superhero Brain – Christel Land
  Encourages kids to view their neurodivergence as a superpower.

• Square Me, Round World – Chelsea Luker
  A story about a child who sees the world differently and learns to feel pride in that difference.

• The Rainbow Brain – Sandhya Menon & Kushla Ross
  Celebrates the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD, highlighting intersectional neurodivergence.

• The Brain Forest – Sandhya Menon
  Uses nature imagery to explore different types of brains and how each one contributes to the world.

• That’s Not My Brain – Sara Gibbs
  A quirky, ADHD-affirming picture book that helps kids embrace their unique ways of thinking.

• My Busy, Busy Brain – Nicole Russell
  A child-friendly explanation of ADHD and learning to love your brain.

• Hi, It’s Me! I Have ADHD – Katelyn Mabry
  Helps kids with ADHD understand themselves and feel empowered.

• My Brain is a Race car – Nikki Saunders
  Uses a race car metaphor to make ADHD traits fun and positive.

• Frankie and the Fossil – Jess McGeachin
  Celebrates kids who are curious, passionate, and love things deeply — a nod to neurodivergent strengths.

• All the Ways to be Smart – Davina Bell & Allison Colpoys
  Celebrates diverse kinds of intelligence, from creative to emotional, with neurodivergent-friendly language.

• It’s Me, Henry! – Stephanie Sorkin
  Follows an autistic boy navigating daily life, sensory experiences, and empathy.

• A Friend for Henry – Jenn Bailey & Mika Song
  Follows an autistic boy navigating friendship in a sometimes confusing world.

• All My Stripes – Shaina Rudolph & Danielle Royer
  An autistic zebra learns his stripes are what make him special.

• My Brother Otto – Meg Raby
  A supportive sibling’s perspective of a non-speaking autistic boy.

• Lulu Is A Rhinoceros – Jason Flom, Allison Flom & Sophie Corrigan
  A metaphorical story about identity, self-perception, and acceptance.

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🌊 Sensory & Emotional Regulation

• Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down – Lindsay Rowe Parker
  A sensory-affirming book that helps children understand self-regulation tools.

• This Beach is Loud! – Samantha Cotterill
  A sensory-sensitive boy learns to manage his environment during a trip to the beach.

• When My Brain is Messy – Tania Wieclaw
  Addresses executive function challenges and messy thoughts.

• My Wandering Dreaming Mind – Merriam Sarcia Saunders & Tammie Lyon
  Normalises attention differences and encourages mindfulness.

• I Am Calm – Jayneen Sanders
  Offers calming strategies and emotional regulation tips.

• Sometimes I’m Sad – Jayneen Sanders
  Normalises and validates experiences of sadness and depression in young children.

• Taco Falls Apart – Brie Spangler & Mercy Hanson
  A taco character experiences anxiety and sensory overwhelm in a gentle, humorous way.

• Listening to My Body – Gabi Garcia
  Teaches interoceptive awareness and emotional literacy.

• How Does Your Body Feel? – Claire Joyce
  Helps children name and interpret internal sensory experiences.

• A Case of the Zaps – Alex Boniello & April Lavalle
  A robot learns to navigate anxiety and intrusive thoughts.

• What To Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck – Dawn Huebner
  An interactive workbook that introduces kids to OCD and strategies to manage it.

• How Big Are Your Worries, Little Bear? – Jayneen Sanders
  An Aussie book that gently teaches anxiety tools to young children.

• Ruby Finds a Worry – Tom Percival
  A charming story about managing and discussing anxiety.

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♿ Disability & Inclusion

• Come Over to My House – Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin
  Explores the lives of children with disabilities in inclusive, everyday settings.

• You’re So Amazing! – James Catchpole & Karen George
  Breaks down ableist stereotypes and “inspiration porn” narratives.

• What Happened to You? – James Catchpole
  A disability-affirming story about curiosity and consent around difference.

• We Move Together – Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire & Eduardo Trejos
  A vibrant celebration of disability justice, activism, and community.

• Macy’s World – Lori DeMonia
  Told from a sibling’s point of view about her disabled sister’s daily experiences.

• Rescue and Jessica – Jessica Kensky & Patrick Downes
  Based on a real story about a girl with an acquired disability and her service dog.

• A Friend Like Simon – Kate Gaynor
  A story about learning from and accepting autistic classmates.

• I Am Not a Label – Cerrie Burnell
  An illustrated biography collection celebrating disabled people throughout history.

• Benji, the Bad Day, and Me – Sally J. Pla & Ken Min
  An empathetic story about an autistic child and his sibling on a tough day.

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🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA+ & BIPOC-Inclusive Picture Books

• My Shadow is Pink – Scott Stuart
  An affirming story about gender expression and being true to yourself.

• My Shadow is Purple – Scott Stuart
  Explores non-binary identities and living beyond the binary.

• The Spectacular Suit – Kat Patrick & Hayley Wells
  A celebration of gender expression and joy in self-identity.

• Who’s Your Real Mum? – Bernadette Green & Anna Zobel
  A playful response to intrusive questions about same-sex parents.

• Love Makes a Family – Sophie Beer
  A colourful board book showcasing diverse families, including queer and multigenerational households.

• Julian is a Mermaid – Jessica Love
  A gentle story about gender creativity and acceptance.

• When Aidan Became a Brother – Kyle Lukoff
  A trans boy prepares for the arrival of a sibling in a heartfelt story about identity and family.

• It Feels Good to Be Yourself – Theresa Thorn
  An accessible and inclusive guide to gender identity for young children.

• Pink is for Boys – Robb Pearlman
  Breaks down gender stereotypes using bright, inclusive illustrations.

• The Family Book – Todd Parr
  An inclusive celebration of all kinds of families.

• And Tango Makes Three – Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell
  Based on the true story of two male penguins raising a chick.

• Heather Has Two Mommies – Lesléa Newman
  A classic story that affirms two-mum families.

• They She He Me: Free to Be! – Maya & Matthew Gonzalez
  A joyful, colourful celebration of pronouns and gender expression.

• Yes! We Are Latinos – Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy
  Short stories from Latinx children, some of whom have disabilities or other intersectional identities.

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If there are any books to add to this list, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. 

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Last edited on the 29/04/2025