I See Things Differently: A First Look at Autism

by Pat Thomas

Are there kids in your life who need a gentle way to learn about autism? This book will show what autism is and how it affects someone who has it. This is a wonderful catalyst for discussion that will help children to better understand and support autistic classmates or siblings. Parents, teachers, and gift givers will The A First Look At series promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers, and encourage kids to ask questions and confront social and emotional questions that sometimes present problems. Books feature appealing full-color illustrations on every page plus a page of advice to parents and teachers.

Genres: Picture Books, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Disability, Childrens, Education, Friendship, Nonfiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

There is more than one Pat Thomas in the Goodreads catalog. This entry focuses on Pat^Thomas, children's author.

Pat is a trained psychotherapist, naturopath and journalist. After working as a journalist and broadcaster in the USA, she now works in the field of child development and writes for various publications including 'Practical Parenting'.

Reviews

[Phoenix Blackdove · Rating 1 out of 5]

Suddenly, ableism! Thousands of them!
Y'all get bullet points because I'm too grumpy at this thing for actual paragraphs.

- Uses person first language despite the majority of the autistic community preferring identity first language
- Treats the autistic person as an interesting side show exhibit rather than the person most qualified to tell others about what autism is like ie does not centre the autistic person in their own story
- Focuses almost exclusively on the strangeness/"negatives" and stereotypical outward behaviour that people associate with autism ie reinforces othering
- One of the most bothering things for me is that the autistic children are depicted apart from everyone on almost every page
- Let's not even talk about that one page with what looks like hand-over-handing while doing a JIGSAW PUZZLE (whoops, guess I just did)
- This book gets one singular point for showing both male and female autistic children in the illustrations.

I would not recommend this book to anyone, but especially not to read to anyone who is actually autistic. There's much better children's books on the topic out there. I am an Aspie Girl: A book for young girls with autism spectrum conditions for instance.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure how to feel about this one. It discusses concepts (without using the terms) such as rigid thinking and sensory overload.

I did like the ‘what about you?’ questions that popped up as I feel that they can foster empathy and understanding, but wished it had also addressed the concept of rigid thinking for the reader.
Did not appreciate the ‘different planet’ comment; did appreciate ‘don’t expect him or her to “grow out of it”.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first, simplified introduction to autism, definately a good book to use to start explaining the topic to children.
I particularly appreciated that it was stressed that kids with are autism are not 'bad', just different, and that one should excercise patience.

[Adriana Palencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to help others understand how someone with autism may see things. I like how the book gave real examples of how some changes may not affect us, but they can affect someone with autism. I also thought it was very important that the book listed things people with autism might not be good at, and things that they are good at. The book did a great job of showing the differences, and it gave a better understanding of what someone with autism may be experiencing.

[Dcisic1student.Gsu.Edu]

This book falls under the category of realistic fiction. These "First Look" books are great. It truly shows and explains certain disabilities in a way that is not stereotypical or generalized. The title of this book is great. "I See Things Differently." The title gives readers the impression that the only different between them and the characters in the book is that the characters see things a little differently then they do. This is one way to go about having a discussion about Autism with students without directly using the word Autism. I think that with older students, it is developmentally appropriate to go more in depth with Autism, but with little students, I probably would not simply because they are not there yet where they can understand exactly what that is. I have a personal connection with a little boy who has Autism, and he is six years old. He is not aware that he is different. He just does his own thing. Younger kids at the park do not treat him differently either simply because they do not know and understand that he has this diagnosis. There is a beauty in this as well. In a world that is not accepting, there is many little souls that are the most accepting, and it is a beautiful thing. That is where the importance of a book such as this one comes in when speaking about the education of individuals. The world cannot be accepting if they do not know, and the younger we start piece by piece explaining these things to students, the better it will be. This book is interesting to students, because of the illustrations. The illustrations portray the various activities in the book that the characters do really well. They are colorful, and students can relate to playing in the park, swimming, and so on. Therefore, it is not a book that would be difficult to engage students in. The characters are diverse, and a variety of actions are seen throughout the characters portrayed to have Autism therefore, a student who is reading this is exposed to many angles. Perspective is key in these books, because the last thing you want a student to think is that all kids with Autism do one specific thing. The book portrays the characters are living a typical life. This is great. The quality of a book can be crushed if the characters are doing out of the ordinary things for their age group simply because they have a disability. This book does not do that. It is a fabulous inclusion and educational book to use in a classroom.

[Alison Leach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about kids with disabilities mostly autism. It says that it is A First Look at Autism, but yet none of the pictures represent a student in a wheelchair or a student who may look different. Yes there are many students with autism who don't look any different, but I also think that for kids it is important to have good illustrations. A lot of the time students don't even know what they're are reading until they look at the pictures for clues. On the other hand, this is a good book because it gives a lot of characteristics of a student with autism. This book also gives good examples of how to act in settings around students wit disabilities. I think that this isa great book to read in an inclusion classroom.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its heart is definitely in the right place - it's a great idea to introduce kids to the concept of Autism, and explain some of the "different" things that people on the spectrum might do. But a lot of it seems overly simplified (again, it's for kids, so it needs to be simple). It just kind of.... ended, and I was expecting a little bit more.

That said, it will make a great library resource, and would fit well in a classroom library, even if everybody in the class is neuro-typical.

[Lovell Peak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I See Things Differently is a story that focuses on ways to define autism so that children can understand and adapt to the circumstances that involve other children with autism. This book attempts to explain what autism is and how it affects the people that have children with autism. The story gives detailed examples of what it is like for students with autism who live in a world that seems strange to them, while it may seem normal for others.

The book expresses that children with autism act and think in ways that make them feel safe, which helps children to get a clear understanding. This story highlights various components of autism to bring awareness to children that might encounter children with autism at school, at home, or in their neighborhood. This book teaches children how to interact with children who have autism and motivates them to be kind and open-minded when they see someone who may act or think differently from them.

The genre is non-fiction because the book uses an informative format that teaches children about the aspects of autism and is designed to make children knowledgeable about the components of autism. The book is developmentally appropriate for children because it uses simple terms that children can understand from their perspective. The quality of the book shows elements that make reading the story fun and enlightening for children.

The story encourages children to examine areas in their lives where they can be supportive of their friends, siblings, or classmates who may have autism. The illustrations of the book give children clear indications of what autism looks like and how it can affect a child's home or learning environment. There are several cultural considerations in the book because it gives children a chance to see multiple perspectives and values that attribute to why children with autism think differently from others. This book introduces the concept of autism to children and educates them on all the complexties and amazing things that are associated with autism.

[Leanna Bellevue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: I See Things Differently: A First Look at Autism
Author: Pat Thomas
Illustrator (if separate from author): Claire Keay
Genre: Children's Literature, Fiction
Theme(s): Understanding disabilities
Opening line/sentence: “Do you know what it feels like to be worried or nervous or scared—or to feel different from other people?”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words):
In the book, I See Things Differently: A First Look at Autism Pat Thomas helps readers understand what it is like to have autism. Throughout the story Thomas brings up multiple different ways autism can be shown by a person.
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words):
According to a review written by bookshop.org this book helps children understand autism. It promotes positive interactions between individuals who have autism and individuals who do not. In another review written by, amplifyautism.wordpress.com it is explained that this book helps younger readers understand why autistic people do things a little bit differently and that it is okay and should be accepted.
Tell Me Framework (4 sentences in your own words):
Like(s): I enjoyed that this book shows us the different ways individuals with autism can act.
Dislike(s): I did not dislike anything in this book.
Patterns(s): A pattern that I noticed was the sentence “people with autism” was frequently used.
Puzzle(s): I was not puzzled by anything.
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words):
This book would be great to read to a group of students but also independently. It is so important to understand and support individuals with disabilities like autism. If a student in the class has a disability it should be recognized and supported by all children and teachers.

[Kimberly Lashandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for children who may know someone with autism. “I See Things Differently” by Pat Thomas gives an understanding of autism and what it feels like from the child's perspective. Parents and teachers have a significant role in promoting an understanding of what autism is. Children with autism need help in different ways, such as helping with homework or walking home. This book starts with a brief description, follows through with common questions and misconceptions, and includes information regarding emotions, behaviors, and who is typically diagnosed with autism. Even if they do not directly know someone with autism, the author provides a foundation explaining how the person with autism may seem ‘different.’ The author wrote this book for readers to try and have a connection. Autism affects how the brain works and how people view or react differently.
Reading this book gives me an insight into the behaviors and emotions that people with autism go through. The behaviors, feelings, and actions vary depending on the person. I love how the author compares and explains the expected differences. People with autism have talents and skills, such as being good at music, painting, or remembering specific things. Understanding autism and knowing they see, hear, feel, and act differently and not limit them to expectations is the perfect way to start and create relationships with people with autism. I would have a class discussion about this book. I would like to see what the students think about this book. Great read!

[Karleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good way to introduce children to autism and how to approach it. It details the behaviors autistic people have and how they might act differently than someone who is neurotypical. I think the author wrote this in simple enough vocabulary that anyone could understand it. They touched on the basics of beginning to understand someone with autism. I feel as though this is a really good introductory book to learn more about autism, but definitely read more books that are centered more around the autistic person and their life instead of at the autistic person. I gave this book 4 stars because it introduces you to the topic of autism and touches on a lot of important details children should know about meeting someone who is autistic. It gets their foot wet in learning more about other kids who have exceptionalities. I would recommend this book to younger children.

[Annah Neumire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many elementary-aged children are unaware of autism and how common it is. They are bound to see it various times throughout their life so it is important for them to understand that this "disability" does not define a person. It does not make them less. It highlights that everyone is not the same, and that is more than okay.
This book highlights the feeling of children with autism and allows readers to connect with these feelings to understand them. For this reason, I think this is a great informative book for young students.
The illustrations in this book do an awesome job of displaying the different feelings that children with autism may feel. This is done by the facial expressions drawn. This is very helpful because sometimes it is hard to visualize or understand how someone feels just by reading words.

[Prachi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 Strange book

I did not like this book because it only outline certain symptoms of ASD, I do not like this.

there are only certain aspects that are discussed in this book that have to do with autism.

I did not like how this book generalizes symptoms of autism and makes them seem factual. it is not true for all kids diagnosed with ASD. this book generalizes and I do not appreciate is. The book also etherizes the autistic community. There are only a few "common" rumors that this book discusses about autism and it seems like this is generalizes which is not true.

I did not like this book because individuals have to understand that austism manifests in many different ways not just a set x number.

[BLEN KESETE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see things differently A First Look at Autism is a children's book by Pat Thomas. It explains how and why children on the autism spectrum disorder are different. It talks about how their brains work. And how different or strange they might behave compared to children without autism. I enjoyed reading this book because it describes the characteristics of a child with an autism spectrum disorder in words that children can understand and feel compassion for the child with this disability. After reading this book, children will have a better understanding of their friend's world and approach him/her with much more understanding.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"With love and support, people with autism can learn to feel a little happier and safer each day" (27).

Sometimes simplicity is best when trying to help others understand a complex issue. This book clearly explains autism to a young audience, and stresses that although autistic kids think and sometimes act differently, they need love and friendship just like other kids. Instead of ostracizing and/or bullying them, the book offers suggestions on how kids can be kind and patient and show support.

The illustrations on each page of happy, smiling kids playing and communicating are attractive and inviting and exemplify promise and hope.

[Samantha Ledesma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic introduction to autism for children who may have never interacted with an autistic person or never understood it. The story walks through the ways that autism may present itself and explains why it is natural, normal, and should be accepted. The book even goes on to encourage children to reach out, support, and befriend children with autism because, even though it may be difficult for them to socialize, everyone needs a friend.

The illustrations weren't anything spectacular, but they did a decent job of depicting autistic life and how that may look.

[Keith Mannina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really disappointed by this book. For anyone looking for a simplistic definition of autism, reading one sentence in a dictionary would be more helpful than reading this whole book. Instead of explaining what understanding and acceptance is, The prevailing theme and message of this book is “just be nice to the weird kid.“ I don’t think the person who wrote this book has ever actually had to raise a child on the spectrum or has even met a person on the spectrum. I wouldn’t be surprised if this authors previous book was plainly titled “lions are mean!“

[Jami Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book and think it would be a good read loud for first graders or kindergarten students. Many kids do not understand what autism is and this is a great way to introduce autism and help them understand that not everyone is the same. It is okay to be different and we want children to understand that people with autism are just as capable as people without it. The book has great illustrations of how people with autism feel. Especially because some people with autism cannot talk. So be kind and educate our children about different people in the world.

[Atlas Miladin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really breaks down what autism looks like in young children. It explains why students with autism may act differently than their peers. I think this book should be read in every elementary classroom because it will help children to understand how their autistic peers function. This will make interacting between typically developing students and autistic students run much smoother. The book is definitely a must have for any classroom!!!

[Cindy Sarnowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Child friendly story that explains the complexities facing a child with autism. The text covers the many different situations that cause children to get frustrated with those with autism. The author patiently explains why children with autism get upset when they are not able to sit in the same chair each day or struggle to focus when there is noise or interruption. Practical and thoughtful explanations.

[Shaquira DesDune · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! My children and I really enjoyed it. It gave insight on how children with Autism may react to different situations and gives young children great examples of how a child with Autism may be different and explains that just because you have a disability doesn't make you a bad person . I especially loved how it states that being different is a GOOD thing. I believe all children should be reminded if that often. GREAT READ!

[Jolynne Dougherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autism, friendship, understanding - Pat Thomas, a psychotherapist and counselor writes a book that talks about how a neurodiverse child might see the world and react. With simple illustrations and text, it asks the reader questions that help us all to understand ourselves and others better. It might be a good resource for parents, teachers, friends, and siblings and for those who would like to better understand someone with autism.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/7/2018 ~~ An informational book about the autism spectrum. Large text and short sentences explain the ways in which someone with autism may react in a way that is surprising or different than those without autism might expect.

I found the illustrations to be a bit to saccharine, but the information to be useful for some young children.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that quickly will made a reaction to the discussion that will help children to better understand and support autistic classmates or siblings. The story of events is simple and easily to understand and appropriate for younger children, who will learn that exploring the personal feelings around social issues is a first step in dealing with them.

[🐣 · Rating 1 out of 5]

i don't remember what exactly it was about this book i didn't like, but something about it made me uncomfortable enough that i took a picture in the library of me giving it a thumbs down.

i like that there was a book about autism in the children's section at the library, but maybe a more recently written one would be more appropriate.

[Marissa Kiddey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see things differently would be a good resource for a teacher or parent introducing young ones to the idea of autism. It even has inserted questions they can use for guided discussion over the topic. Pictures correlate well to the book and can be explained or better explain the idea in the book.

[Kathleen]

Neurodivergent content: neurotypical narrator talking to neurotypical readers about what "others" autistic children, while using person-first language, an illustration of a child attempting to put a jigsaw puzzle together, and more.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great books for kids and parents.

[Abbey Link · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look into Autism, this book would be great for families with a child that has autism.

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good introduction to Autism, however it did feel a bit othering at times.