A child-centered guide that explains autism and highlights the gifts of being neurodivergent!
Using simple language, complemented by appealing and captivating illustrations, Different Thinkers Autism offers an accessible and uplifting message about what it means to have autism, how autism affects emotions and behaviors, and what children can do to manage any challenges while building on their individual strengths.
Written for elementary-age youth, parents, educators, and clinicians, the book features three vignettes of children who are autistic. Each vignette highlights various aspects of autism and how these can shape a child’s behaviors and relationships at home and in school.
Thought-provoking prompts are included throughout the text to help young readers better understand an autism diagnosis, explore what it means to be a different thinker, and find empowerment and self-acceptance.
Different Thinkers Autism gives young children information and strategies that can help them flourish while reminding them that their strengths, interests, and abilities are what define them.
This is the second title in the Different Thinkers series, written to help kids understand their brains and the unique vulnerabilities and opportunities that come with being neurodivergent.
Acknowledgements and grateful thanks to NetGalley and Boys Town Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC: 'Different Thinkers: Autism by Katia Fredricksen PhD, Yael Rothman PhD and illustrated by Jennifer Ball-Cordero'. All opinions are my own and are not a reflection of the publishers and/or author, of which I have no association with.
//I am so excited to read this book as I have Autism / am Neurodivergent with ADD also. Plus I have also been a student, parent and librarian... So this excites me moreso. We need more books for children on this subject. For Autistics and for non-neurodivergent peoples.//
Review:
"Written for elementary-age youth, parents, educators, and clinicians, the book features three vignettes of children who are autistic. Each vignette highlights various aspects of autism and how these can shape a child’s behaviors and relationships at home and in school. " — the NetGalley website for 'Different Thinkers: Autism's.
— Well that went both better and worse than I expected? Although it is stated that this is written for children and that it is simplified information, this is more just simplified than simplified specifically for children. The information was directed at children, yes, however, it may still be too complicated for anyone younger than middle-grade and above because we don't want to assume that all Autistic children are on the same level. This means that it's only suitable for some children as it still might be too deep for others. In saying this, it's beautiful information with some really encouraging facts.
If the children are being supervised then I see no reason why this wouldn't be suitable, however, it is directed at the children whom have Autism and thus, I think — my opinion, only — that it could have been simplified more without losing any important information. I just have a neurodivergent son who is smart as anything and he still would have struggled a little at some points. In saying this, I have also noticed that each generation just gets smarter and smarter and I could have this entirely wrong.
I, however, loved the book for me and my wife, as it led to quite a pleasant discussion about this. I am more neurodivergent than she is, but we often agree on a lot. She has only just realized that she is Neurodivergent and she said that she really enjoyed the book as it explained things to her on a beginners level for an adult or young adult. She has always been less mature than me and me more mature than my age, we quite like our differences as it gives us different aspects to view things from which interests us both. We both like to know how others think and feel.
This book reminds me of that. That both of these women are successful Doctors and are also writing childrens books about different brains — to me that is amazing.
I just wish there was a language for all age levels — other than love and understanding, that is.
Touching on the beautiful illustrations by Jennifer Ball-Cordero, I would like to let readers knows that they're art that would capture the rapt attention of all, not just children.
All-in-all, this is a beautiful book that I would love to have in my collection of kids books.
How I wish this wonderful picture book had existed when my 30-something daughters were little! Back then, even high-functioning children with autism were judged by Dustin Hoffman in the movie Rainman.
It would have been wonderful to have this book for teachers to share with the class, and to use to reassure my girls that they didn’t think wrongly — just differently. They had great memories, but trouble with making friends. They were great writers, but had trouble with the unwritten rules of social interaction or reading emotions in others. One had a lot of trouble with noise. To have a book — not mom — tell them that they were OK would have meant a lot. And the suggestions at the end of the book were wonderful.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Boys Town Press and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) in exchange for an honest review.
*thank you to Netgalley, Katia Fredricksen, PhD & Yael Rothman, PhD and Boys Town Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
4 stars.
This is exactly the type of book I would have appreciated being given back in early Primary School. Unfortunately I was not so it want until I was 39 that I was Diagnosed as Autistic. Who knows, if I had this back as a small child I may have been able to share that I related to the kids in the book. But then again, I was a girl in the 80s and 90s and as the book address, back then, apparently girls didn't have Autism.
Thankfully that's now changed and this book does an excellent job of acknowledging so many facts about what it is like to be Autistic and that it's not a bad thing at all. I love and appreciate how they reiterate that throughout as often, mainly with girls, Autism is something we tend to hide.
In this book we have 3 kids, Luna, Ravi and Liam. All different and unique in their own ways. Which is another thing I really appreciate with this book. There is no Stereotypical Autistic. The authors don't say things like, 'all Autistics do this and that'. They acknowledge that Autistics are of all ages, gender and are all unique. There is no standard list all Autistics follow. There are more common traits and lessor common ones and you may have some of the same as the kids in this but you also may have others. Near the end there is even a section where you can write what parts you connect with.
The style and layout of books like these that are focused on educating, is also something that I particularly find important. The wording and explaining was very well written. Easy and basic to follow. The pictures also helped as some Autistics find visuals along with words to be how they try to understand something.
Overall, I found this book to be amazing. It's a great read for anyone really. For an Autistic. For a parent or family member. For classmates to have an understanding if there is an Autistic child in the class. For adults who may have a friend shows child is Autistic. Or even someone who is interested in learning more about Autism. The list goes on and on.
I would highly recommend this book. Expecually to small children who can go through it with family members and friends.
This was a nice overview for young children about how autistic brains work differently. I very much appreciate that it was approached as difference and not an illness to be fixed. It was young in ways not always in sync with my high school sped students, but did provide me with some ways to discuss this variety with them. On that end, it did exactly what I needed and yay for serendipity putting it in front of me on Netgalley!
This book is an accessible introduction to neurodiversity and the importance of valuing and including those who think differently, particularly individuals on the neurodivergent spectrum. It offers insights into how others perceive and process the world in unique ways, and it really resonated with me on a personal level.
While the book is aimed at students, teachers, and specialists, it’s very accessible and engaging for a wide audience. The illustrations and stories are especially noteworthy—they’re charming, friendly, and create a welcoming atmosphere that invites readers to engage with the material.
One of the book’s strengths is how it highlights the unique contributions and value of neurodivergent individuals. From fresh ideas to artistic expression and innovative solutions, their strengths enrich all of us. The book also addresses challenges, such as how autistic individuals might find it difficult to connect with others who don’t share their immediate interests. However, it emphasizes the value of mutual understanding and compromise, offering a hopeful perspective on how we can all find common ground.
I’m particularly grateful for my personal workplace, which has helped me explore and better understand this topic. This book reinforced the idea that true inclusion means not just accepting but also appreciating people who think differently. Our differences are what make us human, and this book celebrates that in a way that feels both meaningful and approachable. I am appreciative and grateful for all that I can learn on this topic.
This picture book is written from first-person perspective of a child who has Autism, speaking to the reader to discuss and normalize common symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder. As a child/adolescent therapist, I am excited to use this book in sessions with my clients who are learning about this diagnosis or are recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is even a helpful tool for kids who have family or friends with Autism and would benefit from learning and understanding about common symptoms/experiences that those with Autism go through. The book also offers some question/answer portions at the end which allow the reader to fill in the blank to identify their strengths, struggles, coping strategies, etc, after reading through the book and learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorder. The illustrations are brightly colored and basic, but also engaging and do not distract from the content and purpose of the book. The language is written in a way that allows a child to understand what symptoms/experiences of Autism are like without using language that is too clinical in nature. I have not seen a book similar to this one before, and I will explore other similar titles in the series with clients moving forward!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! "Different Thinkers: Autism" is available for purchase March 18 2025.
My review will be live on my blog - donnasbookblog on 18 March 2025 - publication day!
I thought that this book was excellent!
My daughter has a few friends at her Primary School that are autistic so this has been a real help using it to talk to her about the children to try to get her to understand more about their differences and to be tolerant.
There is a mix in her class and the children that are Neurodiverse do (unfortunately) tend to cause disruption in the class but I believe that this is most likely as there is not the right support for them in the mainstream education class she attends, so the book was key in explaining to her (she is 7) that they aren't just naughty as they are constantly being sent to the School Office.
The book is well laid out, lots of interesting information and helpful points and the glossary is great. I work in HR and one of the recent projects I had was introducing a Neurodiverse guide - I wish I had a basic guide like this at that point as it has a lot of detail without complicating the topic.
I liked that the images and illustrations in the book had a wide range of expressions, nationalities and ethnic backgrounds too so that all are covered and included in the book. This is a must for Teachers and those in education.
It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!
I absolutely loved this book and how it explains autism to children. Even as an adult, there were things I learned from reading it.
My son is waiting to be tested for autism, but I could relate, a lot of the things went over in the book, to him. So as a parent who would potentially need a book like this in the future, I found a lot of value in it. After reading this, I think it would easily be understood by children, and if not, it could easily be understood by an adult in their life, where they could explain it better. I'm not an expert on autism, so I don't know if anything is missing, but from the few areas gone over it seems like it would be immensely helpful to children and their parents.
I like that there were a few examples of stimming. I did not completely understand what stimming actually was, until reading this book. Also, I really like how their were three different kids with very different ways of thinking shown as examples. It really helped me understand autism and how different each person with it might be.
Overall, I think this would be a great tool to for anyone to understand the basics of what autism is, especially children in the ages 6-12, which is listed on the back of the book as the suggested age range. I would definitely buy this to help my child understand autism!
Before I launch into my review, I would like to say thank you to Katia Fredricksen, Yael Rothman PhD, Boys Town Press, and Netgalley for the Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone with their eye on this title, here is my personal review of the book to help you decide whether you are interested or not. All opinions offered are my own.
The fact that we are reading a book that looks at a type of disability makes it all the more disappointing that the book opens with white text on pastel pin and blue backgrounds. I personally found the text inaccessible and would have appreciated a better contrast. I actually travelled through the book wondering where all the text was. At the 40% mark, I noticed some faint writing and went back a page to find more white text on an even lighter background than before. I was unable to read it at all.
The pictures were absolutely wonderful, and I enjoyed looking at them. Originally, I thought the book was entirely made up of illustrations. For such a subject, I do think there needs to be more said on the subject than leaving it up to one’s own subjectivity.
Unfortunately, whilst the book seems like a great idea and I can see the potential in having a children-centered approach, I was unable to engage with the inconsiderate formatting of the book and, therefore, rendered it a 1 out of 5 stars until suitable edits are made.
This is a powerful uplifting view of the Autism Spectrum. I was so grateful to Net Galley & the publishers for letting me enjoy this outstanding book. This book is so amazing!! I can't say enough about it. This book was created for elementary age children and their caregivers in mind. The book talks about Autism: what it is, how it affects behaviors, emotions & more. It explains how different aspects of Autism can shape their relationships and their behaviors both at home, school, and everywhere. It has prompts through the book that help children discover more about their diagnosis and the amazing things it means. The strong message to children is so encouraging and helps them discover their own abilities and strengths. I love that the authors keep it simple and so easy for everyone to understand. The care taken in explaining what Autism is and how it makes things different for my child. I can't wait to add this to our own home library. I loved the positive outlook it gave. My son who is 5 is on the Autism spectrum and I am so thankful for this book and its encouraging message to everyone. Everyone needs this book to share. Worth A Billion Stars.
Different Thinkers: Autism, is a non-fictional book written by Katia Fredricksen and Yael Rothman. This is a great introductory book for children who are autistic or neurodivergent, or even children who would like to learn more about autism to better understand those around them. Some of the things that I really appreciated in this book were the stories of real children with autism, the scientific explanations of the brain and how it works, and the ways that the authors shared positive traits of those individuals with autism. I think sometimes children might focus on the problems they might experience or see based on their diagnoses, and I felt it was really encouraging to recognize that autism is not “all bad.” Thank you to the authors, illustrator, publisher, and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wish this book would have existed about 12 years ago! I really appreciate the way Different Thinkers shows three distinctly different people who have autism and the way their lives look different. I also appreciate that the strengths of being neurodivergent are shown as well. Actually, there are so many details this book brought to light---like the presentation of autism in girls---the tools and self advocacy that neurodivergent kids can employ----and even the science of the brain! I really loved this book and I think having a tool like this would have empowered me so much as a parent when it came to explaining to my son why life was sometimes a struggle for him. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and descriptive. I think kids will love them. Thank you for writing such a great book!
This is a wonderful book. It’s meant for children ages 6-12, but would also be beneficial for parents and family members of children on the spectrum. I have a toddler on the spectrum and I feel this would be a great for his cousins to read to have an understanding of why he is different. I appreciate how informative and simple the explanations were. I liked how they used three different children to explain how even within autism there are still differences, which is why it is considered a spectrum. The illustrations were also beautifully done. I would purchase this book for when my son is older and able to understand the content. This book would also be great for classrooms, especially those which are integrated.
Thank you Boys Town Press for providing this book via NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Wow, I am really impressed with this book. As a neurodivergent parent of neurodivergent children, I have found it challenging to access books or other sources of information that I can use as a resource for them. I’m so tired of reading books, likely that are written by neurotypical authors, that focus on flaunting the idea that autism is a “superpower” or that autists are lucky to have the “gift” of autism. I find this sort of information dismissive and unhelpful.
This book broke down the important information into straight forward, age-appropriate explanations and didn’t use the word “superpower” once! I would definitely read this to my children and I loved the pages that offered opportunities for children to identify positive things about themselves as well as things they struggle with. More books like this, please!
As a person diagnosed with autism, I really enjoyed Different Thinkers: Autism. After a brief overview of some technical terms, we meet three children with autism--all with their own strengths and weaknesses. As the book continues, children are prompted with questions, asking if they've ever experienced anything similar. They are also asked to list various things, such as what they're good at, what's hard for them, and tools and strategies that may help them (there is also a tip list at the end for adult readers to help autistic kids understand themselves better).
This is a perfect book to share with an autistic child as it can help them feel more confident about their diagnosis, while teaching /you/ how to effectively support them!
This children's book uses simple language to explain concepts that can be kinda tricky for kids (or even adults) to understand. Overall, it was very informative. I appreciated the explanations. It has tells us about three different autistic children, the challenges they face, and some of the ways that they find to work with their different thinking brains. The art was well done and complemented the text well. Low key wish that this book had been around growing up as it would've been helpful to understand more about someone close to me who has autism. Overall, 4/5. Would pick up a book from this series again.
This is a wonderful, easy-to-read informative book and somewhat of a workbook for autistic kids 1st-6th grade! I loved the use of the three kids to show their autistic traits and solutions to problems. The authors did a great job addressing common issues such as girls being underdiagnosed and people pathologizing autism. I loved the way they purposefully stated that “the world may sometimes be set up in ways that don’t work for us” a few times instead of saying that autistic people are the problem! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC :)
My son was just recently diagnosed, so this book presented itself at the perfect time. I love how the authors used three different kids to show how different autism can present itself. The information given is perfect for children to understand. I enjoyed the prompts given, encouraging kids to answer topics for themselves. I also enjoyed the tips given to help with common issues. This is a great book to help your just diagnosed kid who may not thoroughly understand what exactly his or her diagnosis means.
I LOVED this! As a mother of three, I feel that this book is important for every family to read. It simplifies for children to understand some of the things they are seeing in their friends/classmates. It normalized that we are all different in such a beautiful way. Plus, it is interactive. I could see this being a conversation starter about autism, similarities, and differences. I will be adding this book to our home library.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book isa great for families dealing with Autistic children. I have a 7 year old son with Autism level 3, we spent the afternoon reading this book and my son enjoyed the pictures. This book was filled with information and not to mention the pictures were a wonderful addition to it. I helped us understand why they may think or behave differently than others but showed how that can be a positive thing. Overall I found it was very helpful and would definitely recommend. I will be purchasing this book so I can have a physical copy a home.
As a child therapist - I love everything about this book! The illustrations are engaging and inclusive. The authors provide readers with basic psychoeducation on the brain and autism in a strengths-based way. I also love that it discusses how autism can present differently in AFAB individuals. I think this book would be great for young kids and families who are interested in gaining a basic overview of autism.
- Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! -
Yes, yes, yes! This is the kind of book we need to be seeing for children! As a late diagnosed autistic woman, I rarely, if ever, heard anything about autism as a child. I was a voracious reader as a child and I wish I had been able to find this kind of book in a library back then. This is such a great introduction to autism for any child and a great mini-workbook for autistic children to use with their caregiver.
This book is absolutely perfect. It offers a good amount of information at an age appropriate level that the kids (and adults) will be able to glob onto and devoir. It presents everything in such an empathetic way as well. I have been looking for a really good book on Autism for children for our libraries children's collection and this definitely fits the bill!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC to write an honest review!
Great for reading one-on-one with a child --or their sibling or classmate-- who has just been diagnosed with autism. It includes how girls with autism present differently from boys with autism. I would not recommend this to libraries as there are several workbook-type pages where readers are encouraged to write in the book.
This is a children's book and I am not a child but I still learned from reading this one. I think this would be a great book for any child to read to help them learn about themselves or their classmates. It would be a great purchase for a teacher's classroom library.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is such a wonderful resource for kids who are learning about what it means to be Autistic! I love that it described what a neuropsychological exam might look like and gives 3 kids as examples to follow through the story. It utilizes affirming language and talks about the ways that Autism can present both great traits and struggles. I will definitely be adding this to my library!
Netgalley ARC - I think the back 2/3rds of this is really great and provides a great resource, but the first 1/3rd seems unecessary and is not very engaging. I don't think we need to start with author descriptions, and the brain details could be condensed since that doesn't really come up in the later discussion that is more autism-experience specific.
Different Thinkers: Autism is a fun children's book that invites young readers to explore the world of autism. It simplifies complex concepts, making them easy to understand, and encourages kids to reflect on their own experiences. I highly recommend it for anyone starting this journey with their child.
This book is massively long. It has great information and is more of a non-fiction book. But the author spends so long talking about different parts or giving multiple examples that it drags. This isn’t meant to be a story time type of book, but to read from beginning to end in one sitting is a bit much.