Recommended Picture Books
Picture books that celebrate neurodiversity.
Stories that celebrate different minds
Helping parents and teachers share different ways brains think, learn and experience the world.
These books support conversations about empathy, inclusion, identity and belonging in both homes and classrooms.
Looking for books for adults?
Explore Adult Resource Books →View by Theme
Browse by theme to find books that support specific conversations with children.
Autism
Understanding & acceptance
ADHD
Energy, focus & strengths
Sensory
Sensory experiences & needs
Anxiety
Worry, fears & feelings
Emotional Regulation
Big feelings & coping
Identity & Self-Acceptance
Being proud of who you are
Friendship & Social Understanding
Connection & empathy
Other Neurodiversity
Dyslexia, inclusion & more
A–Z by Author
Flap Your Hands
Illustrator: Steve Asbell
stimming, autism acceptance, self-expression, neurodiversity
This playful book celebrates the different ways people move and express themselves. It encourages readers to see behaviours like hand flapping as natural forms of self-expression.
A Friend for Henry
Illustrator: Mika Song
autism, friendship, social understanding, school experiences
Henry is starting at a new school and hopes to find a friend, but navigating social situations feels challenging. The story gently explores autism and friendship.
ADHD Is My Superpower
Illustrator: Blythe Russo
ADHD, strengths, confidence, self-understanding
A young boy explains how his ADHD brain works and the strengths that come with it. The story reframes ADHD as something that can bring creativity, energy and unique abilities.
My Different Brain
Illustrator: Orlanda Bettison
autism, identity, self-understanding, acceptance
A young child explains how their brain works differently from others around them. Through their perspective, children learn about neurodivergence with warmth.
Uniquely Wired
Illustrator: Anita DuFalla
autism, strengths, self-acceptance, understanding differences
Zak explains how his brain works differently and the strengths that come with it. Children learn that everyone is uniquely wired and differences can be celebrated.
How Are You, Verity?
Illustrator: Taylor Barron
autism, emotions, communication, understanding feelings
Verity is often asked how she feels, but it isn't always easy for her to answer. This story explores emotional awareness and helps children understand different experiences.
The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be
Illustrator: Julianna Swaney
individuality, belonging, strengths, diversity
Children in a classroom discover that each of them brings different strengths, ideas and ways of thinking. The story celebrates individuality and belonging.
Too Much! An Overwhelming Day
Illustrator: Angel Chang
sensory overload, autism, emotions, self-regulation
A young girl experiences a day where the sounds, lights and activity around her feel overwhelming. With support and coping strategies, she finds her way through.
My Brain Is a Race Car
Illustrator: Kitty Harris
ADHD, energy, focus, emotions
A child describes their fast-moving brain as a race car that zooms through thoughts and ideas. The story celebrates the energy and creativity of ADHD minds.
Just Right for You
Illustrator: Nathaniel Eckstrom
autism, individuality, belonging, strengths
Different animals discover that everyone has their own unique way of being. The story celebrates neurodiversity through the beauty of individual differences.
All Birds Have Anxiety
Illustrator: Kathy Hoopmann
anxiety, emotions, understanding feelings, mental wellbeing
Using bird photography and simple explanations, this book explores what anxiety feels like and why it happens. A gentle introduction to understanding worry.
Train Of Thought
Illustrator: Hayley Wells
imagination, attention and focus, self-regulation
Andy has a brilliant imagination that carries him on exciting adventures to far-off places. His mum helps him learn when to let his imagination run and when to come back.
Bernie Thinks in Boxes
Illustrator: Zoë Bennett
neurodiversity, autism, routines, change, self-understanding
Bernie likes to organise her world into different “boxes” — a school box, a home box, and a park box. The story explores how she navigates change.
Sawyer's Big Idea
Illustrator: Nabila Adani
inclusion, accessibility, empathy, disability awareness
Sawyer notices that a playground is not accessible for everyone and decides to do something about it. A story about inclusion and making spaces welcoming for all.
The Brain Forest
Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
neurodiversity, strengths, individuality, belonging
The Brain Forest compares human brains to trees in a forest, each growing in its own unique way. Through beautiful imagery, it celebrates neurodiversity.
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures
Illustrator: Daniel Rieley
autism, STEM, strengths, perseverance
This biography tells the story of Temple Grandin, who thought in pictures and changed the world through her unique perspective and determination.
You Are Enough
Illustrator: Sofia Cardoso
belonging, self-worth, inclusion, confidence
This affirming story reminds children that they are valued exactly as they are. It encourages young readers to embrace their unique qualities with pride.
This Is Me
Illustrator: Amy Pfueger
identity, confidence, self-acceptance, neurodiversity
This story celebrates children embracing who they are and recognising their unique strengths. It encourages self-acceptance and pride in being different.
Ady and Me
Illustrator: Rich and Rox Pink
autism, friendship, understanding differences, empathy
A child shares their friendship with Ady, whose autism shapes the way he experiences the world. The story celebrates understanding and connection.
Benji, the Bad Day, and Me
Illustrator: Ken Min
autism, empathy, siblings, emotional regulation
Sam is having a terrible day, but his autistic brother Benji shows him a different way to cope. The story beautifully explores sibling connection and empathy.
Brilliant Bea
Illustrator: Mary Vukadinovich
dyslexia, strengths, learning differences, confidence
Bea struggles with reading at school and worries she isn't as capable as her classmates. With encouragement, she discovers her unique strengths.
All My Stripes
Illustrator: Danielle Royer
autism, identity, belonging
Zane the zebra worries that his autism stripe makes him stand out from the other zebras. With support, he learns that all his stripes make him who he is.
My Wandering Dreaming Mind
Illustrator: Tammie Lyon
ADHD, imagination, attention, creativity
A child describes how their mind often drifts into daydreams and imaginative worlds. The story celebrates creativity while exploring focus and attention.
My Whirling Twirling Motor
Illustrator: Tammie Lyon
ADHD, movement, sensory needs, self-regulation
This story explores what it feels like to have a body that needs to move and stay active. It helps children understand energy and sensory needs.
My Brain Is Magic
Illustrator: Prasha Sooful
neurodiversity, imagination, strengths, self-belief
A child describes the wonderful and imaginative ways their brain works. The story celebrates the creative power of neurodivergent minds.
Some Brains
Illustrator: Cat MacInnes
neurodiversity, inclusion, identity, understanding differences
This playful picture book explores how all brains work differently, from quiet thinkers to busy, fast-moving minds. It celebrates the richness of neurodiversity.
When My Brain Is Messy
Illustrator: Tania Wieclaw
emotions, anxiety, regulation, mental wellbeing
A child describes what it feels like when their thoughts become tangled and overwhelming. The story gently explores emotional regulation and self-care.
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings
Illustrator: Jacob Souva
emotions, sensitivity, self-acceptance, empathy
A boy experiences emotions very strongly and learns how to express them in healthy ways. The story celebrates sensitivity and emotional awareness.
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