Autism resources

5-7 years

My brother is Different  
By Louise Gorrod and illustrated by Beccy Carver, 1997, National Autistic Society ISBN: 
1-899280-50-2.

My Sister is Different 
By Sarah Tamsin Hunter, 2006, National Autistic Society
ISBN: 1-899280-98 -7.
Sarah is the ten year old sister of a girl with autism. It is very much like My brother is Different.

My Special Brother Rory
By Ellie Fairfoot, 2004, National Autistic Society
ISBN 1-899280-96-0.
Ellie is the 6year old sister of a boy with autism.

7-13 years

Children with Autism
A booklet for brothers and sisters
By Julie Davies, Mental Health Foundation. 

Able autistic children (Asperger's syndrome)
A booklet for brothers and sisters
By Julie Davies, Mental Health Foundation.  

Both available from the Early Years Centre, Nottingham tel 01623 490879 or at www.nas.org.uk

What About Me? The autism survival guide for kids
By Athanasia Koutsis, Gerda De Clercq and Richard Galbraith, 2006,Wantirna Heights School, Australia.
ISBN: 0646459317
The guide is in the form of an annual narrated by Spike, a cheerful terrier with lots of wit and amazing facial expressions. It's really good fun to read and has very helpful advice.

I really don't know why: a sibling song to autism
By Haitham Al Ghani, 2007, National Autistic Society
ISBN: 905722 17 6.
Haitham himself has semantic/pragmatic disorder and he wrote the book for his sister. It is good fun and different to the other books.

Martian in the Playground
By Claire Sainsbury, 2000, Lucky Duck Publishing Ltd.
ISBN-10: 1873942087
Claire explains what it was like for her to grow up with autism.

All Cats Have Asperger's Syndrome 
By Kathy Hoopmann, 2006, Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
ISBN: 978-1-84310-481-0

For teenage siblings

Everybody is Different
By Fiona Bleach, 2001, National Autistic Society
ISBN-10: 1899280332
This is designed to explain the complexities of ASD to children with brothers and sisters with the condition.

Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome. A user's guide to adolescence
By Luke Jackson, 2002, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN-10: 1843100983
Teenage siblings with brothers and sisters with Asperger's syndrome often like this book as they gain an insight into what it is like to have Asperger's syndrome.  Luke has Asperger's syndrome and explains the condition very well

Many siblings have recommended the following mystery novels that include children and young people with Asperger's or autism:

Al Capone does my shirts
By Gennifer Choldenko, 2004, Bloomsbury
ISBN: 0-7475-6868-7

The Bluebottle Mystery: An Asperger Adventure
By Kathy Hoopmann, 2001, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN-10: 1853029785

Of Mice and Aliens: An Asperger Adventure
By Kathy Hoopmann, 2001, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN-10: 184310007X

Lisa and the Lacemaker: An Asperger Adventure
By Kathy Hoopmann, 2002, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN-10: 1843100711

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night timE
By Mark Haddon, 2004, Red Fox - Children's edition
ISBN-10: 0099456761

DVD

A Is For Autism
By Temple Grandin, Jean Stanley (IV), Daniel Sellers, and Stewart Hogg, 1992
Suitable for age 8+

This multi-award-winning short film provides a fascinating insight into the world of autism. Described as an animated documentary, animator Tim Webb's 1991 commission from Channel 4 television, is constructed from some collected drawings, music and spoken words by people with autism, allowing him to explore and beautifully illustrate the condition. At about ten minutes long it is just the right length for siblings to maintain concentration.

Above resources are available from www.nas.org.uk or from www.amazon.co.uk