Recommended Reading on AS/Parenting

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I get Craig Kendall's Aspergers Newsletter and I really like it. I'm behind in reading it all but what I've read so far has been wonderful. Makes me want to check out his book.

joshsmom, Do you get his email Newsletter? If not, maybe try that and see what you think of all of his material before buying the book. It's a free newsletter.

A parent from one of the other Asperger websites I belong to just posted this:

I was looking through the new picture books at the library today and wanted
to share one that I think is pretty great. *My Brother Charlie* by Holly
Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete is about twin siblings, one of whom
has autism. It talks about how and why Charlie is different and how he is
the same, but what struck me the most about this book is the sense of love
and respect you get about the family and Charlie. And it's simply a well
done picture book - an emotionally satisfying story and really good
illustrations. I tend to pay attention when books on this subject come
through, and this one strikes me as one of the best you could share with
siblings, friends, or as part of a class presentation. So take note! (Lots
of the media is, since it's co-written by the daughter and wife of an NFL
player and comes from their own experience)

This book is incredible. My son's teacher gave it to us as a gift. I feel like I read so much non fiction about AS, sometimes it doesn't sink in after a while....but I love the fiction AS. I seem to take it in better and I am really getting inside the head of someone on the spectrum. It helps me understand my son better, and empathize

Oh, I loved this book so much! It was the first time a fictional portrayal of someone with Autism really hit home for me. His relationship with his mom is very like mine with my son.

Asperger's A Parents Answer book

Hi, I am new to this forum, and to the Aspie world. My 18 yr old son was diagnosed last year (the puzzle finally fits!).

One book I love is:

Quirky, Yes---Hopeless, No: Practical Tips to Help Your Child with Asperger's Syndrome Be More Socially Accepted by Cynthia La Brie Norall

It really helped me understand how my son's mind works and how he sees the world

We've gotten a lot of good from two books recommended by our child psychologist. These are books for any parent of any child. Children the Challenge by Rudolf Dreikurs, M.D. and Parent Effectiveness Training by Dr. Thomas Gordon. There's some overlap in the contents, according to the psych, but I found merit in both. The first one is older, and I was not able to implement everything in it, but of course, that's how it is. You use what works or feels right. The second one is great because it includes instructions in how to use active listening. As an [undiagnosed] A.S. mom, I have found it useful to learn to echo people's feelings back to them. It's helped me learn to communicate better. We've been working on how to get the kids talking to us and keep them talking to us, and not put them off with outbursts of temper. It's not all better yet, but we're making progress. We have a variety of problems here, and it helps with everyone.

I take my kids to the center that she runs. They have really helped my kids, my daughter gets one on one therapy three times a week and my son has social group and a one on one once a week....they even get the older Aspies involved with the social groups for the younger kids!

I want to thank everyone who's posted their book recommendations. I've just ordered four books from Half.com and can't wait to read them!

Temple Grandin's new book "The Way I See It" is excellent...like all her books!

I actually found a dictionary of figures of speech I'm going to pick up. I looked over the Index and it has lots of sayings that he isn't sure of.

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0439770 ... d_i=915398

Comes on amazon.com as well.

I found that you can just read forever about Aspergers/Autism. The only thing I've ever seen that can have a really fantastic effect on autistic kids or adults is The Son-Rise Program. I strongly recommend you look it up.

Hitchhiking Through Asperger's Syndrome, by Lisa Pyles
For a mother's point of view

Asperger's Syndrome and the Elementary School Experience, by Susan Thompson Moore
For helpful tips on classroom behavior and more

Speak Up and Get Along, by Scott Cooper
A great social skills book - my 11 year old loves it

Just Give Him the Whale" by Kluth

I would like to add the book:

Congratulations! Your Child Is Strange.

It is a free book, available for download at http://www.ASDstuff.com

It is a book designed to answer common questions that most parents have upon learning about autism. Basically, it is raising an autistic child 101.

It covers topics like:
What is autism
What causes it
What to do about it
How does an autistic person think
What causes the problems
How to deal with the problems
What to do about socializing
what to do about stimming
what treatment programs and medications are there and which ones should you get
should you tell your child that they are autistic
what long term plans should you have
and so forth.