Bath and North East Somerset Libraries

Ages 0-5

In Classroom Six, second left down the hall, Henry has been on the lookout for a friend. A friend who shares. A friend who listens. Maybe even a friend who likes things to stay the same and all in order, as Henry does. But on a day full of too close and too loud, when nothing seems to go right, will Henry ever find a friend – or will a friend find him? With insight and warmth, this heartfelt story from the perspective of a boy on the autism spectrum celebrates the everyday magic of friendship.

Ages 0-5

Pablo’s mum takes him to his cousin Lorna’s birthday party, but Pablo gets scared of the noisy party! Pablo hides in the car, and soon his friends come to join him. Pablo’s friends help him realise that it’s OK if he doesn’t want to go to the party. All ‘Pablo’ books are written by writers on the autistic spectrum and are grounded in the real-life experiences of autistic children.

Ages 0-5

Jack and Bear are the best of friends. Jack loves Bear because he makes him feel brave. But one day Bear disappears and Jack suddenly feels all alone with a big Bear-shaped hole in his heart. Word soon gets around that Bear is missing and Jack starts to receive kind messages from strangers all over the world. Then the toy bears start to arrive. Though the bears start to heal Jack’s sadness, none of them are Jack’s bear. Perhaps there is something Jack can do with them to help the other people with bear-shaped holes.

Ages 0-5

Sometimes we feel brave as a lion or shy like a mouse, and the zoo inside our heads reflects how we behave on the outside. You can’t see it, but this little boy is part mischievous monkey, part curious llama, and part chameleon, hiding from the world. Sometimes it feels like there’s not enough room for our jumbling feelings, but the zoo inside all of us makes us who we are – reaching out to the world from the part you can’t see.

Ages 0-5

A beautifully illustrated tale that shows no matter how small you feel, your actions can help make big changes.

Ages 0-5

The world was too bright for Leo. And too loud. ‘I must be living on the wrong planet,’ Leo thought. Leo struggles to make sense of the world. He doesn’t understand the other children in his class, and they don’t seem to understand him. But then one day, Leo meets Maya. Maya is an octopus, and the more Leo learns about her, the more he thinks that perhaps he isn’t alone in this world, after all.

Ages 0-5

Meesha loves making things. But there’s one thing she finds difficult to do – make friends. She doesn’t know quite what to do, what to say or when to say it, and she struggles reading and responding to social cues. But one day she discovers that she has a special talent that will help her to navigate challenging social situations and help her to make friends.

Ages 0-5

‘Best Buddies’ introduces a boy-and-dog duo who are best friends and who do everything together! So how will they manage being apart when the boy heads to school for the first time? Find out how a clever boy with Down’s syndrome and his loyal pet find the perfect way to feel close even when they can’t be together.

Ages 0-5

This title introduces readers to neurodiversity, through a year in the life of lovable school dog, Dexter. Scenarios like the first day of term, outdoor learning, and the school play can affect children in different ways, but Dexter has a way of naturally helping all the diverse children he meets, making them feel calm and happy.

Ages 0-5

When Abigail can’t concentrate in class, she gets bored and does naughty things! Abigail is sent to the cooling down room. Then she has a music class. She can’t make any of the instruments work! Just when things are about to go wrong again, the teacher discovers exactly what to do to engage this little girl, and Abigail ends up finding a special voice of her very own.

Ages 0-5

The autistic sister in this sibling pair is non verbal, but she finds plenty of ways to communicate and have fun with her brother. Although she can’t talk, this little girl understands everything, and has plenty to say, and lots of ideas. Through body language, drawing pictures, making gestures or using flash cards, she is able to contribute to their life together. Her brother and granny are able to understand her whether she needs help or is helping them!

Ages 0-5

Pablo’s friends meet their families at the zoo – but Noasaurus the dinosaur can’t find his family. Pablo and the book animals help Noasaurus realise even though he might feel lost, family is where you find it. All Pablo books are written by writers on the autistic spectrum and are grounded in the real-life experiences of autistic children. These books help all children understand the world and face the world with confidence.

Ages 0-5

Ava wears a different coloured dress for each type of day – red dress for hot days, a purple dress for rainy days and a blue dress for cold days. One whistling, whirly, windy morning, Ava and her puppy want to go out and play. But Ava’s favourite coloured dress was missing. Will Ava’s mother find something for her to wear on her yellow dress day?

Ages 0-5

Diesel is given an urgent job to do, but Bruno, the new brake car, wants him to slow down and be careful. Diesel doesn’t see things the way Bruno does, and he races straight into a rockslide. Can the pair work together to get back on track?

Ages 0-5

Meet George, a little boy who wants to tell you all about himself. You see, like lots of people in the world, George has Down syndrome and he knows it doesn’t define him – as it’s just one of the many things that make George wonderful.

Ages 9+

Darby loves summer on her family’s strawberry farm – but is the weather about to turn? Darby’s favourite things are listening to music – preferably The Beatles – picking strawberries on the farm and spending time with her big sister. She is looking forward to doing all three over the long weekend, but when Kaydee has a friend to stay and the sunshine disappears, everything gets turned on its head. When the storm clears, will Darby find everything is back to normal, and what is ‘normal’ anyway?

Ages 6+

A tragic bush fire sparks a beautiful friendship between a young girl and a baby koala. Ruby is dreading changing schools as her autism makes it hard to befriend other kids. But when her dog finds a baby koala and her family agrees to foster it, Ruby quickly becomes the koala’s best friend. Ruby loves quiet and routine, which makes her a perfect koala carer! A talented artist, she names the koala Pablo – after her favourite artist. Through looking after Pablo, Ruby befriends a neighbouring girl who loves painting as much as she does. Soon Pablo is well enough to move to a koala kindergarten. But is Ruby ready to move to her own new school?

Ages 9+

Set in Edinburgh, Ramya discovers she can see through magical disguises, and has her eyes opened to an underground world of magical creatures. Armed with her late grandfather’s notebooks, she sets out to discover more and comes up against the mysterious and deadly Sirens.

Ages 9+

Equal parts thrilling and heart-warming, this fantastical title follows Ramya as she seeks to rescue her beloved Edinburgh from the deadly grip of the Sirens.

Ages 5+

Meet Harper the Confidence Fairy, the first fairy with Down’s syndrome, who helps people to find and grow their inner confidence. Harper helps people to feel confident with the help of her three magical objects and her Confidence Lab. But when Jack Frost breaks her trust and steals her magical objects, everyone is filled with self doubt. Can Rachel and Kirsty help Harper to get her magical objects back and restore everyone’s confidence?

Ages 6+

Charlotte Holmes notices her surroundings more than other people. She has a sharp eye and a quick mind. When a school laptop goes missing, can Charlotte and her best friend, Jovanna, solve the crime before the police get involved?

Ages 9+

Billy is an eleven-year-old boy with a big dream. He wants to be a stand-up comedian when he grows up: delivering pinpoint punch-lines and having audiences hang on his every hilarious word. A tough career for anyone, but surely impossible for Billy, who has a stammer. How will he find his voice, if his voice won’t let him speak?

Ages 9+

Billy Plimpton took to the stage and captivated the crowd at the triumphant ending to ‘The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh’, and in the sequel, he’s going to go viral. Celebrity comedian Leo Leggett takes Billy under his wing, as his new sidekick: when Leo tweets a clip of his stand-up act, Billy suddenly becomes the most famous boy in the country. At first, this is GREAT – all the kids at school think he’s cool and he gets to appear on his favourite morning TV show. But Leo’s motives turn out to be shady and Billy must turn the tables in a very public way.

Ages 9+

Tally is autistic and proud. She used to try to hide her autism, but now she is determined to make sure people see who she really is. At school camp, Tally is thrown into the company of bully Skye. Skye is far from Tally’s ideal friend, but spending a week alone is so much worse! As Skye’s hurt and lies spread, does Tally’s silence make her as bad as the bully? And is she missing out on real friendship by ignoring her own true feelings?

Ages 9+

Lou Montgomery has the voice of an angel, or so her mother tells her and anyone else who will listen. But Lou can only hear the fear in her own voice. She’s never liked crowds or loud noises or even high fives; in fact, she’s terrified of them, which makes her pretty sure there’s something wrong with her. When Lou crashes their pickup on a dark and snowy road, child services separate the mother-daughter duo. Now she has to start all over again at a fancy private school far away from anything she’s ever known. With help from an outgoing new friend, her aunt and uncle, and the school counselor, she begins to see things differently.

Ages 9+

When Ted and Kat watched their cousin Salim get on board the London Eye, he turned and waved before getting on. But after half an hour it landed and everyone trooped off – but no Salim. Where could he have gone? How on earth could he have disappeared into thin air?

Ages 9+

For Daniel Margate, life is muddled because everything moves: letters, numbers, even classrooms sometimes. Daniel is dyslexic and most of the time, school just doesn’t make sense. He’s in the bottom reading group at school, with other kids who are trying to make sense of it all. But when a mystery horse gallops into their lives one stormy evening, it changes everything. Desperate to keep him safe they form the Secret Horse Society and vow to protect this amazing creature. Inspired by stories of the great racehorse Seabiscuit, they name him Jammie Dodger and find that when they work together, nothing seems impossible. Even the Big Read Off at school. They just need to keep their new horse friend a secret. How hard can it be to hide a horse, anyway?

Ages 7+

Alex’s best friend is Kevin the cockapoo, although what he wants most of all is a friend at school. Everything is changing for 11-year-old Alex and, as an autistic person, change can be terrifying. With the first day of high school only a couple of months away, Alex is sure that having a friend by his side will help. So, he’s devised a plan – impress the kids at school by winning a trophy at the PAWS Dog Show with his trusty sidekick, Kevin. This should be a walk in the park, right?

Ages 8+

What if you could talk to animals? Alice Tonks desperately wants to make friends at boarding school but, being autistic, she’s always found it hard to fit in. Then she discovers she is a ‘switcher’ and can talk to animals. As she starts to explore her newfound abilities, to her horror she learns that creatures are going missing. Only Alice holds the key to solving the mystery and finding the culprit, but she’ll need to harness her full powers first. And to do that she’ll need a bit of help from her new friends – both human and animal.

Ages 9+

Ten-year-old Daniel is never happier than when he is eating chips. Especially during his family’s annual Chip Shop Championships, the highlight of his year. And especially when he can also eat chips with Monkey, his beloved soft toy and trusty companion. But one terrible November day, the lives of Daniel and his family are changed forever when an accident renders Daniel a shadow of his former self. As Daniel retreats into himself, his family slowly begin to fall apart, without this bright boy at the heart of their lives. When an impromptu trip to a chip shop seems to briefly engage Daniel with the real world, the family decide to revisit their Chip Shop Championships, on a quest to find the best chip shop in the country.

Ages 9+

‘A Kind of Spark’ tells the story of 11-year-old Addie as she campaigns for a memorial in memory of the witch trials that took place in her Scottish hometown. Addie knows there’s more to the story of these ‘witches’, just like there is more to hers. Can Addie challenge how the people in her town see her, and her autism, and make her voice heard?

Ages 9+

When Cora’s brother drags her along to his boss’s house, she doesn’t expect to strike up a friendship with Adrien, son of the intimidating CEO of the Pomegranate Institute. As she becomes part of Adrien’s life, she is also drawn into the mysterious projects at Pomegranate. At first, she’s intrigued by them – Pomegranate is using AI to recreate real people in hologram form. As she digs deeper, however, she uncovers darker secrets. Cora knows she must unravel their plans, but can she fight to make her voice heard, whilst never losing sight of herself?

Ages 10+

Year 9 can be tough for everyone, but for Tally it feels even tougher. Make-up, boys, social media, GCSE prep – why is everything starting to feel so different? Tally has always known that being autistic means some things are harder for her than other people. But becoming a teenager has left Tally feeling like she has no idea who she is anymore.

Ages 9+

Ten-year-old Tally had high hopes for Year 6. Being in the top class at school means a whole host of privileges, but even better than that is the school production – and Tally is convinced she’ll win the lead role. But at home, things aren’t going so well. Mum and Dad have been making Tally feel pressured and upset, and Tally wishes things didn’t bother her so much – but they do, and sometimes she feels so misunderstood and frustrated, she could explode. Then Tally’s mum and dad tell her about something she’s never heard about before. Something called autism. And everything changes.

Ages 9+

Cat Sparrow is on the road. She’s following her sister, Meg, who was torn from their convent home and sent to London. But Cat isn’t like other people – she thinks differently – and for a girl like her the world holds many perils. Luckily she befriends a young actor, Jacques, and together they follow Meg’s trail to a wondrous place called the Field of Cloth of Gold. But here, they discover that the kingdoms of England and France are both in terrible danger.

Ages 8+

A witty, suspenseful and inventive debut that asks what makes a person a friend and a house a home. Sam and Asha. Asha and Sam. Their friendship is so long established, they take it for granted. Just as Asha takes for granted that Donnybrooke, the mansion that sits on the highest hill in Coreville, is the best house in town. But when Sam is accepted into snobbish Castleton Academy as an autistic ‘Miracle Boy’, he leaves Asha, who is also autistic, to navigate middle school alone. He also leaves her wondering if she can take anything for granted any more. Because soon Sam is spending time with Prestyn, Asha’s nemesis, whose family owns Donnybrooke and have forbidden Asha to set foot inside. But when it becomes clear that Prestyn’s interest in Sam is less than friendly, will Asha be able to find it in herself to help her former friend?

Ages 6+

Jack forms a bond with a puppy at the local animal shelter by reading to her. But when another family want to adopt Daisy, Jack worries he’s going to lose his friend forever.

Ages 10+

Jamie just wants to be normal, but his ADHD doesn’t make it easy. Elin just wants to be perfect, so that her dad will come back to live with her. When their two families blend, sparks fly. But perhaps there’s no such thing as normal after all.

Ages 7+

Hank Zipzer wants to be number one, not the one who always gets it wrong. When Hank Zipzer’s class gets to spend a night on a replica of a tall-masted sailing ship, Hank is psyched! Then he learns that he’s going to be Captain’s Assistant – and the best school trip ever quickly turns into the worst one.

Ages 5+

Kids will be able to say ‘I can do that!’ after reading this value-packed resource dedicated to learning independent life skills. Young readers can learn how to lace up their shoes, put on a sweater, go to the toilet, peel fruit, count to 100, and brush their teeth. Step by step instructions sit alongside more than 700 fun and helpful photos and illustrations to help children practise and learn.

Ages 7+

Jon Roberts relates the real-life experiences of children with a variety of differences through their own words in this gently-told but immensely informative picture book.

Ages 9+

The world is full of people who are a little different in one way or another. Our uniqueness is what makes us stand out and makes us who we are. You can never judge someone on something you can not see or even on the things you can see. We are all special. We are all unique. We are all ‘different; not less’. A collection of true stories about inspiring people and famous figures from around the world, all with something that makes them physically or neurologically diverse. Reflective of our diverse society, this anthology features figures including Simone Biles, Selena Gomez, Temple Grandin, Warwick Davies, Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Hawking and Greta Thunberg.

Ages 8+

Meet Greta Thunberg, the clever and resourceful climate activist who started a solo school strike, aged just 15, and inspired millions of young people to join her.

Ages 6+

Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers. When his teacher asks each child in the class to write a story, Aaron can’t get a single word down. He is sure his dream of being a storyteller is out of reach – until inspiration strikes, and Aaron finds a way to spin a tale in a way that is uniquely his. Follow Iggy Peck, Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, Sofia Valdez, and Aaron Slater on all of their adventures!

Ages 14+

‘Adora and the Distance’ is a YA fantasy graphic novel following the adventures of Adora, a brave young woman of color who lives in a fantastical world with underground pirates, ghosts, and a mysterious force called ‘The Distance’ which threatens to destroy it all. Now only Adora can stop it.

Ages 15+

Yan Harris is VERY EXCITED. After seventeen years in a sleepy village where everybody knows her as The Chinese One and her best friend Chelsea as The Brainy One, it’s time for a trip to London. Time for Yan to scope out art colleges, see the sights, go clubbing, get off with random people, kick scumbags in the shins, shoplift and run around literally screaming. It’s all good summer fun. Isn’t it? While Chelsea’s distracted by the fascinating Ras and war in the online Nordhelm fandom, Yan is beginning to develop hypomania, the ‘up’ side of bipolar – a disorder she doesn’t yet know she has. In the desperate battle of Yan vs. bipolar, does the poor disease really stand a chance?

Heroine is a transgender girl who has bipolar disorder and mental health issues – Ages 15+

Alice lives in a world of stifling privilege and luxury – but none of it means anything when your own head plays tricks on your reality. When her troubled friend Bunny goes missing, Alice becomes obsessed with finding her. On the trail of her last movements, Alice discovers a mysterious invitation to ‘Wonderland’: the party to end all parties – three days of hedonistic excess to which only the elite are welcome. Will she find Bunny there? Or is this really a case of finding herself? Because Alice has secrets of her own, and ruthless socialite queen Paisley Hart is determined to uncover them, whatever it takes. Alice is all alone, miles from home and without her essential medication. She can trust no-one, least of all herself, and now she has a new enemy who wants her head.

Deals with issues of dyslexia/changing family dynamics – Ages 15+

Ryan didn’t want a new mum, let alone a new brother! But when his parents split up and his dad moves in with Naomi, she comes with Tommy – one year older, chucked out of his old school and now joining Ryan’s class. Suddenly sharing a home and a classroom with a complete stranger is a bit much. Flung together, the two boys clash, but gradually realise that they are more similar than they thought.

Ages 15+

Phoebe is autistic. She prefers to stay in her comfort zone: walking her dog, writing fantasy fiction, surviving school with as few incidents as possible. When her best (and only) friend rebels and gets a secret boyfriend, Phoebe reluctantly agrees to cover for her. Before long, Phoebe’s dealing with all sorts of things she’d rather not, like deception, fashionable jackets, and the bewildering politics of the school chess club. Breaking the rules has never been Phoebe’s thing, but as events take a seriously unexpected turn, she realises there’s more to her than she ever imagined.

Ages 15+

13-year-old Anna has Asperger’s. When her father dies she moves to Scotland to face her reclusive mother, her past, and the challenges of a new life in this life-affirming debut.

A great insight into living with Bi-polar disorder – Ages 15+

Flora ‘doesn’t do people’ since the incident that led to her being diagnosed with bipolar II. Until Hal arrives. He’s researching a missing World War I soldier and wants Flora’s help. Working with Hal is Flora’s worst nightmare, yet as they piece together the soldier’s life of lost love and secrets, Flora finds a piece of herself falling for Hal.

Touching story with well handled themes of mental wellbeing and recovery from being victims of crime

Sam Sylvester has long collected stories of half-lived lives – of kids who died before they turned nineteen. Sam was almost one of those kids. Now, as Sam’s own nineteenth birthday approaches, their recent near-death experience haunts them. They’re certain they don’t have much time left. But Sam’s life seems to be on the upswing after meeting several new friends and a potential love interest in Shep, their next-door neighbour. Yet the past keeps roaring back – in Sam’s memories and in the form of a thirty-year-old suspicious death that took place in Sam’s new home. Sam can’t resist trying to find out more about the kid who died and who now seems to guide their investigation. When Sam starts receiving threatening notes, they know they’re on the path to uncovering a murderer. But are they digging through the past or digging their own future grave?

Agnes, Hattie and Jake travel on the school bus together, but don’t know each other well. They plan a week in Weston, as a ‘study break’ before exams, but none of them admit the real reasons they need to get away.

Realistically reflects the concerns and challenges of Autism and friendship in teens and general mental stress

Ed is excited. He’s finally landed his dream job as a bookseller at Woolf and Wilde, the beautiful independent bookshop in town. But Ed soon discovers that working life in the bookshop is very different to being a customer – the hours of shelving books, logging ISBNs and dealing with customers is overwhelming. So Ed does what Ed does best – smiles enthusiastically, fist pumps the air, and pretends that everything is totally under control. He just hadn’t bargained on his new colleague, Hannah, seeing through his façade. Then Ed discovers that his mum is dating for the first time since splitting up with his dad. He decides to distract himself by being the best bookseller Woolf and Wilde has ever seen, but now Ed’s confusing feelings for Hannah are getting in the way.

Tackles a wide range of issues, notably dyslexia and self-belief, in a challenging, thoughtful way – Ages 15+

Sophie Ha and Xavier Yeh have what some would call a tumultuous past. Hearts were broken, revenge was plotted – but at least they’re friends now. They left the drama behind them back in Taipei – at their summer program, Loveboat – forever. Now that fall is here, they’re focusing on what really matters. Sophie has sworn off boys and is determined to be the best student Dartmouth’s ever had. Xavier just wants to stay under his overbearing father’s radar, collect his trust fund when he turns eighteen, and concentrate on what makes him happy. But the world doesn’t seem to want Sophie and Xavier to succeed. Sophie’s college professor thinks her first major project is ‘too feminine.’ Xavier’s father gives him an ultimatum: finish high school or be cut off from his inheritance. Then Sophie and Xavier find themselves on a wild, nonstop Loveboat reunion, hatching a joint plan to take control of their futures.

Moving realistic tale of bereavement & dealing with a sibling with autism

Liv takes us on a journey through her life from “Thirteen Weeks Before” to “Six Months After”. We discover Liv’s passion for photography, her brother’s obsession with sticking to the rules, the stupidity of Moronic Louise at school, and how the family copes as Mum’s terminal illness takes hold…

Liv takes us on a journey through her life from ‘thirteen weeks before’ to ‘six months after’. We discover Liv’s passion for photography, her brother’s obsession with sticking to the rules, the stupidity of Moronic Louise at school, and how the family copes as Mum’s terminal illness takes hold. Guided by Mum’s own childhood diaries, Liv finds a new way to live.