Autism Asperger Publishing Company specializes in books and multi-media on autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  It has published several picture books including All About My Brother (2002) by Sarah Peralta, the 8-year-old sister of a 7-year-old boy with Autism (today they are 18 and 17), Oliver Onion (2004) about an onion who wants to be an orange but eventually learns to accept and appreciate himself as an onion, and A is for Autism F is for Friend (2007), a firsthand account of what it's like to try to fit in when you have autism. These books can be used in families, classrooms, therapy groups and many other places and contexts. Check out the website:
http://www.aapcpublishing.net/

Another great resource is Future Horizons Inc., a company and website specializing in products that educate about Autism.  It also offers several picture books on the topic of autism for use in classrooms or families. One of my favorites is Sometimes My Brother by Angie Healy (2005). Here is the website:  http://store.fhautism.com/c-187-Childrens-Books.aspx

Book #8 Since We're Friends

While this book is an enjoyable read and valuable because it shows the power
of friendship, it falls short with regard to some of the standards for good literature
that portrays characters with disabilities (see second table below).

	Related Information	Comments
Name of Book:	Since We’re Friends An Autism Picture Book	Foreward by Alison Singer, Executive V.P. Autism Speaks
Authors	Celeste Shally
Illustrator	David Harrington
Publisher	First published by Awaken Specialty Press, 2007 Skyhorse Publishing (Sky Pony Press); 2012	http://www. skyponypress .com/book/?GCOI=6160 8108980900
Year of Pub:	2012
ISBN:     (ISBN-13)	9781616086565
Age range	4-10
Type of Disability	Autism
Fiction or Nonfiction	Fiction
Category:  B A) books that provide factual information about a disability B) books that provide information about a disability in a story format in which the character with a disability is integral to the plot C) books that provide stories that have a character with a disability who may or may not be integral to the storyline and who has been added to the story to achieve diversity and reflect reality D) books that include a main character with a disability, but the focus of the book is not necessarily the disability
Annotation:  The narrator is a good friend of Matt, who has autism. The two boys do everything together. When Matt has trouble understanding the coach’s directions, the narrator shows him what to do. When Matt wants to talk about animals all the time, the narrator is happy to do so. When Matt gets frustrated because other kids take his toys at the pool, the narrator figures out a way for all the boys to play together. When Matt is very disappointed because the pool is closed for repairs, the narrator invites Matt to run through the sprinkler at his house. The narrator shows understanding, empathy, and maturity.  He wants Matt to feel good (since they’re friends) and goes out of his way to make sure Matt is included, calm, and happy.
Link to publisher:	http://www. skyponypress .com/book/?GCOI=6160 8108980900
Links to professional reviews:	School Library Journal: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/since-were-friends-celeste-shally/1110930656 (scroll down to ‘Editorial Reviews’)

                       

Standards for Quality Portrayal of Characters with a disability		Comments
1. Promotes empathy not pity	Yes
2. Promotes acceptance, not ridicule	Yes
3. Emphasizes success rather than, or in addition to failure	Yes	“Matt is good at scoring, and I’m good at dribbling and passing.”
4. Promotes positive images of persons with disabilities or illness	Yes	Shows Matt having fun and smiling and also portrays Matt’s difficulties and frustration.
5. Assists children in gaining accurate understanding of the disability or illness	Sometimes	Provides concrete examples of Matt’s behavior and emotions that are attributable to his autism; however some of the examples are too simplified.
6. Demonstrates respect for persons with disabilities or illness	Yes
7. Promotes attitude of “one of us” not “one of them.”	Yes and No	Yet since Matt is the only character with a disability in this book, there is a clear impression that he is “different.”
8. Uses people-first language	Yes
9. Describes the disability or person with disabilities or illness as realistic (not subhuman or superhuman)	Yes
10. Depicts people with disabilities as more similar to than different from other people	Yes
11. Shows peoples’ strengths and abilities along with their disabilities	Yes	.
12. Represents characters as strong, independent people who others can admire or learn from	No	No examples in this book of how other children admire or learn from Matt.
13. Represents people with disabilities from different racial and cultural backgrounds, religions, age groups, and sexual orientations	Yes	Matt is African American. Narrator is white.
14. Shows people with disabilities in integrated settings and activities	Yes
15. Shows people with disabilities in valued occupations and diverse roles.	N.A.
16. Shows people with disabilities in reciprocal relationships	Reciprocal but nevertheless, slightly unbalanced	The boys are good friends, which is emphasized on every page. However, the reader gets the impression that the narrator “takes care” of his friend Matt who has autism.
17. Main character develops and grows emotionally as a result of what happens in the story	No	Matt does not develop or grow emotionally over the course of the story. He is portrayed as a child who needs a good friend like the narrator but cannot be an exact equal partner in the friendship. Due to his autism, Matt is needier and less emotionally regulated.

Book #7 Zoom!

	Related Information	Comments
Name of Book:	Zoom	Very funny; chaotic family; far-out action
Author	Robert Munsch	http://robertmunsch.com/about
Illustrator	Michael Martchenko
Publisher	Scholastic Canada Ltd.
Year of Pub:	2003
ISBN:     (ISBN-13)	978-0439187749
Age range	3-9
Type of Disability	Unspecified	Not important to story
Fiction or Nonfiction	Fiction
Category:  D A) books that provide factual information about a disability B) books that provide information about a disability in a story format in which the character with a disability is integral to the plot C) books that provide stories that have a character with a disability who may or may not be integral to the storyline and who has been added to the story to achieve diversity and reflect reality D) books that include a main character with a disability but whose focus is not necessarily the disability
Annotation: Main character would like a faster wheelchair. She and mom go to pick one out from the wheelchair store. She speeds around in it and has a grand time but becomes bored and wants an even faster wheelchair. She gets one, and when her older brother cuts his finger, she straps him on her lap and speeds out the door to the hospital. She gets stopped for speeding but explains the situation to the police officer, who then provides an escort the rest of the way. Main character enjoys her heroine status and gets rewarded with . . . the newest, fastest, spiffiest wheelchair for sale. Illustrations are cartoon-like and add to the humor. Very fun!
Link to publisher:	http://www.scholastic.com
Links to professional reviews:	http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-Robert-Munsch/dp/0439187745  Scroll down for reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist; www.edutainingkids.com/reviews/bkzoom.html
Awards:	Please comment if you know of an award this book has received.

Standards for Quality Portrayal of Characters with a disability		Comments
1. Promotes empathy not pity	Neither	Readers identify with main character.
2. Promotes acceptance, not ridicule	Yes
3. Emphasizes success rather than, or in addition to failure	Yes	Main character saves the day.
4. Promotes positive images of persons with disabilities or illness	Yes	Humor makes the character.
5. Assists children in gaining accurate understanding of the disability or illness	No	The nature of the disability is not relevant in this story.
6. Demonstrates respect for persons with disabilities or illness	Yes
7. Promotes attitude of “one of us” not “one of them.”	Yes
8. Uses people-first language	Yes
9. Describes the disability or person with disabilities or illness as realistic (not subhuman or superhuman)	No
10. Depicts people with disabilities as more similar to than different from other people	Yes	Character wants speed and adventure.
11. Shows peoples’ strengths and abilities along with their disabilities	Yes
12. Represents characters as strong, independent people who others can admire or learn from	Yes	Character knows what she wants and how to get it. She is also savvy and creative.
13. Represents people with disabilities from different racial and cultural backgrounds, religions, age groups, and sexual orientations	No	Characters are white
14. Shows people with disabilities in integrated settings and activities	Yes
15. Shows people with disabilities in valued occupations and diverse roles.	Yes
16. Shows people with disabilities in reciprocal relationships	Yes
17. Main character develops and grows emotionally as a result of what happens in the story	Somewhat	Main character develops in that her ambitions for her wheelchair keep getting bigger.