Can you please help me to find a book to tell my child that he is autistic. He is 8

[danishkids]

My 8 year old has just been diagnosed with autism. He is a smart little boy. He already knows that he functions different to other kids (he has pointed it out a lot) but we have not told him that he has autism. I really want that when we tell him that it doesn’t make him feel bad or knock his confidence. We do want to tell him, we feel he needs to know as he is struggling with life and the challenges. We want him to understand that he is perfect the way he is.

Sorry for writing on Aibu. I know I am. But I just need to get this right. I don’t want to hurt him.

Do you have any recommendations of books explains what autism is or books explaining to Your child that they have autism.

Preferably a book that doesn’t focus on the negative (although of course there are challenges for him and it’s ok that he hears about that.

I have heard a few online book but they seem very negative. One said, kids with autism don’t have friends

If you have a recommendation let me know. Thanks

My daughter is 8 and she really loves the Sesame Street character who was introduced as autistic. She’s not autistic herself (as far as I know) but she’s fascinated by children who are different and spends a lot of time on YouTube watching things like Operation Ouch. She has an autistic cousin but I’m not super genned up on autism myself I’m afraid.

@danishkids

perhaps this?

www.amazon.co.uk/This-Me-who-meant-caregivers/dp/B097X5VRH4/ref=pd_lpo_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B097X5VRH4&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

There’s the program’Pablo’ on CBBC and accompanying books about an autistic boy that might help.

I have used "all cats are on the autistic spectrum" to help a 7 year old child explain her differences to the rest of the class (at parent of said child's request)

We used My Awesome Autism with our child and it comes from a strengths perspective.

@MrsT84

I have used "all cats are on the autistic spectrum" to help a 7 year old child explain her differences to the rest of the class (at parent of said child's request)

I know this book as 'All Cats have Aspergers Syndrome', I wonder if the title was changed due to many services dropping the term? It's a beautiful book. My ds (13) who is autistic, still loves this book. It also helps that he loves cats.

I don't have a book recommendation but we watched a newsround special called 'my autism and me' which is presented by Rosie. I think you'd be able to find it on YouTube and have a look to see if you think it might be a useful starting point for your son. My son identified with some of the children featured in the programme and it opened up a conversation.

My dd liked the amazing things happen YouTube video and we got the ice cream book but found it a bit young for her (she was 10 so might be right for your ds)

This one is nice

We got this one www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1575423855/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

My DS was also 8 when diagnosed. When he was going through diagnosis we had talked about how he sometimes has problems at school (that's what triggered the referral), and how the doctors were trying to find out if there was a reason why. So it wasn't a big leap to saying that he has a condition called autism which means his brain works a bit differently from other people.

You can point out that autistic people are often really good at focussing on things they are interested in, for instance. Here are some examples of common strengths of autistic people, more aimed at adults but might give you a few ideas for talking about it autismawarenesscentre.com/the-positives-of-autism/

How about The Reason I Jump?

www.waterstones.com/book/the-reason-i-jump-one-boys-voice-from-the-silence-of-autism/naoki-higashida/david-mitchell/9781444776775

We love the autism book from the abilities in me series. Also the beach is loud. I love the my autism and me programme. One of the children on there is just like my ds2 (the boy who said he was fine and it was everyone else who had a problem). I haven't heard of the cats one. I might have to get that one as my son has autism and loves cats.

@42isthemeaning they'll have changed it to align with the DSM-V - they don't give Asperger's as a diagnosis any more - diagnosis is now ASD for all (cue long debate about whether that's useful or not!)

I've got the speech delay book from this series and it's fab, so this one could be good to try

The abilities in me: Autism www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1095358227/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_GR2BA17XDHQXARZACK78?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

[[https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Autism-Book-Spectrum-Diagnosis/dp/184905438X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1645735848&refinements=p_27%3AGloria+Dura-Vila&sr=1-1 My Autism Book: A Child's Guide to their Autism Spectrum Diagnosis by
by Glòria Durà-Vilà]]

Thank you so much for all
Of your replies. Some of the books look great and the seseme street is really sweet :)