Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book

Such a great book to help any kiddo understand the differences of someone on the spectrum

I'm a speech language pathologist and wanting to read some books to my students for Autism Acceptance/Awareness Month. This book is a good introduction to neurotypical kids about what autism may look like in a peer, and overall it's pretty positive from the point of view of Matt's neurotypical friend. I'd say this book is more focused on awareness than acceptance. I do think it paints ASD in a more "normal" light than many books out there, and focuses on inclusion. In the story, the friend gives examples of things that Matt (the child with ASD) struggles with and then follows up with how the narrator helps him continue on with the activity. I'm just crossing my fingers to find a book out there with this same idea but from the point of view of the child with autism!

I really like this book. it's about a boy who is autistic and how his friend adapts to some of the quirks autistic children sometimes exhibit. and how it's ok. I bought it so that my son's teacher could read it to his kindergarten class. because they're in kindergarten i didn't want the word "AUTISM" to turn into something demeaning, (so, although it is well written and I like the idea behind it), I took the liberty of applying some low-tack tape to cover some words and lines that I thought might give children ideas on how to single out, make fun of or choose to marginalize my son or other children who just didn't fit the typical child frame. not taking anything away from the author, but I think it worked out well. I would still recommend this book and leave it up to parents to decide how they want to present it.

I bought this book with the hope that the children in my son's class would have a small understanding of why he was different. It has helped them in a simple way to accept that he is different and that his behaviour is not because he doesn't like them. They accept the way he acts and in fact tell other children at school to accept him because his 'brain' is different. One child thought my son was bullying him because of the way he spoke to the child in the playground. In fact this particular child didn't want to come to school anymore because of my son. When I asked my sons teacher to let the mother of that child take the book home, the child understood that my son wasn't bullying him but was different and they are now friends. My son was trying in his way to make friends but the other boy didn't understand. Thank you so much for putting a child with Autisim's difficulties in such a lovely book. It has helped my son be accepted for who he is in his school.

My son made a friend this year and him trying to understand that someone else’s brain functions differently is hard. He doesn’t cate honestly but then there’s time that it makes sense. So we got this to help. He was constantly going that’s like me and David!!!! So is a wonderful book!!

I am not a fan of most books about autism on the market these days but my librarian mother suggested I get this book. I got two. One for the school library and one for home to lend to the families of school friends.Although this is written from the perspective of a friend and that friends name is never identified, the other character with autism is. I believe it’s positive and practical and a great tool for both my children to learn how to be solution oriented when a friend is doing something they don’t understand or they find annoying. It creates understanding, and tools for kids to use to think out of the box! I highly recommend this book!

Interesting for children. I like the fact that it emphasized having patience when the friend had a tantrum. I wish, however, that it would have also said that the first child would have said to his friend, once he had calmed down and they were alone, that he needed to find another way to let out his frustration. Even Temple Grandin stated that she needed to learn to cry rather than tantruming. The first child could have reminded his friend to cry instead of tantruming.

I have been looking for a good book to explain Autism. I like this book because it explains it in a very relatable way. It worked well for us because the little boy in the story seems to be pretty high functioning and it related well to our situation. It is not perfect, but it was the best I have found for our situation. The kids seem to enjoy reading it also.

This is a good little book for friends or siblings. My youngest doesn't quite understand yet so I am still on the search for something. I will use this as resource when he is older.

Really nice book to use with children to help with their understanding.

Lovely book with lovely illustrations but don't think it very realistic .

It explains autism as well as explains how to be a friend to autistic children. It also shows that autistic kids and NT kids have similar interests. They both like animals but the ASD child LOVES animals. the NT child helps diffuse situations that make the ASD child anxious. The ASD child is a real friend (as opposed to a "pity friend") to the NT child. It's because they're friends that the NT child helps out the ASD child, not just because the child has ASD.

this is a great book to put in a class room and for family and friends to read if they know someone with autism