Suggested Reading List
The following is a list of categories offered on this page.
The list is extensive and always being added to.
Please scroll down to the Category Title to find the Reading List for each.
1. Autism Spectrum Disorders
2. General ASD Resources
3. Behavior
4. Communication
5. Parenting/Special Needs Parenting
6. Sensory Processing/Regulation
7. Visual/Motor
8. Emotional Development
9. Books for Children
10. Classroom-Oriented
1. Autism Spectrum Disorders
Engaging Autism-Greenspan & Wieder. D Capo Lifelong Books
This book focuses on “Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think.” It is a critical tool for anyone working with children on the autistic spectrum.
The ICDL Clinical Guidelines-This is the Individual Relationship-based Intervention(DIR) handbook. A collaboration of authors have provided a comprehensive information guide to the variety of disciplines used by DIR. In addition to a full overview of the DIR model (with essential charts and diagrams) written by Drs. Greenspan and Wieder, this book contains complimenting chapters by occupational therapists, speech therapists neurologists, etc.. This book should serve as the framework for DIR intervention programs. www.icdl.com
The Child with Special Needs-Greenspan & Wieder. Addison Wesley
An eloquent understanding of the DIR approach for parents and professionals. This book elaborates on the theory outlined in the ICDL Guidelines to provide a deeper understanding.
The Growth of the Mind: And the Endangered Origins of Intelligence-Stanley I. Greenspan. Perseus Books
Dr. Greenspan thoroughly explores a child’s stages of development and how this in jeopardy in today’s world!
The Affect-based language Curriculum by Stanley Greenspan and Diane Lewis available on www.icdl.com. This is a invaluable resource of goals to help assess a child’s developmental needs and design a treatment program based on DIR.
Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child - by Ricki G. Robinson. For twenty years Dr. Ricki Robinson has been providing hope and help for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Her integrative, strengths-based approach to treatment includes a thorough evaluation of your child's medical, developmental, social, emotional, behavioral and educational issues to find the solutions that maximize your child's health and well-being. Autism Solutions gives parents a greater understanding of their child's unique learning, sensory and medical profile. Recognizing that no parent can do this alone, Dr. Robinson explains how to establish a team of professionals who can work with the child to give him or her the opportunity to live well, learn, interact and thrive.
2. General ASD Resources
Autism and the Myth of the Person Alone by Douglas Biklen (NY University Press) This is a collection of essays by autistic people with some interesting reflections on autism treatment experiences, research and presumed competence of autistic people
Autism: An Inside-Out Approach-Donna Williams
Autism and Sensing: The Unlost Instinct-Donna Williams
Children with Autism: A Parent's Guide by Michael D. Powers
There is a Boy in Here-Sean and Judy Barron…A MUST READ!!!
This book illustrates a boy’s life with autism. It goes through many experiences of his life first from his mother’s perception and then from his. Sean gives logical explanations to many seemingly odd behaviors that we often observe in people with autism.
Through the Eyes of Aliens: A Book About Autistic People-Jasmine Lee O’Neill
A Five is Against the Law! Social Boundaries: Straight Up! A honest guide for teens and young adults by Kari Dunn Buron
An Exact Mind- An Exact Artist with Asperger Syndrome by Peter Myers
Born on a Blue Day Daniel Tammet
Do-Watch-Listen-Say: Social and Communication Intervention for Children with Autism-Kathleen Ann Quill
"Navigating the Social World: A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Related Disorders"-Jeannie McAfee
Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum A Practical Resource of Play Ideas for Parents and Carers by Julia Moor
Teaching Children with Autism to Mind Read-Howil, Baron-Cohen & Hadwin. John Wiley & Sons
Exercises from this book should be used to teach theory-of-mind
Teaching the Tiger-Dornbush & Pruitt. Hope Press. Strategies from this book should be used to modify classroom instruction and improve socialization. This manual provides a wealth of visual supports for the school-age child including a description of the “strategy book” used for many children in the Celebrate the Children program.
Understanding Other Minds: Perspectives from Autism-Baron-Cohen, Tager-Flusberg, Cohen. Oxford Medical Publications. This is a research-based collection of articles on Theory-of-Mind.
3. Behavior
Fresh Approaches to Working with Children with Problematic Behavior-Adele M. Brodkin, Ph. D.. Scholastic. This is a wonderful book about setting a positive classroom environment and supporting the needs of children who have difficulty with behavior. I really like this book because it emphasizes respect and understanding of children’s individual differences and needs. It is a must read for teachers who have children with special needs in their classroom.
Children the Challenge- Rudolph Dreikurs, M.D. Plume www.penguinputnam.com
This is the most comprehensive behavioral book for parents(also recommended for professionals) on this list. The techniques described in this book reflect the beliefs and approaches used by Celebrate the Children.
Discipline Without Tears Rudolph Dreikus M.D. also by Dreikurs, Maintaining Sanity in the Classroom is also excellent!!!!
The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene
4. Communication
Hanen Programs for Parents www.hanen.org
It Takes Two To Talk – The Hanen Program® for Parents
More Than Words – The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Target Word® – The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children Who Are Late Talkers
Learning Language and Loving It - The Hanen Program® for Early Childhood
5. Parenting/Special Needs Parenting
Effective Parenting for the Hard-to-Manage Child: A Skills-Based Book by Georgia DeGangi & Anne Kendall
Einstein Never Used Flash Cards – How Our Children Really Learn – And Why they Need to Play More and Memorize Less by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D. and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Ph.D.
From Neurons to Neighborhoods : The Science of Early Childhood Development
~ Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development
I Can Problem Solve & Raising a Thinking Child for preschoolers, K-3, 4-6 by Myrna Shure.
Excellent step-by-step lessons that teach problem solving language and skills
Playground Politics: Understanding the Emotional Life of Your School-Age Child by Stanley Greenspan & Jacqueline Salmon
Steps to Independence:A Skills Training Guide for Parents and Teachers of Children with Special Needs-Baker and Brightman. This has some very step-by-step practical guidelines for increasing independence and self help. It includes a wonderful chapter on how to respond to undesirable behaviors in order to reduce them.
To Listen to a Child-T. Berry Brazelton. Addison Wesley
This is a must read for parents of all young children! Dr. Brazelton beautifully illustrates the normal issues of growing up and suggestions for healthy parent-child relationships to support those issues (and how not supporting them in a healthy way can lead to more serious behavioral problems and developmental gaps in development). This book compliments Dr. Greenspan’s theory with solid behavioral understanding.
6. Sensory Processing/Regulation
Answers to Questions Teachers Ask About Sensory Integration-Carol Stock Kranowitz. This book is a very user-friendly resource with checklists for the classroom and strategies for helping students in the classroom.
Building Bridges through Sensory Integration, Second Edition-Ellen Yack. This is an excellent book for teachers on how to help young students through sensory integration activities.
Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey
How Does Your Engine Run? by Mary S. Williams-This is a wonderful program to help children identify their own sensory needs and achieve with self-regulation.
Learning in Motion 101+ Sensory Activities for the Classroom- Great Ways to Improve Learning and Behavior by Patricia Angermeirier, Joan Krzyzanowski, Kristina Keller Moir
Raising A Sensory Smart Child by: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Integration Issues by Lindsey Biel & Nancy Peske
Sensory Integration: A Guide for Preschool Teachers by Christy Isbell and Rebecca Isbell. This is a great book for teachers working with children who have sensory processing challenges OF ALL AGES! It is very user friendly with pictures, activities and very concise descriptions of sensory challenges and strategies to support them. This is a great tool to help teachers
The Out of Sync Child & The Out-Of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids With Sensory Integration Dysfunction-Carol Stock Kranowitz. Another great book to help parents and teachers with ideas for fun, sensory integration activities.
Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight What to do if you are sensory defensive in an overstimulating world by Sharon Heller, Ph.D
7. Visual/Motor
Visual/Spatial Portals to Thinking, Feeling and Movement: Advancing Competencies and Emotional Development in Children with Learning and Autism Spectrum Disorders - Serena Wieder Ph.D. (Author), Harry Wachs O.D. (Author) Clinical psychologist Serena Wieder Ph.D. redefines the building blocks of development and the challenges that derail a child's functioning and learning. For Wieder, vision and space -- what is seen by the eyes, transformed by the mind and experienced as movement, plays a crucial but heretofore underestimated crucial role in the development of a child's thoughts and feelings. Co-author Harry Wachs, O.D., a pioneer of developmental vision therapy, offers therapy focused on visual/spatial aspects of development supporting cognition. Based on decades of experience, Wieder and Wachs guide therapists and parents in interventions for use at home, school and therapy offices involving affect based Floortime approaches and other problem-solving experiences, addressing unrecognized challenges that often derail life competencies, learning and development. A new step-by-step Manual presents tools to develop visual/spatial learning. This groundbreaking book changes the way parents and therapists understand child development and work to promote each child's potential in meaningful ways.
"Brain Gym: Simple Activities for Whole Brain Learning (Orange)" "Brain Gym (Teachers Edition)"-Paul E. Dennison. This book outlines exercises for supporting specific areas of functioning, such as thinking and motor planning.
Physical Activities for Improving Children’s Learning and Behavior: A Guide to Sensory Motor Development-Billye Ann Cheatum and Allison A. Hammond www.kinetics.com This book has a wonderful chapter on how sensory challenges effect behavior.
Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head-Carla Hannaford. Another book on “Moving and Thinking” which includes Brain Gym.
Thinking Goes to School- Furth & Wachs. Oxford Press. Exercises from this program should be used to develop higher level thinking skills and improve thinking and doing abilities (motor planning and sequencing).
Visualizing and Verbalizing-Nanci Bell. Academy of Reading Publications 800-233-1819
An approach developed by Nanci Bell used to improve verbalizing thoughts and abstract thinking. Strategies from this approach should be used to target academic weaknesses such as abstract thinking related to math and creative writing
8. Emotional Development
Growing Up Sad: Childhood Depression and It’s Treatment by Leon Cytryn & Donald H. McKnew Jr. This is a valuable book that illustrates the importance of good self esteem and independence as foundations to healthy emotional development. It provides an understanding of childhood depression and how to prevent it. This can be extremely helpful when supporting school-age children with special needs.
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health – A Comprehensive Developmental Approach to Assessment and Intervention by Stanley Greenspan & Serena Weider
Overcoming Anxiety, Depression, and Other Mental Health Disorders in Children and Adults: A New Roadmap for Families and Professionals by Stanley Greenspan, M.D.
Ready, Set, R.E.L.A.X. – A Research Based Program of Relaxation, Learning and Self-Esteem for Children Jeffrey S. Allen and Roger J. Klein
Your Anxious Child: How Parents and Teachers Can Relieve Anxiety in Children by John Daceyand Lisa Fiore
9. Books for Children:
Anger/Frustration:
Let’s Talk about Being Patient by Joy Berry
When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
Anxiety/Stress/OCD:
When My Worries Get Too Big: For Children Who Live with Anxiety by Kari Dunn Buron
A Boy and a Bear – The Children’s Relaxation Book by Lori Lite
A Boy and a Turtle – A Children’s Relaxation Story to improve sleep, manage stress, anxiety, anger by Lori Lite and Kimberly C. Fox
Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop: Why Do We Do Things We Cannot Stop? An OCD Storybook by Mortiz & Jablonsky
Mr. Worry – A Story about OCD by Holly Niner
What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming OCD by Dawn Huebner
Up and Down the Worry Hill: A Children’s Book about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and its Treatment by Aureen Pinto Wagner and Paul A. Jutton
Feelings:
Little Teddy Bear’s - Happy Face, Sad Face – A First Book about Feelings by Offerman & Moroney
The “Way I Feel Books” Series by Cornelia Maude Spelman-
When I Feel Angry, When I Feel Sad, When I Feel Good About Myself, When I Miss You, When I feel Jealous, When I Feel Scared
The Feelings Book by Todd Parr
The “How I Feel” Series of Interactive Books by Smart Kids Publishing
How I Feel Angry, How I Feel Silly, How I Feel Scared, How I Feel Happy, How I Feel Jealous
Grief/Loss/PTSD/Helping Children Cope with Serious Illness:
A Terrible Thing Happened - A story for children who have witnessed violence or trauma by Margaret M. Holmes & Sasha J. Mudlaff
Brave Bart- A Story for Traumatized and Grieving Children by Caroline H. Shepphard
Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies by Janis Silverman
I Miss You: A First Look At Death by Pat Thomas & Leslie Harker
The Healing Book: Facing the Death—and Celebrating the Life—of Someone you Love by Ellen Sabin
Series by Marge Heegaard: Found at http://www.amazon.com
Beyond the Rainbow: A Workbook for Children in the Very Advanced Stages of a Serious Illness
Living Well with My Serious Illness
When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief
When Someone Has a Very Serious Illness: Children Can Learn to Cope with Loss and Change
When Something Terrible Happens: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief
When A Family Is In Trouble: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief From Drug & Alcohol Addiction
10. Classroom-Oriented
Childswork,Childsplay Catalog - An invaluable resource for buying social skills materials
Purchase from: 1-800-962-1141 or online: http://www.childswork.com
Cinderella Outgrows the Glass Slipper and Other Zany Fractured Fairy Tales Five funny plays with related writing activities and Graphic organizers that motivate kids to explore plot, character and settings. By J.M. Wolf - Purchase from: Teacher stores or 1800-scholastic
Critical Thinking Workbooks Frank Schaffer
23740 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90505
Gifted and Talented Workbooks available in bookstores. Lowell Publishing
Excellent workbooks for older children to facilitate higher level thinking skills
Let’s Be Social - Communication Skill Builders - (3-6 years) Lessons and visuals - a nice start-up program for running social skills groups. Purchase from: 602-323-7500
Maintaining Sanity in the Classroom: Classroom Management Techniques by Rudolph Dreikurs
Star Power for Preschoolers - Learning Life Skills Through Physical Play- Andrew Oser
Excellent group activities for building self esteem
The Laughing Classroom by Diane Loomans and Karen Kolberg Everyone’s guide to teachers with humor and play. Purchase from: http://www.neworldlibrary.com
Thinking, Feeling, Behaving: An Emotional Education Curriculum for Children-Ann Vernon, Research Press/Amazon.com
Vocabulary Cartoon of the Day by Marc Tyler - 180 reproducible cartoons that help kids build a robust and prodigious vocabulary. Purchase from Teacher stores or Scholastic 1800-scholastic
What Does it Mean to Me?. An excellent social stories workbook for children with autism and asperger’s. Purchase from: Amazon.com
You're Going to Love This Kid!: Teaching Students With Autism in the Inclusive Classroom by Paula Kluth
20 sensational Art and Writing Projects Grade 2-4 - Visual prompts that inspire art projects and creative writing. By Dena Schutzer - Purchase from: Teacher stores or 1800-scholastic
40 Graphic Organizers Build comprehension during independent reading. Uses graphic organizers to improve reading , literature and comprehension skills. Ex: story sequences, Character analyses, Details. By Anina Robb. Purchase from: Scholastic Teaching Strategies
Math Brainteasers Grades 6-and up 102 critical thinking exercises to challenge students and build problem solving skills. Ex: Sharpen problem solving skills, Shows problem solving techniques, Planning strategy. Good Year Books, Parsippany, NJ
by April Blakely Purchase from: http://www.pearsonlearning.com or 1-800-321-3106
Critical Thinking Problem Solving Grade 4 by Joy Hayes and Marion M. Sebastian Judy/ Instruco Fun puzzles with a cartoon character teaching critical thinking with logic problems
Better Than Book Reports Grade 2-6 Over 40 creative responses to literature
Ex: Time lines, Comparing-Contrasting Map, Puzzle Story
by Christine Boardman Moen & Scholastic Professional Books
Teaching With Favorite Newberry Books 4-8 grade by Lori Licciardo Musso
Engaging discussion, questions, vocabulary builders, writing prompts and great literature activities.
Ex: Dioramas, Journals,Time Lines
Aides in the interpretation of theme, concept, and the development of plot.
Purchase from: Scholastic
Story Writing Engaging Mini- Lessons and Activities, Reproducible and graphic organizers, and Rubrics . Checklists to help you teach the elements of the great writing.
Introduces story writing as an exciting and enjoyable process in small steps. Helps develop
Set and characters, Create plot, Organize story, Use sensory details. by Karen Kellahr Purchase from: Scholastic Professional
Short Reading Passages and Graphic Organizers to build comprehension. Each story is paired with a graphic organizer that targets a specific skills such as – Find the main idea. Builds: Understanding, cause and effect,
Comparing and contrasting, Sequencing events, a fun and visual way to build reading skills by Linda Ward Beech Purchase from: Scholastic Professional
The information on this website is based on recommendations of Celebrate the Children (CTC) staff and families. This information is not endorsed by CTC. It is reliable but at times may not be 100% accurate. CTC is not liable for actions or information given from these agencies.