2nd - 3rd Grade

Berkeley Unified School Libraries, in partnership with the Special Education Department and Mental Health Services, proudly recognizes Neurodiversity Celebration Week (the 3rd week in March). The term neurodiversity is often used to describe alternative thinking and learning styles such as Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia; neurodiversity also describes the varied ways that people think, move, process information and communicate. Everyone’s brain is unique and should be celebrated; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving.


These reading lists, organized by grade level, represent recently published books that celebrate the strengths and talents of our neurodivergent community.

Aaron Slater, Illustratorby Andrea Beatty
Published: 2021
Genre: Fiction
Representation: Dyslexia 

A Day With No Wordsby Tiffany Hammond
Published: 2023
Genre: Fiction
Representation: Autism / Nonverbal Communication
Henry, Like Alwaysby Jenn Bailey
Published: 2023
Genre: Fiction
Representation: Autism

How to Build a Hugby Amy Guglielmo
Published: 2018
Genre: Nonfiction - Biography
Representation: Autism
More than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Meanby Roz MacLean
Published: 2023
Genre: Fiction
Representation: Nonverbal Communication
My Life with ADHDby J. Dillard
Published: 2021
Genre: Nonfiction
Representation: ADHD
My Life with Dyslexiaby Marie Schuh
Published: 2021
Genre: Nonfiction
Representation: Dyslexia
My Life with Tourette Syndromeby Marie Schuh
Published: 2024
Genre: Nonfiction
Representation: Tourette Syndrome

My Wandering Dreaming Mindby Merriam Saunders
Published: 2020
Genre: Informational Fiction
Representation: ADHD

My Whirling, Twirling Motorby Merriam Saunders
Published: 2019
Genre: Informational Fiction
Representation: ADHD
Too Sticky!: Sensory Issues with Autismby Shauna Grant
Published: 2020
Genre: Fiction
Representation: Autism / Sensory Differences

How do I read these books?

Many of these books are available through Berkeley school libraries as a physical and/or ebook. For more information about any of these books, or to check one of them out, ask your school librarian.

For more information and instructions on accessing ebooks and audiobooks, visit our Digital Books page.

At a time when so many small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, we also encourage folks to support our local bookstores: 

Ashay by the Bay, Bandung Books, Eastwind Books, Marcus Books, Moe’s Books, Mr. Mopps, Books Inc., Pegasus Books and Mrs. Dalloways.