LONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI CHILDREN'S & YA BOOK PRIZE 'An essential guide' LIZZIE HUXLEY-JONES 'This book is perfect' WENN LAWSON 'One of the most important books in autism literature' CHARLOTTE AMELIA POE 'Wonderfully diverse and vibrant' FOX FISHER In this empowering and honest guide for LGBTQIA+ autistic teens, Erin Ekins gives you all the tools you need to figure out and explore your gender identity and sexuality. From coming out to friends and family, staying safe in relationships and practicing safe sex, through to self-care and coping with bullying, being out and about in the LGBTQIA+ community and undergoing gender transition, this book is filled with essential information, advice, support and resources to help you on your journey, and also works as a primer on all things LGBTQIA+ for non-autistic teens who are just figuring it all out. Written by an inspirational autistic queer woman, this is a must-read for every autistic teen wanting to live their very best queer life.

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE! A powerful, unforgettable graphic novel from the world of Wonder, by globally bestselling and award-winning author R J Palacio. To the millions of readers who fell in love with R J Palacio's Wonder, Julian is best-known as Auggie Pullman's classroom bully. White Bird reveals a new side to Julian's story, as Julian discovers the moving and powerful tale of his grandmother, who was hidden from the Nazis as a young Jewish girl in occupied France during the Second World War. An unforgettable, unputdownable story about strength, courage and the power of kindness to change hearts, build bridges, and even save lives, from the globally bestselling author of Wonder.

The heartfelt and funny memoir of a boy who built himself a prosthetic arm out of the world-famous toy bricks. David Aguilar was born missing part of one arm, a small detail that seemed to define his life and limit people's ideas of who he was and who he could be. But in this funny and heartfelt memoir, David proves that he can throw out the rulebook and people's expectations and maybe even make a difference in the world-and all with a sense of humor. At only nine years old, David built his first prosthesis from LEGO bricks, and since then he hasn't stopped creating and thinking about how his inventions, born from a passion for building things, could fuel change and help others. With a voice full of humor and heart, David tells his powerful story, of family and friendship, of heartbreak and loss, and ultimately of triumph and success, as he continues to dream big and build a life and a better world-piece by piece.

A 2020 Bank Street Best Book and the second title in the acclaimed Slug Days Stories, now in paperback Lauren and her family drive to a farm in North Dakota to visit relatives and celebrate her Auntie Joss' wedding. But Lauren finds to her dismay that she is expected to do more than meet adults who hug her and invade her personal space. Lauren is going to be-horror of all horrors-a flower girl. Lauren has Autism Spectrum Disorder, and she sees the world a little differently from other kids. What makes her comfortable are her routines and her strategies to manage her anxiety, which can get out of control in no time. So it is a challenge to deal with her rambunctious cousins, try on scratchy dresses, and follow impossible directions about going down aisles slowly-but-not-like-a-sloth and tossing pretend flowers around. Is it any surprise that Lauren flips her lid more than once? But while having an extended family seems like a lot of trouble at first, she's about to learn just how much they can care for one another. In Penguin Days, two award winners revisit second-grader Lauren from the acclaimed Slug Days with equal humor and empathy. Drawing on her experience teaching children with ASD, Sara Leach creates an energetic character who stomps eloquently off the page. And Rebecca Bender's delightful black-and-white illustrations show, in Lauren's fraught situations and facial expressions, all the love and assertiveness that could possibly dwell together in one unique, little person.

'Your kids need this lovely book' Kate Beckinsale Four stories in one! I have a twin brother. Everyone calls him Jimmy, which is sort of the English version of Dimitri, his actual Greek name. Our mum's Greek, you see. I'm Cally, short for Calista, which means, I don't want to sound big-headed or anything, 'most beautiful'. I'm not sure about Dimitri, but if Dimitri means most-annoying-brother-in-the-whole-wide-world, then that's him. Join Cally and Jimmy in four hilarious stories, perfect for newly confident readers. They get into scrapes together, bake some poisonous cakes, almost ruin their school assembly and finally have a twintastic birthday party.

This updated edition of this 20-year-old bestselling title, with consultants from Mencap, enables parents to help their children explore questons about concerns about disability in a simple and reassuring way. It challenges the stereotypes that are often formed during childhood. Notes for parents and teachers at the back of the book provide valuable advice for how to share this book with your child or class. Written by a trained psychotherapist, journalist and parent, and illustrated by an experienced children's book artist, this title is part of an acclaimed and successful series of picture-book non-fiction for Early Years. Books in the series give advice and promote interaction between children, parents, and teachers on a wide variety of personal, social and emotional issues. They are excellent tools for teachers to use during classroom discussions.

Run Rikki Run is an allegory about the coming of age experience featuring a young race horse. Rikki, a young race horse, finds himself faced with the reality that his days of playing in the pasture are over and he must now enter the world of competitive racing where he will be judged by his performance. But what if he loses? In desperation, he turns to his friends for advice, but their answers only complicate his situation. Finally, at the peak of his crisis, Rikki discovers a solution to his fear from a very unlikely source. Run Rikki Run is a timeless story about the transitions in life when change in inevitable. Everyone must grow up, but the fear of failure is very real and must be overcome to allow people to reach their full potential.

This dynamic and joyous exploration of difference helps young children learn to respond in a kind and equal way to everyone, regardless of shape, size, age, physical and mental ability, gender, ethnicity, beliefs, language, culture, background, and so on. With topics ranging from clothes, music and food to homes, festivals and families, there is plenty for children to talk about as they find out about what makes people different and what makes them unique.

Johnny is different. He is never exactly on time, he can't seem to stick to a routine and he often speaks in cryptic idioms. Johnny is neurotypical, but that's OK. A picture book with a difference, Why Johnny Doesn't Flap turns the tables on common depictions of neurological difference by drolly revealing how people who are not on the autistic spectrum are perceived by those who are. The autistic narrator's bafflement at his neurotypical friend's quirks shows that 'normal' is simply a matter of perspective.

Meet Harper the Confidence Fairy, the first fairy with Down's syndrome, who helps people to find and grow their inner confidence. Harper helps people to feel confident with the help of her three magical objects and her Confidence Lab. But when Jack Frost breaks her trust and steals her magical objects, everyone is filled with self doubt. Can Rachel and Kirsty help Harper to get her magical objects back and restore everyone's confidence? Rainbow Magic is the perfect stepping stone for children to become independent readers. With black and white illustrations, short chapters and lots of books to collect, these books are really accessible for children aged 5+. 'These stories are magic; they turn children into readers!' ReadingZone.com Do YOU have a Rainbow Magic fairy? Find a fairy with your name at https://orchardseriesbooks.co.uk/rainbow-magic/ and collect all the books in the range.

From Down syndrome advocate and viral sensation Sofia Sanchez, comes this beautiful and inclusive picture book about all the different ways to make a family. You are loved by so many people... Most of all you are loved by your family. No one loves you like your family loves you. Families come in so many different shapes and sizes - some are far away, some live all together, some have two mummies and some two daddies. Every family is unique! No matter what, families show you how strong you are and how much they love you! A beautiful companion book to You are Enough Sweet narrative, bought to life by beautiful and colourful illustrations from Sofia Cardoso A brilliant celebrations of all the different types of families - including the people in your school, your community and those you chose to love as family.

In a busy coffee shop, a robbery goes wrong. Two gunmen hold seven hostages, including teenager Zach Wahhsted. What nobody realizes at first is that Zach is anything but ordinary and his troubled mind is more dangerous than any weapon. Terry Trueman has created a compelling character with the same shocking power and heartbreaking compassion as his Printz Honor Award debut novel, Stuck in Neutral. Ages 12+