Library-Themed DIYs for Crafters and Makers

5 Children’s Books About Autistic Characters

While writing for an education nonprofit, I was introduced to the Windows and Mirrors learning framework. Established by educator Emily Style in 1988, it explains that children need two kinds of stories: stories that reflect their lived experiences (mirrors) and stories that introduce them to experiences different from their own (windows.)

I can’t think of a better way to explain why children’s books about autistic characters can change lives. They can help autistic children feel understood and connected to a wider community, and they can help allistic (non-autistic) children better empathize with the autistic experience. This is true year-round, but Autism Acceptance Month in April is an especially great opportunity to seek out books with autistic representation at your bookstore or library.

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What We Talk About When We Talk About “Bringing Back Yearning”

Across social media, I am seeing the trend “bring back yearning.” I’ve seen it referencing both books and visual media, but let’s specifically talk about romance books. Frankly, I don’t like this trend, and not because I don’t like yearning. What I find sinister is the way this phrase functions very similarly to another refrain that we’ve all heard a lot: Make America Great Again.

Tell me I’m reading too much into it. I’ll tell you you’re not reading enough into it. What makes MAGA such a troubling phrase is the implication that America was once great, something made it not great, and we have to eliminate whatever that is to bring back the greatness. The subtext is dripping with the racism, misogyny, xenophobia, transphobia, and homophobia we’ve come to expect from people in power.

Books About Your Favorite Media

I love The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, but I might like books about Douglas Adams and H2G2 even more. During a teenage obsession with the series, I read a stack of Douglas Adams biographies, along with the H2G2 radio scripts. They say don’t meet your heroes, but learning more about the author made me love the series even more. (RIP, Douglas Adams.)

That’s why task #7 of the 2025 Read Harder Challenge is “Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).” Doing a deep dive into media you already enjoy can help you appreciate it even more. And let’s be honest, it’s fun to geek out every once in a while and immerse yourself in your interests.