Book 1: The Friendship Puzzle - Helping kids learn about accepting and including kids with autism by Julie Coe, Illustrated by Sondra Brassel

• Discussion Questions:

  • Why does Dylan sit at the back of class, not speak very much, and cover his ears in the cafeteria?

  • Have you ever met someone who seemed different? What did you do? Did you play with other kids or did you invite him/her to play as well? Could you ask or show him/her to play with you next time?

  • How are kids like puzzles?

  • What will you do next time you aren’t sure why someone is acting the way they are?

  • What will you do next time you meet a child who seems “different?”

  • At the end of the story, does Dylan have a friend?

Book 2: Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson, Illustrated by Sean Qualls

• Discussion Questions:

  • What was different about Emmanuel when he was born?

  • Did Emmanuel let his disability stop him from working, going to school, or learning to do new things?

  • After his mother passed away, what did Emmanuel want to show the world? (disabled does not mean unable).

  • What was his big dream/plan that he came up with to spread his message?

  • Where and how far did he bike?

  • What did he prove as he rode around the country?

• Watch more of Emmanuel’s true story on SmileTV

Book 3: Just Because by Rebecca Elliot

• Discussion Questions:

  • How is Clemmie like other kids?

  • How is she different?

  • What does her brother love about her?

  • What does she do to make her brother feel happy, safe, and calm?

  • Do you know anyone who has a wheelchair? Why do they have a wheelchair? How does the wheelchair help them?

  • What is something you could do to include a child with a wheelchair, disability, or other difference at recess? At lunch? On the weekend? After school?

Book 4: The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates

• Discussion Questions:

  • Who finds shelter under the umbrella?

  • How are these beings the same? How are they different?

  • What happens to the umbrella as more people, animals, and creatures need shelter from the rain?

  • Can we be inclusive like the umbrella? How?

  • How does it make people feel to be included? How would it make someone feel if he or she wasn’t allowed under the umbrella?

Book 5: Can I play Too? by Mo Willems

• Discussion Questions:

  • Snake looks sad early on in the book. How do we know he is sad? Why is he sad?

  • He really wants to play, and now he’s starting to feel excluded. What do you think they can do? How can they solve the problem?

  • How is Piggy a good friend? (She knows that Snake wants to play. She recognizes that Snake is feeling sad and doesn’t want him to feel sad and excluded. She’s not going to give up until she solves the problem.)

  • How can we be more like Piggy? How can we work to include rather than exclude friends?

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