Book Review: Isaac and his Amazing Asperger Superpowers by Melanie Walsh

Alexandra Adlawan’s

Book Title & Alexandra's Review

Isaac and his Amazing Asperger Superpowers by Melanie Walsh

To spread more awareness for autism, here is another inspiring autism book everyone should read.

For anyone who knows someone on the autism spectrum

Meet Isaac!

He’s a superhero!

He might look like everyone else, but his brain works a little bit differently, and he’s got special superpowers to prove it.

This picture book is a great introduction to understanding kids with autism. Unlike the last autism book, this one is more directed toward little kids in preschool and kindergarten. I recommend this book for storytime.

The story highlights a few well-known traits of Asperger’s individuals. Traits like:

Talks about their interests and doesn’t understand why others aren’t interested
Trying to remember to be friendly and say hello to people
Being closer to animals than to humans
Fidgeting
Blurting out inner thoughts
Not understanding jokes/taking things too literally
Sensitive hearing
Uncomfortable with eye-contact
Noticing things that others don’t

Not everyone with autism relates to all the traits above. These are just a few traits that most people with autism share, but every autistic person is different.

I related to Isaac not understanding certain jokes and taking things said too literally. Back in elementary school, my teachers would tell me that if I didn’t finish my work, I wouldn’t be able to leave. I thought I would have to stay there late into the night. That terrified me to the bone as a kid. So be careful what you say to a kid with Asperger’s or any kid. They might take what you say too seriously.

The thing about Asperger’s is you can’t see it. When you say you have Asperger’s, people look at you and think, ‘I don’t see anything wrong with you.” It’s hard to have a disability that no one can see, like a broken leg. I’ve had some trouble with that in the past.