How do you know if your child is happy or sad, tired or hungry, when all he wants to talk about is wasps -- or the color of subway train doors? What can you do to reassure a nine-year-old who asks questions about death hundreds of times in a day? And how can you build a nurturing relationship when your little girl hates to be touched?

Questions like these make parenting a child with autism or Asperger syndrome (AS) a journey through uncharted terrain. That's why understanding how kids with these disorders actually think and feel--and the striking ways in which their minds work differently from those of typical children--is so important. Through moving stories of children he has worked with, Dr. Peter Szatmari helps you see the world through your child's eyes. Revealed is what lies behind the intense preoccupations, communication problems, and seeming lack of affection that often accompany autism and AS, and what your child's mystifying behavior might really be trying to tell you. This compassionate book shows how gaining a better sense of your child's experience can deepen the bonds that support learning and growth--and help you lead the way toward a happier future.

210 pp.

"A landmark book...Written objectively and engagingly, with literary skill and a sense of optimism that will be particularly appealing to parents."

- Tony Attwood, PhD, author of Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

"This unique and beautiful book takes you on a voyage to the unusual world of children and young adults with autism and AS...At the same time, the book brings to life key principles in our scientific understanding of these disorders...Brilliant."

- Bryna Siegel, PhD, author of Helping Children with Autism Learn

"Dr. Peter Szatmari has done an unsurpassed job of shedding light on how children with these disorders feel and act...An enlightening and welcome resource."

- Patricia Howling, PhD, coauthor of Teaching Children with Autism to Mind-Read