STEM Tuesday– Neurodiversity/Mindset– Book List

I Am a Masterpiece!: An Empowering Story About Inclusivity and Growing Up with Down Syndrome, written by Mia Armstrong and illustrated by Alexandra Thompson, is accessible and honest to children and adults alike. Actress and author, teenage Armstrong celebrates her life living with Down Syndrome through sharing a personal experience. Through her story, she provides the reader the opportunity to see the strengths one has when creating art and seeing the world in a unique, superpower way. Sensitively and honestly written, this book is an important read regarding neurodiversity.

Wanda Hears the Stars written by Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Díaz Merced and illustrated by Rocío Arreola Mendoza (2025) is the life story of astrophysicist Wanda Díaz Merced. After Wanda lost her eyesight, she persisted in achieving her goal of becoming an astrophysicist, even though astrophysics is a field of study that often relies on visual data to study and interpret data about the stars and space. Wanda’s experiments with sonification, a process of turning data into sound, enabled her to study space using sound instead of sight.

Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor, written by Temple Grandin (2019), provides biographical information about the author, encourages readers to make things and discover how things work. It focuses on paper, levers and pulleys, things that fly, things that are made of wood, and optical illusions. The book is full of project ideas. The author shares the message that people’s brains work in different ways, but there is no limit to the kinds of contributions they can make. This book inspires creativity, curiosity, imagination, a willingness to learn from mistakes, and an open mind. It uplifts that there are many ways to approach a problem.

The ADHD Teen Brain Organizer for School: An Executive Function Activity Guide to Improve Academic Performance, written by Paola Dabel and edited by Christopher Dabel, is for students ages 9-18.  In this book, the author incorporates inspirational quotes, prompts, each step necessary toward successful executive functioning, and journaling ideas. The purpose is to provide just enough structure to assist the mind so that students can create and maintain healthy habits and have success.

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin written by Julia Finley Mosca and illustrated by Daniel Rieley (2019) shares the life story of Temple Grandin, a scientist and advocate who used her unique way of thinking to make groundbreaking improvements in the livestock industry. This rhyming book provides a window into Temple’s childhood and career and shows how her unique way of thinking helped her to become a powerful voice in modern science.

ADHD!: Understanding You, Your Brain, and How to Survive in a Neurodiverse World by Rachel Brian, is one of four books in the Be Smart about books. In this book of the series, the author provides information about ADHD, strategies to use, and ways to build on strengths. Written for students whether they have ADHD or not, the book has many illustration, information about neurodiversity, and the opportunity for children and families to see in words what they may be observing or experiencing.

Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary Executive Skills Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by Richard Guare, Peg Dawson, and Colin Guare, provides the boost for teen to “resolve conflicts, assess risks, control emotions, work independently, get organized, resist peer pressure, follow through, manage a schedule and plan ahead.” Adhering to science-based data, the authors provide step-by-step strategies. Worksheets and forms are included.

Wonderfully Wired Brains: An Introduction to Neurodiversity, written by Louise Gooding and illustrated by Ruth Barrows (2023), explores how the brain works and its amazing abilities. It challenges misconceptions and stereotypes about the brain. The book shows readers that no two brains function exactly alike, and brain differences should be celebrated.

Neurodivergent Teens: 12 Success Stories of Teens with ADHD and Autism Who Learned to Thrive by Richard Bass focuses on weekly plans, reflections, and proven strategies. Readers met twelve teenagers who are thriving. Written in a straight-forward style, the author provides each story and follows up with empowering youth through systems that work, information on how to find community, build community, and be authentic.

Everything But Typical: Influential Neurodivergent People Who Have Shaped the World written by Margeaux Weston and illustrated by Jessica Cruickshank (2025) is a collection of stories about remarkable people who have made important contributions in education, entertainment, sports, and other fields. The book features activists, actors, athletes, illustrators, journalists, musicians, songwriters, poets, and race car drivers.

Bev Schellenberg is an author (A Prince Among Dragons; A Princess Among Dragons), as well as a writer of creative nonfiction, poetry, and picture books. She’s an advocate of STEM who was a science fair national winner and high school robotics club sponsor, and passionate about young people discovering, following the passion inside them and flourishing. She’s taught grades kindergarten to grade 12 and is currently an academic advisor, careers teacher, and armchair futurist. Learn more about Bev at BevSchellenberg.com.

Carolyn Pfister is a STEM Content Developer, writer/illustrator, and coordinator of the California Early Math Project. She is interested in encouraging family and community STEM opportunities and maintaining children’s early love and success with math and science. Carolyn writes a monthly Substack on behalf of the California Early Math Project – https://carolynpfister.substack.com/. Learn more about Carolyn at Carolynpfister.com