What Are Picture Books About Autism Telling Our Children?

Abstract

This article investigates how picture books published in of 2019 represent Autism to children, with special attention as to whether those representations overtly include terminology around autism or covertly present autistic characters. Although both overt and covert representations occur in children’s literature, covert representation may or may not come to the attention of children. Overt and covert uses of language convey different elements of personhood to readers, portraying what we, the authors, feel is important. Our analysis of these four samples of 2019 picture books was framed by critical disability studies, labelling theory and camouflage and by developmental bibliotherapy, providing evidence that the distinction between overt and covert labelling can have influences on the perceptions of readers.