Dr. Raun Melmed with Annette Sexton & Jeff Harvey, illustrator

Lots of kids on the autism spectrum also have problems with attention, and many also have Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). They will probably relate to Marvin’s Monster Diary: ADHD Attacks! (But I Rock It, Big Time!)

If your child is into the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney or the Dork Diaries by Rachel Russell, this book is probably right up their alley. Although it is presented as fun fiction, you’ll find plenty of practical, research-based strategies in this little book.

It’s another bad day for Marvin the Monster as he struggles with distractions, impulsivity and forgetfulness. His worst day turns into his best day when he got to meet his idol, the greatest musician on Planet Monstearth, Stevie Strummer. Stevie took time to listen to Marvin’s troubles, and even shared his own story of ups and downs on the road to the big time. He showed Marvin how to be mindful and filter out distractions by using his fingers as a frame. He taught him to focus on what’s most important by pretending his eyes were a camera that he could zoom in on details and zoom out to see what others were doing. The best part was the secret ST4 system. I can’t tell you what the S and 4 Ts stand for, because it’s a secret, but you can find it in the book. It really helped Marvin stay on track so that he got to play with the band instead of sitting on the sidelines. His worst day led to his best day ever!

At the end of the book you’ll find resources for parents and teachers, useful websites, and a reproducible page of ST4 badges you can copy and cut out as visual reminders.
I recommend Marvin’s Monster Diary. It’s a fun way to help a kid become the boss of their own brain with practical tools for mindful self-management.