Press Reviews

• Occupational Therapy Journal

  Revealing the Hidden Social Code is a book about the social stories approach for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), which was originated by Carol Gray. The book describes how social stories may be used, in conjunction with other approaches, to help individuals with ASD to identify the underlying message that underpin social interaction. Excellent case examples are given, throughout the book, to illustrate the development of social stories. It also covers presenting, implementing and monitoring the individual's response and the different types of social stories, which can be used. The book is encouraging to the reader throughout and there is a helpful chapter on what to do when social stories do not work. The appendix contains useful checklists for each stage of preparing the stories, including drafting the social stories, monitoring individual's progress and a checklist for problem solving.

• British Journal of Special Education

  This is a text which aims to identify why social stories work as a strategy to support the social learning of individuals with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). In its Forward, the original creator of social stories, Carol Gray, strongly endorses this publication.

• British Journal of Special Education

  As a practical guide for those who want to learn more about the use of social stories and how to write them, this book could be a valuable resource. With practical suggestions and examples Howley and Arnold explore the strategy's potential for a range of ages, needs and abilities as well as for use in the other learning contexts.

• Good Autism Practice

  The writing style is just right - very clear and detailed without being long-winded or laborious. It is a very practical guide and the kind of book that a professional would want to keep within easy reach whenever a social story is needed. Everything you ever need to know about writing a social story seems to have been addressed here and the examples of social stories are very enlightening too. What I really liked about the examples was that a lot of thought and understanding had gone into choosing very different individuals.The writers have obviously had plenty of hands-on experience which enables them to write about the differing needs of individuals with ASDs. This is an excellent and practical guide for anyone attempting to write or simply understand the concept of social stories, how they work and their essential place in the social education of individuals with ASDs.

• Library Journal

  This work provides clear and succinct instructions for writing one's own Social Stories, including helpful examples that convey increasingly complicated messages and yet are still effective for children with ASD.

• NAPLIC Newsletter

  This is a clearly presented, comprehensive and interesting book for professionals and parents or carers of people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. It explains the key elements of Social StoriesTM, which are increasingly being used to develop social skills and social understanding. I highly recommend this book to teachers, speech and language therapists and parents or carers who wish to structure and deliver Social StoriesTM to help people with ASD address everyday social challenges.

• Library Journal

  Howley (Univ. Coll. Northampton, U.K.) and Arnold (Northamptonshire Soc. for Autism, U.K.) have written an excellent supplement to Gray's The New Social Story Book and My Social Stories Book (with Abbie Leigh White and Sean McAndrew); parents, caregivers, and professionals will find clear and succinct instructions for writing their own Social Stories, including helpful examples that convey increasingly complicated messages and yet are still effective for children with ASD. Strongly recommended for all public and academic libraries with autism or education collections.