Summer Parent Book and Audiobook Recommendations

By Kelly Budnick, MOT, OTR/L

Looking for meaningful summer reading or listening that will transform your parenting approach? This curated list of books and audiobooks offers powerful insights into your child’s brain, behavior, and emotional needs—whether you’re navigating intense outbursts, autism, or everyday challenges. Grounded in neuroscience, empathy, and real-life experience, these recommendations will equip you with practical tools to build stronger, more connected relationships with your kids.

1.      Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors by Robyn Gobbel

This book incorporates neuroscience to help parents, caregivers, and professionals understand and support children who exhibit intense, confusing, or disruptive behaviors. It uses insights from interpersonal neurobiology (or a framework that explores how relationships and brain development interact to shape human experience), trauma research, and attachment theory. Robyn Gobbel explains that these "big" behaviors are not signs of defiance or manipulation but are instead signals of a dysregulated nervous system and unmet needs.

The book emphasizes the importance of seeing beyond behavior to understand what’s happening in a child’s brain and body. Gobbel introduces the concept of the "felt safety" and shows how children’s behavior is often a response to whether they feel safe, connected, and regulated. She provides tools to shift from a behavior-control approach to a relationship-centered approach rooted in connection, curiosity, and co-regulation.

2.      The Whole-Brain Child by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson

This book uses evidence-based science of how children’s brains develop and how that development impacts behavior and emotional responses. Helpful, key metaphors in the book are the “upstairs brain” (responsible for logic, decision-making, and self-control) and the “downstairs brain” (responsible for primal reactions like fear, anger, and fight-or-flight responses). When children act out, they are often stuck in their downstairs brain, overwhelmed by emotion and unable to access reason or self-regulation. The authors emphasize the importance of helping children "climb back upstairs" by first connecting with their emotions through empathy and validation. This connection calms the nervous system, allowing the upstairs brain to come back online. Once the child feels safe and seen, parents can then redirect behavior in a way that promotes understanding and growth. This approach not only reduces power struggles but also helps children build resilience and emotional intelligence. Through everyday interactions, caregivers can support brain integration and foster more thoughtful, connected responses in their children.

3.      Autism Out Loud by Katie Wright

This is a memoir that chronicles the author’s experiences raising her autistic son. The book provides an honest and insightful look at the emotional and practical challenges faced by families navigating autism. Wright highlights the importance of listening to autistic individuals and recognizing their unique perspectives and needs. She advocates for personalized support and acceptance, moving beyond stereotypes and misconceptions about autism. The narrative explores themes of communication, identity, and the transformative power of patience and empathy in caregiving. The author’s story offers hope and guidance to parents, educators, and caregivers wanting to foster understanding and inclusion. The book emphasizes respect for neurodiversity and the value of every autistic voice.

4.      The Explosive Child by Dr. Russ W. Greene

This book provides a compassionate approach to understanding and managing children who exhibit intense, challenging behaviors that seem sudden and overwhelming. Greene argues that these behaviors are not the result of willful defiance but occur when children lack frustration tolerance, flexibility, and problem-solving skills. The book introduces the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, which focuses on identifying the specific skill they are lacking that contribute to explosive outbursts and working collaboratively with the child to find mutually satisfactory solutions. Rather than using punishment or rewards, Greene emphasizes empathy, communication, and partnership between adults and children to reduce conflict and build problem-solving abilities. The approach is designed to help caregivers move away from power struggles and build a more understanding and supportive environment. This book is valuable because it offers a guide on practical tools for managing challenging behaviors with respect and effectiveness.