Book excerpt: Only Cats Purr offers simple analogies and colorful illustrations to help explain autism to any audience. It draws a correlation to the differences between cats and dogs and the differences between autistic and typical children. Autism is a neurological disorder that never presents the same way. A child affected by autism may look like a typical child making it even more difficult to recognize or understand. This is why it is important to be familiar with autism indicators especially in social situations. This book helps to bridge the divide between an autistic child being different and an autistic child being accepted for who they are. Children and adults alike will enjoy the engaging dialogue as they decide what kind of dog they are and how this relates to the "cat" or autistic child in their life. It suggests using their differences as clues and dialing into their super power of empathy to befriend and reach a child with autism. In the back is a list of the corresponding cat characteristics that draw a parallel to autistic indicators included in the book. Only Cats Purr is one step in creating more understanding and empathy in a world where autism is incredibly prevalent. This book would be a useful tool in classrooms and at home to provide a new perspective in the special needs community. Awareness creates acceptance and in acceptance we find appreciation. Being different isn't bad. It can be easy to love someone who is the same as you. It is an adventure to love someone who is different.