My library contains dozens of books on AS. I have read them all. I wish I could get others to do the same, but time being what it is and life being as complex as ever, this is simply an impossible wish. I highly recommend this book as *the* book to present to people with little time but much need to learn about AS. It is also a great book to present to children; those on the spectrum and those in the neurotypical population who would all benefit from understanding their peers with AS and other ASD/PDD related issues.

This book is cute and sweet. It is not top-shelf research. It is gentle and gracious. A perfect coffee table book to garnish interest and start discussions. I loved it.

I am a parent with two children who have AS. We found this book at B & N and my son loved it. It described him, his behaviors and it could have just as easily been him in the pictures instead of the cats. I found it to be a very good way to describe some of his behaviors and the feelings he and his sister have. I will be buying it from Amazon (much better price) and plan on sending it to school with him. The one or two people at his school who understand AS will get a kick out of it. Since it is a cute and fun book, maybe some of his teachers will look at it and perhaps start to have an understanding of him and his behaviors. It’s a quick, easy and fun read (picture book) which hits the AS behaviors dead on.

Ten years ago, when I finally figured out what Asperger’s was and, at the same time, I discovered that I had several Asperger’s children, and a few Asperger’s adults, on my caseload as a psychotherapist, I began searching for easy ways to explain Asperger’s. It was, and still is, an uphill struggle.

I’d already found what, to my knowledge, remains one of the best general books on Asperger’s Syndrome: Tony Attwood’s Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. (A more up-to-date and extensive general book, now, is Attwood’s The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome. It’s much longer, but still quite readable & it’s filled with clear examples.) It’s great for adults wanting a clear, solid understanding — parents, family members, teachers, mental health professionals, scout-leaders, church leaders, and friends of high school reading level & above. Later, Attwood produced some DVDs, Dr. Tony Attwood presents: Asperger’s Syndrome, Volume 2, Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals with Dr. Tony Attwood, which broadened his outreach. Since then, AS book-publishing has become a cottage industry.

But until I read Kathy Hoopmann’s “All Cats Have Asperger’s Syndrome”, I hadn’t found something quick, accurate and easy to read & to understand. Hoopmann makes the common cues of Asperger’s Syndrome not only instantly accessible but memorable. Even children can read it, and say, “Oh, yeah! That’s Joey!” It’s ideal for a fast, simple introduction.

The pictures — all kittens — are pure delight! Each one nails its idea. And the book invites re-reading — it’s almost addictively fun. I recommend it highly to those who want a confused grandparent or a modestly curious neighbor to better understand a child who, so often, operates out of a different world, while forced to live in this one.

And if you get them hooked, and they want to know more, then give them Attwood’s book or DVDs. After that, you can broaden them with more specialty books — teens (such as Freaks, Geeks & Asperger Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence; Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens & Teens Get Ready for the Real World), girls (Asperger’s and Girls — girls/women are a bit different, with only a fifth as many girls as boys with AS), resources (the Oasis on-line site, Tony Attwood’s on-line site), etc. There are many good books & on-line resources, with more all the time.

And finally, hopefully, they can begin to see not only the Asperger’s Syndrome & what it means/doesn’t mean, but they can also see, most important of all: the real child in all his beauty, uniqueness & potential!

By the way, I wouldn’t recommend this to explain AS to someone with AS. It’s a book of analogies, something someone with AS will have a hard time understanding, and they may take away wrong & negative messages.