'Bears are the autistic family of the animal kingdom.' This remarkable statement begins this information book, explained by a small panda. Different kinds of bears have different kinds of autism, and the 'speciality' of the pandas is that they have PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance'. The book is interactive, with ways for children to participate using their own ideas and needs, and the panda telling the facts, is very detailed in all he says. He tells us about things we may struggle with and asks which things we are good at - these will be different from person to person. He talks about the anger and frustration we may feel when in confrontation because of our need to be in control, and, the obverse - about intense anxiety and the need to be alone, using our very active imaginations. There are always good and bad days, and the bad ones are caused by such things as intense anxiety, being out of control, being tired, being put on the spot, and such things as bright lights, loud noises, etc. School is often a trouble, and the panda who tries his or her best to do what they are told, will then have meltdowns when they get home. The panda then tells us some things that can help adults to cope before things get out of hand: give us choices on what to do next, don't rush things and talk clearly, make safe places when a retreat is needed, use my active imagination, and give me a say when making plans. The really lovely end papers of pandas are drawn by kids with PDA and their siblings, and the illustrations throughout the story are fun and caring, as is the child-friendly text. It's a good idea to use pandas and bears in general as a symbol of the autistic spectrum, partly because it removes the stigma of being someone who is the only one who suffers other than humans, but also because kids really like bears and will enjoy a story of another animal with some of their characteristics. Available from libraries, from Hive or Amazon, bookshops, and from the publisher, www.jkp.com.