About
Our Journey as an Autistic Family
We are Dalisse and Luis, parents of two autistic boys, Adrián, who is 12, and Guillermo, who is 5. And there is more to our story. Dalisse is also autistic, diagnosed as an adult after recognizing herself in her sons.
This is not just a family raising autistic children. We are an autistic family navigating a neurotypical world together, learning what it means to understand ourselves while showing up fully for our boys.
How everything changed
When Adrián was diagnosed at 17 months old, we did what every parent does. We searched. We read. We tried to understand.
And then we started writing. Because we wanted our boys to have stories where they could look at the main character and think, that is me. Stories that came from inside the experience, not from observing it. Honest, warm, and real in the way that only lived experience can be.
Then came Dalisse’s own diagnosis. Suddenly, years of feeling different made sense. The sensory overwhelm. The exhaustion from masking. The way social situations drained her in ways she could never quite explain. Finally, it all had a name. Understanding herself helped her see our boys in a completely new way, and helped her write for them from the inside out.
We created Loving Pieces Books because we wanted our boys to grow up knowing exactly who they are and feeling genuinely proud of it. Not in spite of being autistic. Because of everything they already are. Every story in this series comes from something real that happened in our family. And we share it because your child deserves to see themselves in a book and think, that is me.
Why we created Loving Pieces Books
Authentic Representation
Every book is based on real experiences from our family’s life. Adrián and Guillermo are the heart of every story. No overcoming narratives. No autism as a problem to solve. Just honest, relatable moments told with love.
For Parents Walking This Path
We have been where you are. The sleepless nights wondering if you are doing enough. The fierce joy when your child reaches a milestone that felt impossible just months ago. We write for parents who need both practical tools and the feeling that someone genuinely understands.
Building Understanding Around Your Child
Our books help autistic children see themselves represented honestly. They also help the people around them, classmates, teachers, grandparents, family friends, understand what autism actually looks and feels like from the inside. Because inclusion starts with understanding.
We Do Not Walk This Journey Alone
No family navigates autism in isolation. We have been genuinely lucky to have a village of support that made all the difference.
Our foundation:
- Our family, cousins, uncles, close friends, and grandparents Bubu, Tata, Dalila, and Rolf, who love our boys exactly as they are
- Teachers who took the time to understand Adrián and Guillermo's unique needs and genuine strengths
- Therapists who helped our boys grow while always respecting who they already are
- Doctors who listened and cared with real compassion
- School friends and their parents who embraced inclusion without making it complicated
- The autism community online, parents we have never met in person but who share our tears, our triumphs, and the reality of every ordinary hard day
Written for:
Meet Our Family
We are Dalisse, Luis, Adrián, who is 12, and Guillermo, who is 5. An autistic family figuring it out together.
Adrián is curious, detail-oriented, and deeply passionate about history and trains. He notices things most people walk right past. He is learning to name his strengths and speak up for what he needs. Every book in this series began with him.
Guillermo is energetic, determined, and discovering the world in his own powerful way. He has his own unique way of communicating and connecting, and the kind of presence that fills a room. Watching him grow reminds us every single day that there is no one right way to be autistic, and that is exactly as it should be.
Dalisse is an autistic mother, author, and advocate who discovered her own diagnosis as an adult, by recognizing herself in her boys. Finding the language for herself changed how she understood everything, her past, her sons, and the stories she needed to tell.
Luis is not a supporting character. He is a full partner. He is co-author. The one who kept everything steady so the appointments could happen, the books could get written, and the hard days could be survived. He sat beside Dalisse in every evaluation room. He held her hand when the second diagnosis was confirmed and said, we can do this. We will do this. And then he showed up the next day and did it. This would not exist without him.
Every book we write is a piece of something real. A moment from our life, told honestly, with love.
Each book is made with love. Every page is a piece of who our boys are and who they are becoming.
Explore Our Books
Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Everyone carries emotions they cannot always name. Adrián calls his the invisible backpack. On a family hike, he discovers what is inside it: big feelings, borrowed feelings, the exhaustion of masking, and the relief of finally taking the mask off. This book gives your child a language for their inner world and shows them they do not have to carry it alone.
Perfect for: kids learning to identify emotions, families navigating sensory overload and masking, therapists introducing emotional regulation tools
Autism: Calming the Chaos!
Meltdowns are not tantrums. They are what happens when a nervous system reaches its limit. This book helps autistic children understand what is happening in their bodies when feelings get too big and gives them real tools to find their calm again. It also helps the people around them understand, without shame on either side.
Perfect for: families navigating frequent meltdowns, grandparents and extended family learning to help, teachers building inclusive classrooms
Autism: Confidence Starts Here
Adrián feels left out at recess. He loves history and trains and does not quite speak the same social language as the other kids. This book walks him through understanding what makes him unique, building real self-esteem from the inside out, and finding the courage to show up as himself even when it is hard. It includes affirmation cards your child can use every day.
Perfect for: kids who feel different, parents working on self-esteem and social confidence, therapists using story-based tools
Autism: This is How I Party
Adrián gets invited to his friend Amelia’s birthday party. He is excited and nervous in equal measure. His family makes a Party Plan together, they practice the Birthday Candle Breath, and they talk through the where, who, what, and when. This book shows your child that social events are not something to survive. They are something you can actually enjoy when you go in prepared.
Perfect for: kids with social anxiety around events, families preparing for birthday parties or gatherings, therapists working on social readiness
Autism: A New School Year!
The summer is ending and the worries are starting. Adrián knows that feeling in his stomach, the tight chest, the tummy full of tiny bubbles. This book walks families through meeting a new teacher, building visual schedules, preparing sensory-friendly outfits, and arriving on day one feeling as ready as possible. Because readiness is not about being fearless. It is about having a plan.
Perfect for: back to school transitions, kids with anxiety around change, parents preparing their child’s teacher to truly understand them