Loving Pieces Books
Navigating Autism Together Through Social Stories
Children's Book
Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Discovering Emotions, Masking, and the Joy of Being Seen
Join Adrián on a mountain hike that becomes a journey of self-discovery, emotional understanding, and authentic self-acceptance.
When Adrián feels his invisible backpack getting heavier with big emotions, literal thinking, and the exhausting work of masking, his family helps him explore what it means to carry feelings, both his own and others’. Through the metaphor of a mountain trail and a peaceful lake, this story addresses hyper-empathy, masking, therapy as a safe space, and the tools that help autistic children navigate their inner world.
More than just a story about autism, it’s a guide for understanding emotional regulation, the cost of masking, and the healing power of being truly seen and accepted.
Flip the pages and take a peek inside the book!
Why This Book is a Must-Have for Families and Educators
The Invisible Backpack
A powerful metaphor for carrying emotions, thoughts, and daily experiences, helping children understand when their emotional load feels too heavy and how to lighten it with support.
Masking & Authenticity
Adrián learns about the “mask” he wears to fit in, the exhausting effort it requires, and the healing relief of unmasking, taking off his shoes, letting his hands flap, and discovering safe spaces where he can be himself without pretending.
Hyper-Empathy
When Guillermo gets hurt, Adrián feels the pain in his own body, exploring how autistic children often carry others’ emotions and how to sort through what belongs to them.
Literal Thinking
From “burning out” to “cat got your tongue,” Adrián’s brain creates pictures of what words actually say, showing how literal processing works and why it’s not wrong, just different.
Therapy as Safety
Berta, Adrián’s therapist since 17 months old, represents therapy not as “fixing” but as a safe lake where heavy feelings can be sorted and understood. She teaches him how to open his invisible backpack, separate his own emotions from others’, and unload what doesn’t belong to him, showing therapy as a place of growth, not repair.
Practical Tools
Adrián learns concrete, useable strategies for when his invisible backpack feels overwhelming: breathing techniques like blowing bubbles, grounding exercises like finding five specific things around him, and identifying his safe people who accept him authentically. These aren’t abstract concepts but real tools children can practice and use in their daily emotional regulation.
Real autism experiences explained with empathy and understanding.
Kids love it but ... Who Else Needs This Book?
Essential reading for everyone supporting autistic children
Parents & Caregivers
Understand your child’s internal experience, recognize signs of masking, and learn how to create truly safe spaces. Includes detailed parent guide with real strategies.
Teachers & Educators
Recognize when students are masking, understand literal thinking patterns, and create classroom environments where autistic children can be authentic.
Therapists & Counselors
Use the invisible backpack metaphor in sessions, understand masking’s toll on autistic kids, and validate therapy as a safe space for them to grow.
Extended Family & Friends
Learn why autistic children might seem “fine” in public but struggle at home, and understand how to be part of their support network.
Available in Spanish, English and Catalan
Get your copy today: Autism: My Invisible Backpack Available on Amazon worldwide.
Help Children Understand Their Inner World
Available now with comprehensive parent guide and free Invisible Backpack Toolkit.
Includes 80+ pages plus parent strategies | Free downloadable toolkit
Testimonials
What Our Readers Are Saying
We’re grateful for the support of our amazing community! Here’s what parents, caregivers, and educators have to say about Loving Pieces Books and how our stories are making a difference.
We’d love to hear how our books have impacted you and your family.
“This book finally helped me understand why my son comes home exhausted after ‘good’ days at school. The masking section was eye-opening, now I know how to help him truly relax at home.”
“I use the invisible backpack concept with all my autistic kids now. It gives them language for experiences they couldn’t explain before. The parent guide is invaluable for family sessions.”
“As a teacher, this book helped me recognize when my students are working too hard to appear ‘normal.’ I’ve created mask-free moments in my classroom based on these insights.”
More Books in the Loving Pieces Series
Autism: Calming the Chaos!
When Adrián’s sensory system gets overloaded, he learns that his big feelings are valid and his body’s responses make perfect sense. This story reframes ‘meltdowns’ as communication, teaching regulation strategies that honor autistic nervous systems. Essential for parents, teachers creating sensory-friendly classrooms, and therapists working on self-regulation without shame.
Autism: My Invisible Backpack
Meet Adrián as he discovers his amazing ‘invisible backpack’, a powerful metaphor that helps explain the invisible baggage we all carry. Through his journey, the book explores masking and literal thinking in ways children can understand. It also helps explain these concepts while offering tools for gently unmasking and using therapy as a safe space to do so.
Autism: Confidence Starts Here
Join Adrián as he celebrates everything that makes him authentically autistic, his detailed thinking, his honest communication, his unique perspectives. This isn’t about building confidence despite being autistic, but because of it. Perfect for home reading, classroom inclusion lessons, and therapy sessions focused on identity affirmation and self-advocacy development.
Party Time for Adrián!
Adrián loves parties and wants to celebrate with friends, he just needs to plan ahead for the sensory experience. This story shows how autistic children can fully participate in social events with the right preparation, not by changing who they are. Ideal for teaching neurotypical children about inclusion and helping parents, teachers, and party hosts create genuinely welcoming celebrations.
Autism: A New School Year
Adrián prepares for a new school year by creating visual schedules, meeting his new teacher, and planning sensory breaks. A practical guide disguised as a story, showing families how to prepare for transitions while giving teachers insight into what autistic students need to thrive. Includes discussion questions for classroom use and family preparation strategies.