Best ABA Books for Parents Supporting Children With Autism

As a therapist offering autism services in Maryland, I know that ABA doesn’t stop at the clinic door. The best outcomes happen when parents are equipped with the right tools—and books are some of the best tools out there.

One mom I worked with read “Visual Strategies for Improving Communication” and immediately implemented picture schedules at home. Her son began transitioning between tasks without frustration. That was a turning point in their journey.

10 Must-Have ABA Therapy Books for Parents

Navigating the world of ABA therapy can be much easier when you have the right resources. The ten must-read ABA books listed here give you clear steps to help manage behaviors in your life, match therapy goals with your daily routines, and work through communication problems.

These books mix ideas you get from study and real-life tips you can use about everything from early childhood education to rules you need to follow in this work.

You get both expert advice for dealing with behavioral disorders and practical examples that help behavior analysts do their job. These books are for parents in ABA therapy who need more tools to handle many challenges each day.

1. "Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism" by Catherine Maurice

This classic guide has played a big part in shaping how people think about early childhood education for both families and those who work with children. Catherine Maurice gives simple and clear ideas for setting up the right spaces and teaching plans for kids with autism.

The book talks about behavior analysis therapy. It explains basic steps like giving positive feedback to help children learn. With lots of helpful case studies, you can see real examples of how these ideas work. Parents can find great tips for helping children build social interactions and to use language better.

Maurice also points out how important early intervention is. She shows that it can help make big changes in a child’s growth. If you are a parent looking for a guide that is easy to follow but still full of useful details, this book is perfect for getting started with aba therapy and behavior analysis.

With the advice here, families can feel good about helping their child grow and do well.

2. "Teach Me Language" by Dr. Sabrina Freeman

Language development can sometimes feel hard. But there are people, like speech therapists and parents, who use "Teach Me Language" to help.

Dr. Freeman helps to break down communication skills into simple steps that are easy to teach. The book shows instructions that are clear and simple for both adults and kids.

This book is made to fit well with ABA therapy. It sorts different drills to help with both listening and speaking. The book uses pictures along with simple problem-solving work.

This is good for people who learn in many different ways. Both parents and speech therapists will see how helpful this book can be. It helps guide children through many real social contexts they face each day.

The thing that really stands out is how well the book fits each child’s needs. It is good for those who have delayed speech and find it hard to talk. If families want to help their kids use more words and share their own thoughts, Freeman’s way of teaching is a great choice.

It is easy to use, helps with ABA communication, and makes a good, strong guide for parents and children.

3. "Communication-Based Intervention for Problem Behavior" by Carr & Levin

Problem behaviors are common in many social contexts. They often make parents search for ways to help their kids. Carr and Levin's book is there to help. It gives behavior analysts a clear way to tackle these problem behaviors. The book talks about how these actions can be the way someone tries to say something.

The authors show how to use simple functional assessment techniques. They teach families how to spot what sets off these unwanted actions. With this, parents can learn how to bring in better ways to talk and act. This makes it easier to see real change. The book also shows parents and teachers how to use these ideas to fit any child and any situation.

Carr and Levin use real-life examples to make things clear. This helps readers know how to use the tools they learn, not just in special lessons, but also in daily life. The book is great whether you are trying to build better social interactions or cut down on hard feelings and outbursts.

This is a good guide for caregivers who want to start with ABA therapy. It helps make problem-solving feel possible and shows how new steps can really help in daily life.

4. "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" by Siegfried Engelmann

Reading is a key part of many important academic skills, especially for kids with autism spectrum disorder. Engelmann’s step-by-step book is a great tool to help build reading and writing inside aba programs.

This book makes teaching reading simple by splitting it into 100 easy lessons. Parents and therapists can fit these lessons right into their aba programs. It covers not only phonics, but also helps with understanding what is read, so children can learn better for a long time.

Engelmann’s way of teaching works well for kids with developmental disabilities. These methods are helpful but still push kids to get better. The book helps families take on big reading goals by making the steps simple.

Both parents and aba professionals will find this book useful and easy to use as a part of what they do to help children learn.

5. "Visual Strategies for Improving Communication" by Linda Hodgdon

Helping kids with autism build strong communication skills can be tough. But visual strategies often make it easier and more fun. Hodgdon’s book shows parents and therapists how they can use visual supports to help these children.

The book is clear and easy to use. It talks about tools like picture aids and visual schedules. These tools let children show what they want and feel. Hodgdon gives simple steps so families can make their own solutions.

There is clear help for moving from learning a lesson to seeing real growth in talking with others. It can help a child join in and take part in social times.

This book connects behavior analysis and what happens in real life. By using the guide, you can be sure that your child’s way to talk will keep getting better. If you want smart ideas to help kids join in and interact, Hodgdon offers ways that work both in daily life and aba programs. You can fit her ideas into the routine that works best for your family.

6. "Ethics for Behavior Analysts" by Jon Bailey and Mary Burch

Providing ABA therapy means you need to know about ethical issues. Bailey and Burch’s book is a good guide for ABA professionals who work to follow ethical compliance codes.

Parents and behavior analysts will find that the book helps them make the right choices in real-life situations. The authors use case studies and simple tools to show problems you might face. This helps families and therapists choose practices that are good and fair.

This book is important for all who want to keep integrity in aba therapy. Each new edition keeps you updated about the best practices and top standards. It helps you and others take an ethical path when working with people in different situations.

7. "Science and Human Behavior" by B.F. Skinner

B.F. Skinner did important work that still shapes how we see human behavior. Even though his book came out many years ago, the ideas in it help many behavior analysts today.

Skinner talks about the science of human behavior. He shows how it controls different ways we learn. His ideas make people look at what really causes the things we all do. This way, experts can build better ABA methods for everyone.

Even though the book is not new, what Skinner wrote is still useful now. It helps many families and others to use clear steps to bring about the changes they want. If you want to learn the basics of behavior analysis, this book is a good place to start.

8. "No More Meltdowns" by Jed Baker, PhD

Meltdowns can be very tough for kids with behavioral disorders, but Jed Baker’s book helps parents handle them. It mixes social skills training with clear behavioral frameworks. Baker shares a simple four-step way for parents to use.

Parents who use aba therapy can learn why meltdowns happen and what to do to stop them ahead of time. In his guide, Baker combines knowing how people feel with easy steps that fit in daily life.

The book does more for aba professionals too. It helps build strong links between families and the good things that happen in therapy. For anyone who deals with hard behaviors, Baker gives a good source that gives both parents and children long-term help.

9. "Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis" edited by Wayne W. Fisher

For people who work in clinical practice, Fisher’s handbook is one of the most complete books you can use. It covers all the basics, like your history lessons, as well as different ways to help your clients. The newest edition now looks at key advances, such as using telehealth and how to deal with feeding disorders.

The book helps behavior analysts learn key skills by showing how evidence-based techniques work in the real world. It tells you how to handle problem behaviors in the best way. There is a clear setup for many kinds of client needs.  The book also talks about ethical considerations, so you can blend facts with real steps to take action.

With this guide, readers get the tools they need to deal with tough behavior issues in many places. Whether you are a parent, a researcher, or someone else, Fisher’s handbook makes ABA systems easy to understand.

10. "The ABA Visual Language: Applied Behavior Analysis" by Makoto Shibutani

Shibutani’s guide uses a lot of pictures, making it easy to follow for anyone starting with ABA visual language. The book explains ABA ideas with images and real-life stories so you can use it in different settings.

Parents who are new to ABA like that the book shows how to build real therapy plans. It uses pictures to show goals, helping everyone talk clearly. This makes sure the child, therapist, and parents all know what to do in each session.

If you are looking for a new way to learn ABA strategies, Shibutani’s guide is a great pick. It is easy to use and helps people keep track of what’s needed for behavior analysis therapy for any person.

Applying ABA Techniques at Home

Bringing ABA therapy into your home means using the same helpful ideas from the clinic in your daily life. Parents can help by making a place at home that supports the skills their child learns while getting ABA therapy.

This part gives advice you can use right away to make ABA strategies work at home. You can help your child grow and learn every day by making these ideas part of your normal daily routines.

When you plan out daily routines and encourage good actions, you help your child keep working toward their ABA therapy goals. This helps your child be in a safe and steady place so they can do their best.

Practical tips for parents using ABA strategies

You don’t need any special training to use ABA principles at home with confidence. Start by trying out basic ABA strategies. For example, praise the good behavior right after you see it.

You can use easy tools like sticker charts to help your child keep getting better. Try breaking big tasks into small ones, like each step of getting dressed. This helps those goals feel possible and lets your child learn to do things on their own.

Try to be steady and do things the same way each time. Keep routines like meals and bedtime the same every day. This helps cut down on stress and helps your child keep making good progress with their therapy.

Integrating ABA methods into daily routines

Routines are a good way to put ABA methods into your child’s everyday life. Visual schedules for morning routines or after-school jobs can give the day some shape and help your child repeat good actions.

You can make use of chances to join in during daily activities. For example, you could use grocery shopping as a time for your child to work on talking. You might ask them to look for certain things in the store.

By using ABA methods in these routines, parents help their kids understand more about behavior analysis therapy. This will help children keep learning and improving with time.

Conclusion

As we finish our look at the most important ABA therapy books for parents, it is easy to see that these books can help you as you support your child's growth. Every book gives you good ideas and real tips.

You can use these ABA techniques at home to help your child in the way that is best for them. When you bring these methods into your daily routines, you build better ways for your child to talk and connect. This helps your child grow in many ways. The right support can help you move through the world of ABA therapy. 

Knowledge is powerful—and when paired with compassionate, expert care, it becomes life-changing. At Divine Steps ABA, we help families across Maryland build stronger connections, reduce behavior challenges, and create long-term success through individualized ABA therapy.

📞 Call us today at 888-301-4065 or 📧 email info@divinestepstherapy.com to schedule a free consultation.

Let’s pair your reading with real results—together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources:

• https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/2021/11/best-applied-behavior-analysis-books/
• https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis
• https://libguides.uwf.edu/c.php?g=885804&p=6365333
• https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/psychology/scientific-concepts-applied-behavior-analysis/
• https://www.umassglobal.edu/news-and-events/blog/what-is-applied-behavior-analysis