I Don't Like Parties

Cat DOES NOT LIKE PARTIES. Not even a little bit. 
 
They're noisy, and smelly, and way too bright - they're just no fun at all. 
 
But Cat does like their friends. And their friends seem to LOVE parties. So they sit through the loud music and whirling disco lights, even if it makes their eyes sting and their ears hurt. 
 
That is, until one particularly chaotic and unruly party makes Cat question if anyone really does like them after all... 
 
This debut picture book from brilliantly talented author/illustrator Abigail Balfe celebrates difference, friendship, and compassion in a way that is full of clever, playful humour and a whole lot of heart. 
 
For older readers: 
A Different Sort of Normal

Abigail Balfe (Author, Illustrator) 
Abigail is a Brighton-based writer, illustrator and creative producer. Original storytelling has always been at the heart of Abigail's career and she has spent a decade leading social media campaigns for some of the biggest TV & entertainment clients in the world. Abigail also used to perform stand-up comedy and won several tiny trophies for her onstage humour; which involved life-size illustrations, ridiculous songs and rambling stories about her family.

Abigail Balfe

A funny, fascinating illustrated memoir that conveys - via joyous tangential leaps, vivid doodles and informative notes - how it felt to grow up autistic and undiagnosed . . . a rewarding and highly entertaining read

I REALLY love it. It's the book I wish I'd had when I was a kid (I'd have known I was autistic immediately, right down to the cats). Buy it for your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Mostly buy it for yourself

A hugely engaging, funny and informative account of being neurodivergent

This book is what I needed as a kid! Empathetic, joyful and beautifully authentic. I loved it!

Funny, poignant and wise, with a rich seam of understanding and empathy . . . one of the best children's non-fiction books I've read in a long time

Insightful, accessible and easy to navigate, this is an essential book for autistic and allistic (non-autistic) readers of all ages

An amazing, life-changing hug of a book I wish I had when I was growing up. It's funny, eye-opening and supremely reassuring and an important, myth-busting look into autism and how that experience can vary so much. For anyone and EVERYONE who has ever felt different. Time to reclaim it and celebrate it

This book is a great explainer, full of empathy for different situations, which explodes many misconceptions about autistic people along the way! I wish I had had this available many years ago when teaching an autistic child on a one-to-one basis

What a difference Abigail Balfe's new book is going to make for so many people! A Different Sort of Normal is a wonderful blend of humour, information &amp; reassuring comfort

Highly illustrated, beautiful and an essential book for young autistic people

It is an outrageously beautiful, interesting, quirky, personal, funny introduction to autism. It has super gorgeous illustrations and details on every page, and covers SO MANY important topics.

NeuroWild (Em Hammond) an autistic and ADHD speech pathologist, illustrator and advocate

Your book means so much to me and others - it was like reading about my own life, even down to the special interests, as we are a similar age! Such an important, accessible and wonderful book.

Emma Reynolds, author, illustrator and founder of #kidlit4climate campaign

I wish I could go back in time and hand deliver A Different Sort of Normal by Abigail Balfe to my younger self. But even thought I can't, the Lucy of now very much appreciates feeling seen and understood and is having to stop herself from tearing up.

Lucy Powrie, author of The Paper & Hearts Society series

It is honest, real and downright brilliant. Abigail writes in such a brilliant creative way that really will draw in readers of all ages. Seriously, ever since I discovered this book I knew it was going to be special, that it would go places. It&rsquo;s award winner worthy, and I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;ve ever said this about any book.

Louise Gooding, author of Wonderfully Wired Brains

How dyslexic-friendly is it? This is probably the most accessible &amp; engaging book I have ever read. The authors' creativity and skill for illustrations (she did them all herself!) and explaining things makes it fun, pleasing to the eye and enjoyable.

A real-life completely true story about being unique

I'm not like the other children in my class . . . and that's an actual scientific FACT. 
 
Hi! My name is Abigail and I’m autistic. 
 
But when I was a child I didn’t know I was autistic. In fact - it wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I discovered my neurodivergence and my life finally started to make sense. 
 
This book follows my journey of self discovery from childhood through adulthood, as I attempt to navigate the confusing world around me - a world predominantly built for neurotypical brains. 
 
In this book you’ll find: 
 
VERY IMPORTANT FACTS about neurodiversity, neurodivergence, autistic traits, autism and gender, sensory sensitivities, social communication, emotions, friendships, bullying, sensory overload, meltdowns, family, school, special interests, masking, puberty AND MORE 
 
VERY PERSONAL STORIES involving toilets, cats, poo, swimming pools, my ridiculous family, my slightly unusual way of trying to make friends, falling up the French stairs wearing a skirt, getting locked in a cinema overnight and MORE embarrassing (and often hilarious) moments like these… 
 
PLUS TIPS for supporting the neurodivergent people in your life, advocating for your own needs as a neurodivergent person, and learning to embrace what makes you different. 
 
It’s for children. It’s for adults. It’s for neurodivergent people. It’s for neurotypical people. It’s for parents, carers, siblings, teachers, librarians, psychiatrists, doctors, nurses - and everyone else too. 
 
Basically - it’s for you. 
 
EXTRA IMPORTANT AND LITTLE KNOWN FACT: A Different Sort of Normal is also indirectly a story about growing up as an auDHD person - because nearly a year after this book was published I received my ADHD diagnosis

Abigail Balfe

Praise for A Different Sort of Normal

A funny, fascinating illustrated memoir that conveys - via joyous tangential leaps, vivid doodles and informative notes - how it felt to grow up autistic and undiagnosed . . . a rewarding and highly entertaining rea ...

I REALLY love it. It's the book I wish I'd had when I was a kid (I'd have known I was autistic immediately, right down to the cats). Buy it for your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Mostly buy it for yourself

Illuminating

A funny, fascinating illustrated memoir that conveys - via joyous tangential leaps, vivid doodles and informative notes - how it felt to grow up autistic and undiagnosed . . . a rewarding and highly entertaining rea ...

I REALLY love it. It's the book I wish I'd had when I was a kid (I'd have known I was autistic immediately, right down to the cats). Buy it for your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Mostly buy it for yourself

Illuminating

A funny, fascinating illustrated memoir that conveys - via joyous tangential leaps, vivid doodles and informative notes - how it felt to grow up autistic and undiagnosed . . . a rewarding and highly entertaining rea ...

I REALLY love it. It's the book I wish I'd had when I was a kid (I'd have known I was autistic immediately, right down to the cats). Buy it for your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Mostly buy it for yourself

Illuminating

Books by Abigail Balfe

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter