Books have always been a wonderful way for parents to help their children explore and understand the world while sharing a special bond that develops over shared stories. For children affected by disabilities—whether it’s the child, the parent, or the sibling—books can provide a uniquely safe environment within which to ask questions about and understand those with disabilities.
Through the characters within the stories, children can feel as though they are not alone in their disability. These books would also be helpful for any child to learn about people in their world who are a little different. I tried to choose books that featured a child or parent with a disability living their lives just like anybody else.
Here are some of the best books, both fiction and nonfiction, to share with your kids:
Preschool
Harry and Willy and Carrothead. Caseley, Judith. Greenwillow. (1991) 24pp. ISBN 0688094929. Harry was born without a left hand. When he goes to school, the other kids are curious. He shows them that he is a normal kid who likes to play ball and he even gets in trouble When his friend gets teased, Harry stands up for him.
Mama Zooms. Cowen-Fletcher, Jane. Scholastic. (1996) ISBN 0590457756.
This picture book shows a little boy whose mom is in a wheelchair. She “zooms” him around in it: she is his airplane, his train, his wave, etc.
I’m the Big Sister Now. Emmert, Michelle. Albert Whitman & Company, (1989). 32 pp. ISBN 0807534587. Michelle is nine years old and her older sister, Amy, has cerebral palsy. The book is presented with real-life situations and the illustrations are equally realistic.
Silent Lotus. Lee, Jeanne M., Farrar, Strauss and Giroux. (1994) 32pp. ISBN 0374466467. Lotus, a young Cambodian girl, cannot hear or speak. She is very lonely until she goes to the palace with her parents and sees the beautiful palace dancers. She begins to copy their movements and learns to dance, using the vibrations of the music to guide her. Includes beautiful illustrations.
A Very Special Critter. Mayer, Mercer and Gina. Golden Books. (1993) 24pp. ISBN 030712763X. This is a wonderful picture book! Alex, a new kid at school, is in a wheelchair. The narrator talks about being nervous at first, but after meeting Alex, finds out that he’s not so different. He can play dodgeball, but he’s not so good at hide-and-go-seek. Alex needs help once in a while, but so does everyone!
Lucy’s Picture. Moon, Nicola and Ayliffe. Puffin. (1997) 32pp. ISBN 0140557695. Lucy wants to make a picture for her grandpa. Because he is blind, she must create a picture that he can see with his hands.
The Deaf Musicians. Seeger, Pete and Paul Dubois Jacobs. Putnam Juvenile. (2006) 32pp. ISBN 039924316X. Lee is a jazz piano player. When he loses his hearing, he worries that he’ll never play beautiful music again. When he goes to a deaf school, he learns a new way to play music.
Susan Laughs. Willis, Jeanne. Red Fox Books. (2001) 36pp. ISBN 0099407566.
This book shows all the things Susan does, such as playing and getting in trouble. To the reader’s surprise, the last page reveals that she is in a wheelchair.
My Friend Isabelle. Woloson, Eliza. Woodbine House (2003) 28pp. ISBN 189062750X. Two children form a friendship. Charlie and Isabelle learn about each other’s similarities and differences. Charlie runs fast, Isabelle runs slow. The moral of the story is that differences are what make the world great. In an epilogue, the author explains that Isabelle has Down syndrome.
The Seeing Stick. Yolen, Jane. HarperCollins. (1977) 32pp. ISBN 0690005962. Hwei Ming is a blind Chinese princess living in ancient Peking. Her father, the emperor, sends out a message that he will reward anyone who can help his daughter see. Doctors and monks try and fail. Finally, an old blind man travels far and teaches the princess to see with her hands. Beautiful illustrations.
Early Elementary: Children with a Disability Discovering Their World
Fireflies. Hoffman, Alice. Hyperion. (1999) 64p. ISBN 0786805412. This quasi-fairytale is about a boy named Jackie, who is clumsy. After a bought of teasing, he flees to the mountains. While in the mountains, he inadvertently frees the fireflies, thus saving the town from a permanent winter.
Special People, Special Ways. Maguire, Arlene. Future Horizons. (2000) 32pp. ISBN 1885477651. This book looks at people with disabilities and other differences and shows all the similarities they share with able-bodied people. A valuable reframing of the concept of disability for special-needs children - and everyone else.
Amelia Lends a Hand. Moss, Marissa. American Girl. (2002) 32pp. ISBN 1584855088. Amelia notices that her new neighbor, Enzo, is deaf. She wants to make friends, so she starts learning sign language. After an asthma attack, Amelia can’t talk very well. She gets a glimpse of what life without talking is like. The book shows some sign language. It’s classified as a picture book, but it is appropriate up to fifth grade.
Best Friend on Wheels. Shirley, Debra. Albert Whitman & Company. (2008) 32pp. ISBN 9780807588680. The narrator meets Sarah, a girl in a wheelchair, and after some initial trepidation, they become fast friends. They do everything together and the narrator learns that Sarah is not different at all, only that she likes fudge coconut cherry ice cream and the narrator prefers vanilla!
New Opportunities. White, Michelle. Trafford Publishing. (2005) 28pp. ISBN 1412069289. Follow the story of a porcupine named Spiney, who has an accident resulting in a spinal cord injury. Spiney has to learn to do things differently than before. She also finds new opportunities along the way. Spiney’s life is based on the author’s own true story.
Late Elementary: Children with a Disability Taking on Their World
Eddie’s Blue-Winged Dragon. Adler, C.S. Backinprint.com. (2004) 146pp. ISBN 0595329470. Eddie, a sixth grader with cerebral palsy, doesn’t have it too easy. He’s the victim of the school bully, who takes the money he has put aside for his little sister’s birthday present. When Eddie buys a blue-winged dragon figurine, things start to change in his life. Whenever he thinks badly about the bully, odd things begin to happen. Fantasy book.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. Denenberg, Barry. Scholastic. (2002) 139pp. ISBN 0439194466. Bess, age 12, was recently blinded in a sledding accident. She is sent to a school for the blind, where she learns how to exist in the world without sight. The book takes place in 1932 and is composed of diary entries from Bess and her twin.
And Don’t Bring Jeremy. Levinson, Marilyn. Backinprint.com. (2000) 132pp. ISBN 0595169198. This is a story about Adam’s frustration with his autistic brother, Jeremy. The book talks about the real-life situations that Adam and Jeremy face. Jeremy is jealous of Adam and the plot culminates at an all-star baseball game. An excellent book for exploring the conflicting feelings felt by siblings of special-needs children.
Views from Our Shoes: Growing up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs. Meyer, Donald. Woodbine House. (1997) 113pp. ISBN 0933149980.
A collection of essays from the siblings of children with disabilities, written in chronological order from age four to 18. It covers experiences and emotions in a way that is honest and direct.
Trout and Me. Shreve, Susan. Yearling. (1994) 144pp. ISBN 0440419026. Ben has always had trouble with school. His stomach hurts as he climbs the steps to his classes. His behavior and bad grades are attributed to learning disorders. When Ben meets Trout, a new kid who everyone thinks is a weird troublemaker, Ben finally finds someone he can relate to.
Jodie’s Journey. Thiele, Colin. HarperCollins. (1990) 112pp. ISBN 0060261323. An active young horseback rider, Jodie, is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She is devastated and worried that she will never be able to ride again. The book follows her determination to move forward with her life, while still holding on to the things she loves.
Middle School: Children with a Disability Taking on the World
The Monument. Paulsen, Gary. Yearling. (1993) 160pp. ISBN 0440407826. Rocky, an orphan with a bad leg, is adopted by a family from a small town in Kansas. She finds a passion for art and life when she meets Mick, an artist who has been commissioned by the town to build a monument dedicated to war veterans.
For special-needs children exploring both who they are and the world around them, books with characters with a disability can be a great way to start discussions, share stories, or just spend fun time together for parents and kids.
Ready to get started? Check for these at your local library. If your library doesn't have the book you're looking for, the librarians may be able to get it for you through their interlibrary loan system.
And if you know of other wonderful books with characters with a disability that you'd like added to this list, please send Cherl an email at cpetso@disaboom.com and we'll be happy to review it.
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