Introduction
AD/HD
Autism
Down Syndrome
Hearing
Impairment, including Deafness
Physical
Disabilities
Serious Medical or
Life-Threatening Conditions
Sibling
Issues
Visual Impairment, including
Blindness
Other
Introduction
This list of Resources You Can Use is
intended to help parents and professionals identify books that are
written about or include characters who have a disability. The list
is grouped according to disability or issue (see list, above). We
have indicated the age/grade level in parentheses to help you
determine which of these books is appropriate for your children. At
times, for clarity, we have indicated additional information about
the story. A list of publishers is provided (in alphabetical order)
at the end of this document, so that readers can easily obtain books
of interest to them.
This Resources You Can Use is not
intended to serve as an endorsement of any of the books listed. We
urge you to carefully evaluate all materials in order to determine
which is most appropriate for your particular needs.
This booklist is by no means exhaustive. You may
identify additional children's literature relating to disability by:
- Contacting a national, state, or local level
disability organization that specializes in the disability of
interest to you and asking what children's books involving
disability they might recommend;
- Checking to see what books involving disability
are available in your local library and local bookstores;
- Visiting the Web sites of the publishers listed
at the end of this document to see if they have othermaterials
that meet your needs.
- These books can offer an excellent vehicle for
communicating with children about disabilities, for providing
children and young adults with stories about persons like
themselves, and for featuring the personalities, friendships,
challenges, accomplishments, and daily lives of people with
disabilities.
AD/HD
Corman,C.L., & Trevino, E. (1995). Eukee
the jumpy jumpy elephant. Plantation, FL: Special Press.
(Preschool-3)
Galvin, M., & Ferraro, S. (Illust.). (1995).
Otto learns about his medicine: A story about medicine for
children with ADHD. Washington, DC: Magination Press. (Ages
4-8)
Shapiro, L.E. (1993). Sometimes I drive my
mom crazy, but I know she’s crazy about me: A self-esteem book for
ADHD children. Secaucus, NJ: Childswork/ Childsplay.
(Preschool-5)
Autism
Amenta III, C.A. (1992). Russell is extra
special: A book about autism for children. Washington, DC:
Magination Press. (Ages 4-8)
Branon, B. (1998). Timesong. Las Vegas,
NV: Huntington Press.
Simmons, K.L. (1996). Little rainman.
Arlington, TX: Future Horizons. (Ages 4-8)
Wilson, R. (1999). The legendary
blobshocker. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons. (Written and
illustrated by a nine-year-old boy with autism.)
Down Syndrome
Carter, A.R., Young, D. (Illust.), & Carter,
C. (Illust.). (1997). Big brother Dustin. Morton Grove,
IL: Albert Whitman. (Ages 4-8)
Carter, A.R., Young, D. (Photographer), &
Carter, C. (Illust.). (1999). Dustin's big school day.
Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (Ages 4-8)
Fleming, V. (1993). Be good to Eddie
Lee. New York, NY: Putnam. (Preschool-3)
Rickert, J.E., & McGahan, P. (Photographer).
(1999). Apple tree surprise. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine
House. (Ages 3-7)
Rickert, J.E., & McGahan, P. (Photographer).
(1999). Russ and the firehouse. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine
House. (Ages 3-7)
Rickert, J.E., & McGahan, P. (Photographer).
(2001). Russ and the almost perfect day. Bethesda, MD:
Woodbine House. (Ages 3-7)
Stuve-Bodeen, S. (1998). We’ll paint the
octopus red. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. (Ages 3-7)
Testa, M., & Paterson, D. (1994). Thumbs
up, Rico! Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (Grades 3-7)
Hearing Impairment,
including Deafness
Addabbo, C. (1998). Dina the deaf
dinosaur. Stamford, CT: Hannacroix Creek. (The author of this
book is deaf.) (Preschool-5)
Lowell, G.R., & Brooks, K.S. (Illust.).
(2000). Elana’s ears, or how I became the best big sister in
the world. Washington, DC: Magination Press. (Deafness) (Ages
3-8)
Slier, D. (1995). Word signs.
Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press. (Deafness)
Physical
Disabilities
Heelan, J.R. (1998). Making of my special
hand: Madison’s story. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree. (This book is
about the making of a prosthesis.) (Ages 4-8)
Heelan, J.R. (2000). Rolling along: The
story of Taylor and his wheelchair. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.
(This book is about a boy with cerebral palsy learning to use a
wheelchair.) (Ages 6-10)
Holcomb, N. (1992). Andy finds a
turtle. Hollisdayburg, PA: Jason & Nordic. (Preschool-2)
Holcomb, N. (1992). Andy opens wide.
Hollisdayburg, PA: Jason & Nordic. (Preschool-2)
Holcomb, N. (1992). Fair and square.
Hollisdayburg, PA: Jason & Nordic. (Preschool-2)
Myers, C., & Morgan, C. (Illust.). (1999).
Rolling along with Goldilocks and the three bears.
Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. (Using a wheelchair) (Ages 3-7)
Useman, S., Useman, E., & Pillo, C.
(Illust.). (1999). Tibby tried it. Washington, DC:
Magination Press. (About a bird who can’t fly.) (Ages 3-8)
Serious Medical or
Life-Threatening Conditions
Mills, J.C. (1993). Gentle willow: A story
for children about dying. Washington, DC: Magination Press.
(Preschool-3)
Mills, J., & Chesworth, M. (Illust.).
(1992). Little Tree: A story for children with serious medical
problems. Washington, DC: Magination Press. (Amputation)
(Ages 4-8)
Slote, A. (1992). Hang tough, Paul
Mather. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s. (About a
12-year-old pitcher with leukemia.)
Verniero, J.C., & Flory, V. (Illust.).
(1995). You can call me Willy: A story for children about
AIDS. Washington, DC: Magination Press. (Ages 4-8)
Sibling
Issues
Fox, P. (1997). Radiance descending.
New York, NY: DK Publishing. (Down syndrome) (Grades 5-7)
Gordon, M., & Junco, J.H. (Illust.).
(1992). My brother’s a world class pain: A sibling’s guide to
ADHD-hyperactivity. DeWitt, NY: GSI. (Grades 4 and up)
Lowell, G.R., & Brooks, K.S. (Illust.).
(2000). Elana’s ears, or how I became the best big sister in
the world. Washington, DC: Magination Press. (Deafness) (Ages
3-8)
Meyer, D.J. (Ed.). (1997). Views from our
shoes: Growing up with a brother or sister with special
needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. (Grades 3 and up)
Prizant, B.M. (Ed.). (1997). In our own
words: Stories by brothers and sisters of children with autism and
PDD. Fall River, MA: Adsum. (Ages 12 and up)
Thompson, M. (1992). My brother
Matthew. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. (About disability in
general.) (Grades K-5)
Visual Impairment,
including Blindness
Chamberlin, K. (1997). Night search.
Hollisdayburg, PA: Jason & Nordic. (Also available in
Braille.)
Day, S., & Morris, D. (Illust.). Luna
and the big blur. Washington, DC: Magination Press. (Ages
4-8)
Martin, Jr., B., Archambault, J., & Rand, T.
(Illust.). (1995). Knots on a counting rope. New York,
NY: Henry Holt. (Preschool-2)
Other
Aldape, V.T., & Kossacoff, L.S.
(Photographer). (1995). Nicole's story: A book about a girl
with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner.
(Grades 3-8)
Carlisle, K. (1994). Special raccoon:
Helping a child learn about handicaps and love. Far Hills,
NJ: New Horizon. (About disability in general.)
Klayman, G. (1996). Our new baby needs
special help: A coloring book for families whose new baby has
problems. Omaha, NE: Centering Corporation.
Koplow, L., & Velasquez, E. (Illust.).
(1991). Tanya and the Tobo man: A story for children entering
therapy. Washington, DC: Magination Press. (Written in both
English and Spanish.) (Ages 4-8)
Maguire, A. (1995). We’re all special.
Santa Monica, CA: Portunus. (About disability in general.)
(Preschool and up)
Mulder, L., & Friar, J.H. (Illust.).
(1992). Sarah and Puffle: A story for children about
diabetes. Washington, DC: Magination Press. (Diabetes) (Ages
4-8)
Roy, J.R. (1999). Bed potatoes: An activity
guide for kids who feel yukky, miserable, and just plain
sick. Saratoga Springs, NY: Activate Press.
