Ever since my niece, Grace, was born, I’ve dreamed of sharing books with her, and now that she’s three, she’s discovering a whole new world of picture books with big ideas. In our family, Grace is surrounded by people with different disabilities. The people she loves think differently, move differently, and learn differently. To her, that’s normal because it IS normal. Kids like Grace deserve to see themselves and their families in the books they read, just like everyone else.
Disability Pride Month is all about taking strength in who we are as disabled people, celebrating our lives, and coming together as a community. That includes the kiddos in our lives. That’s where picture books come into play. These stories aren’t just sweet stories; they are reflections of the many different kinds of disabled lives lived around the world. They illustrate the incredible diversity in disabled communities.
There are dozens and dozens of picture books that highlight disabled lives—I had a tough time narrowing them down! But here are a few to help get you started.
If you would like even MORE recommendations for young people, check out The Schneider Family Book Awards. These awards were created to “honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.”
Picture Books for Disability Pride Month
A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond, Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove
Aidan doesn’t use words to talk. Instead, he uses a tablet to choose words and photos to tell people what he means. But some people think that Aidan doesn’t understand words because he doesn’t use them. A Day with No Words shows its readers that people communicate in a host of different ways, and it shows non-speaking readers a life like theirs.
In Reading Color
A weekly newsletter focusing on literature by and about people of color!
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, Illustrated by Sydney Smith
Poet Jordan Scott tells the story of a boy who stutters, who feels out of place in a world where speech comes so easily to others. But when his father takes him for a walk along the river, he begins to feel more at home with his words. With Sydney Smith’s stunning illustrations, it’s no wonder that this book has been highlighted and featured in countless publications.
Mama Car by Lucy Catchpole, Illustrated by Karen George
Dad has the big car. Mama is in a wheelchair, or better yet, it’s a Mama Car! Mama Car is there for all of life’s big adventures. When the kiddos need a hug, Mama Car is there. Written by wheelchair user Lucy Catchpole, Mama Car shows its readers that Mamas who are wheelchair users are just like every other mom. They give hugs and go on trips and love just as much as anyone else.
Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus, Illustrated by Polly Dunbar
Poet Raymond Antrobus has written an adorable children’s book about a bear cub who is hard of hearing (HoH). He keeps hearing adults ask him, “Can Bears Ski?” It’s not until the end of the book that he realizes that they are actually saying, “Can you hear me?” This is such a great book to give the Deaf and HoH kids in your life. Can Bears Ski? also opens up the conversation with hearing kids to help them understand that being Deaf or HoH is just another way to be human.
Sam’s Super Seats by Keah Brown, Illustrated by Sharee Miller
From #DisabledAndCute creator Keah Brown, Sam’s Super Seats follows a young girl named Sam who has a love of comfortable seating. Wherever she goes, she finds super comfortable places to sit made just for her. Brown’s warmhearted and funny story highlights the importance of accessible seating and advocating for oneself.
A Sky-Blue Bench by Bahram Rahman, Illustrated by Peggy Collins
Afghani author Bahram Rahman tells the story of Ari, a young Afghani girl who’s returning to school after an accident where she had to have one of her legs amputated. She couldn’t be more excited to return to school, this time with her “helper leg.” But sitting on the floor with her new leg gives her chronic pain, so she organizes a way to make benches at school so kids like her can focus on learning instead of their disabilities. We love a story about creative solutions making education more accessible!
A Walk in Words by Hudson Talbott, Illustrated by the Author
Hudson Talbott has illustrated some of the most beloved children’s books in the last couple of decades, including Jacqueline Woodson’s Show Way and Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. But A Walk in Words is his own story of growing up with a learning disability. As a boy, Hudson struggled to read the words in front of him. Eventually, he gave himself permission to read at his own pace, enjoying the stories he read on his own terms, not at the speed expected by those around him.
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