Books for Kids
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Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability by Pat Thomas, Lesley Harker; Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; (April 2002)ISBN: 0764121189. This delightful picture book explores questions and concerns about disability in a simple and reassuring way. Younger children can find out what a disability is, and learn how people deal with their disabilities to live happy and full lives. Reading level: Ages 4-8
The Making of My Special Hand: Madison's Story by Jamee Riggio Heelan, Nicola Simmonds; Publisher:
Peachtree Publishers; (February 2000) ISBN: 156145186X. A child who was born with one hand tells the story of how
people at the hospital made a helper hand for her, how the new hand operates,
how it feels, and how she can use it.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Oliver's High Five by Beverly Swerdlow Brown, Margot J. Ott;
Publisher: Health Press (NM); (December 1997) ISBN: 0929173260. Oliver Octopus only has five arms, but it doesn't bother
him! Young children with any kind of "disability" or "differences" will enjoy
reading about Oliver's adventures above the sea, and how, through his determination
and positive attitude, he corrects the misconceptions other people have about
physical challenges. Reading level: Ages
4-8
Blueberry Eyes by Monica Driscoll Beatty, Peg Michel; Health Press, 1996. Meaghan is a courageous seven-year-old girl with the common eye disorder, strabismus. Through the story, Meaghan learns about her condition and the correcting treatment, and faces her fears to realize that no matter what, she is one fabulous kid! Blueberry Eyes is a story that should be shared with all children--not only those with strabismus, but children who wear glasses, and their friends and siblings. age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Leslie's Story : A Book About a Girl With Mental Retardation
by Martha McNey, Leslie Fish; Lerner Publications Company, 1996. Describes
the home and school life of twelve-year-old Leslie, a girl with mental retardation,
and discusses mental retardation in general.
age level 6 - 8, grade level 1 - 3rd
How Smudge Came by Nan Gregory, Ron Lightburn (Illustrator), Walker & Company, 1997. Cindy finds a stray puppy in a snowstorm, sneaks it up to her room, and snuggles up to it in bed: "If there's one thing Cindy knows, this is her best friend." You respond to the universal pet story before the illustrations show that Cindy is a young woman with Down syndrome. The initial empathy is never lost. Cindy lives in a group home; it's a comfortable place, but there's no privacy and no place for her puppy. In the daytime she travels to her cleaning job in a nearby hospice. She enjoys her work, and the patients like her. One very sick young man, who is nearly blind, helps her name the puppy "Smudge." Her hospice friends feel her grief when she has to give up her pet to the animal shelter. age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Dad and Me in the Morning P. Lakin, Illustrated
by R.G. Steele; Concept Books, 1994.In a special morning interlude, a young
boy and his father go down to the beach to watch the sunrise. The boy has
a hearing impairment, but he and his father have many ways of communicating.
age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Andy and His Yellow Frisbee M. Thompson; Woodbine House, 1996. A heartwarming story that introduces young readers to autism, a disability that can be particularly confusing for those who know little about it. Andy, an autistic boy, has a special talent for spinning things. During recess at school, he spends the entire time spinning a yellow frisbee. Most of the time he is ignored by the other children, but Sarah, a new girl in school, takes a special interest in him. age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
My Friend Emily by Susanne M. Swanson;
Writer's Press. Katy's friend Emily has epilepsy. They have a lot in common
and Katy really likes playing with Emily. That's why she wants to learn what
to do if Emily has a seizure. She wants to be able to help her friend. A
truly heartwarming tale.
age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Dinosaur Hill by Diana Loski; Writer's
Press. Sarah has cerebral palsy, but that doesn't dampen her inquisitive nature.
She sits in her bedroom window imagining all sorts of things about the giant
wooded hill behind the house. When she finally gets to climb it on horseback
the adventure begins.
age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Donnie Makes A Difference by Sandra Haines; Writer's Press. Donnie tackles diabetes and wins. This story about perseverance is inspirational reading for young children. Full color illustrations make this book a winner. Donnie can truly make a difference in the lives of your students. age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Hi, I'm Adam : A Child's Book About Tourette Syndrome
by Adam, Buehrens; Hope Press, 1990.
age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
How Dyslexic Benny Became a Star; A Story of Hope for Dyslexic Children and Their Parents by Joe Griffith; Yorktown Press, 1997. age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Dragon in the Clouds by Rosemary Nelson; Napoleon Publishers, 1997. A beautiful long summer stretches out in front of 12 year-old Nikki with lots of time to spend at the beach and riding her horse. When her cousin , Trevor, arrives in his wheel chair, spoiling all her plans. the two take an instant dislike to one another. But a vision in the clouds will change both her and Trevor's feelings about a lot of things, and, in fact, will help make a dream come true as Trevor competes in the Games for the Physically Disabled. age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Going To The Doctor by T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.; Addison Wesley Longman Publishers, 1996. In this warm, delightful book, he explains each step of a visit to the doctor: from the stethoscope and checking the reflexes, to the eye chart and even the shots. His humor, honesty, and above all, his respect for the child's curiosity and worries shine through on every page. Hilariously candid drawings by Dr. Brazelton's grandson Alfred express the child's point of view while vivid photos bring the reader right into the doctor's office. age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
A Very Special Critter by Gina Mayer; Golden
Press. 1993. Alex, a new critter at school, uses a wheelchair to get around,
and at first the other critters aren't sure how to treat him. But when they
get to know Alex, they find that even though he's a special critter, he's
really just one of the gang.
age level 5 - 8, grade level preschool - 3rd
Someone Special, Just Like You (An Owlet Book) by Tricia Brown, Fran Ortiz (Photographer); Owlet Publishers, 1994. Brown and Ortiz show that the differences that seem to separate children with handicaps from others are not important. What is important is the common delight in life--a desire to love, learn and play, and to be accepted for themselves as other children are. age level 5 - 8, grade level preschool - 3rd
Are There Stripes in Heaven? by Lee Klein, Pam Mauseth (Illustrator); Paulist Press, 1994. Patrick's sister Colleen, a Down's syndrome child, helps him to appreciate various experiences, including going to Mass and seeing their first rainbow. age level 6 - 8, grade level 1 - 3rd
Big Brother Dustin by Alden R. Carter, Dan Young (Photographer), Carol Carter (Photographer); Albert Whitman & Co, 1997. Dustin, a young boy who has Down syndrome, is excited about the birth of his younger sister and helps anyway he can to prepare for her arrival, but when it comes to picking a name, Dustin struggles with his choices because he wants to pick just the right one. age level 6 - 8, grade level 1 - 3rd
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updated July 2004