Digger Gets Help: A Story About Sexual Abuse for Children
by Lia Brewer; University Classics, 1997. Today, one out of every four
children is sexually molested. Digger Gets Help was written for children
who have been sexually abused to help them realize that they are not alone,
and to make them comfortable enough to talk about it. It can be used to
help children protect themselves from possible future abuse by discussing
the difference between "good and bad touch." It is also helpful for the
child who may have a friend who has been abused.
age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Howie Helps Himself by Joan Fassler; Albert Whitman & Co, 1987. Though he enjoys life with his family and attends school, Howie, a child with cerebral palsy, wants more than anything else to be able to move his wheelchair by himself. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
The Day We Met Cindy by Anne Marie Starowitz; Kendall Green, 1988. A first grade class is introduced to hearing loss and sign language by the hearing-impaired aunt of one of the students. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Lee, the Rabbit with Epilepsy by Deborah
Moss, Carol Schwartz (Illustrator); Woodbine House, 1989. Lee is diagnosed
as having epilepsy, but medicine to control her seizures reduces her worries
and she learns she can still lead a normal life.
age level 4 - 8, reading level preschool - 4th
Amigos En LA Escuela/Friends at School by Rochelle Bunnett, Matt Brown (Photographer); Star Bright Books; 1997. The Spanish edition of Friends At School. A wonderful portrait of children with different abilities busily working and playing together at school. The straight forward text and colorful photographs illustrate the true meaning of the word inclusion. It shows that given the opportunity, children readily accept one another's differences. age level 4 - 8, reading level preschool - 4th
Ian's Walk : A Story About Autism by Laurie Lears, Karen Ritz (Illustrator), Judith Mathews (Editor); Albert Whitman & Company, 1998. American Bookseller named Ian's Walk a "Pick of the Lists" and wrote, "Lovely pictures bring to life the touching story of how Julie learns to appreciate her younger brother, who has autism. It teaches not only about an often misunderstood disorder, but responsibility, acceptance, appreciation, and love." age level 4 - 8, reading level preschool - 4th
Talking to Angels by Esther Watson; Harcourt Brace, 1996. There is no story in the traditional sense. Rather, in minimal text, Watson introduces her autistic sister, Christa, and the circumscribed world of sensations in which the child seems to live. Autism is not sharply defined. In fact, young children may find many of Christa's feelings ("Christa loves the way water looks. She also likes the way kittens feel on her cheek" ) difficult to distinguish from their own. age level 4 - 8, reading level preschool - 4th
Nick Joins In by Joe Lasker, Kathleen Tucker (Editor); Albert Whitman & Company, 1980. When Nick, confined to a wheelchair, enters a regular classroom for the first time as a result of U.S. Public Law 94-142, he and his new classmates must resolve their initial apprehensions about mainstreaming. Nick soon realizes he has special talents to contribute. 'Hooray for Nick,' the children cheer as he helps get a wedged basketball down. age level 4 - 8, reading level preschool - 4th
Our Teacher's in a Wheelchair by Mary Ellen
Powers, Kathleen Tucker (Editor); Albert Whitman & Company, 1987. A
picture-book photo essay introduces a young man named Brian Hanson whose
wheelchair doesn't stop him from teaching in a day care center.
age level 4 - 8, reading level preschool - 4th
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin,
John Archambault, Ted Rand (Illustrator); Owlet Publication, 1997. A grandfather
uses a counting rope to help his blind grandson understand the passage
of time. As the boy and his grandfather talk, the cool night becomes a
warm day, and as the grandfather recounts the boy's birth and struggle
for life, he tries to help the child face the challenge of blindness.
age level 3 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Sara's Secret (First Person) by Suzanne Wanous, Shelly O. Haas (Illustrator); Carolrhoda Books, 1995. At first Sara doesn't want anyone at her new school to know about her younger brother Justin who has cerebral palsy. age level 4-8, grade level preschool - 3
Be Good to Eddie Lee by Virginia Fleming,
Floyd Cooper (Illustrator); Philomel Books, 1993. Although Christy considered
him a pest, when Eddie Lee, a boy with Down's Syndrome, follows her into
the woods, he shares several special discoveries with her.
age level 4-8, grade level preschool - 3
Dina the Deaf Dinosaur by Carole Addabbo, Carole Addabbom; Hannacroix Creek Books, 1997. Dina, a deaf dinosaur, runs away from home because her parents will not let her leran sign language even though it would allow her to communicate more complicated ideas. In the forest Dina meets, Otto the owl, Camilla the chipmunk, and Moliere the mole. Fortunately, Otto learned some sign language years before when he lived below a deaf dove. Dina teaches them the sign language alphabet and a few words. They invite her to stay with them. This children's book will delight children who can hear or who are deaf. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Our Brother Has Down's Syndrome by Shelley Cairo, Jasmine Cairo, Tara Cairo; Firefly Books, 1985. A ". . . fine book to introduce physical and mental handicaps" (Canadian Materials). "This warm family story, lighted by color photos of Jai's busy, happy life, should be an inspiration to any reader."--Emergency Librarian. Full color. age level 4 - 10, grade level preschool - 5
Where's Chimpy by Berniece Rabe; Albert Whitman & Co, 1995. Text and photographs show Misty, a little girl with Down's syndrome, and her father reviewing her day's activities in their search for her stuffed monkey. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Watching Bradley Grow : A Story About Premature Birth by Elizabeth Murphy-Melas, Diane Tate (Illustrator); Longstreet Press, 1996. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose : Told in Signed English (Signed English Series) by Harry Bornstein, Karen L. Saulnier, Pat Peters (Illustrator), Linda C. Tom; Kendall Green, 1992. Presents well-known Mother Goose rhymes accompanied by diagrams showing how to form the Signed English signs for each word in the poems. age level 4-8, grade level preschool - 3
Reach for the Moon by Samantha Abeel, Charles
R. Murphy, Roberta Williams (Editor); Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers, 1994.
Reach for the Moon combines the remarkable poetry and prose of a gifted,
yet learning disabled, 13-year-old with the exquisite watercolors that
inspired her words. The universal message "you can do it" is shared beautifully
with the reader and will be an inspiration to parents, teachers, and children.
age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Even Little Kids Get Diabetes by Connie White Pirner. Pictures by Nadine Bernard Westcott. Published by Ablert Whitman & Company. The star of this book is Lydia, the author's daughter, who was diagnosed with diabetes when she was two years old. The words are those of a very young girl, maybe in kindergarten, so your own very young child will feel right at home. The colorful illustrations recount her days in the hospital, as well as the frustration of eating an apple at a birthday party while everyone else eats cake. This is a good book for the very young child and her parents, though current diabetes care allows for the incorporation of sweets into the diet. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Sarah and Puffle: A Story for Children About Diabetes
by Linnea Mulder, R.N. Illustrated by Joanne H. Friar; Magination Press.
The author's daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with diabetes six weeks before
her fourth birthday. Sarah and Puffle recounts how frustrated children
often get managing their diabetes. Facing a visit to her cousins who live
on a farm, Sarah can't help but feel left out because she has diabetes.
Tired of the demands of diabetes, she runs off to the sheep pen and falls
asleep and dreams of a talking sheep named Puffle that helps her come to
terms with having diabetes. This is an excellent book for second graders
and up, who will find the writing challenging and the story all to close
too home.
age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Princess Pooh by Kathleen M. Muldoon, Linda Shute (Illustrator); Concept Books, 1989. Jealous of her invalid sister's royal treatment as she sits in her wheelchair, Patty Jean tries out the conveyance and discovers life in a wheelchair is no fun at all. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
See You Tomorrow, Charles by Miriam Cohen,
Lillian Hoban (Illustrator); Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishers, 1997. Charles
is the new boy in the first-grade class, and he is blind. His classmates
want to be helpful. Should they protect Charles or treat him like everyone
else? No one knows for sure. Then one day Danny, Charles, and Anna Maria
get into trouble. Can Charles take charge and help his friends?
age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
The Face at the Window by Regina Hanson, Linda Saport (Illustrator); Clarion Books, 1997. Young Dora overcomes her fear of Miss Nella, a mentally ill woman, after she must apologize for breaking a window, in a compassionate look at how the mentally ill are set apart from the community and the generosity of spirit that can bridge the gap. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
He's My Brother by Joe Lasker; Albert Whitman & Co, 1987.A young boy describes the experiences of his slow learning younger brother at school and at home. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Somebody Called Me a Retard Today And My Heart Felt
Sad by Ellen O'Shaughnessy; Walker & Co, 1992. A moving
story about what if feels like to be teased empowers mentally challenged
children and sensitizes everyone to the need to celebrate people's differences,
as a girl expresses her sadness at being called a "retard" by people who
do not know how loving and self-reliant she is.
age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
Talking to Angels by Esther Watson; Harcourt Brace, 1996. A poetic tribute to the author's autistic sister, Christa, explains why autism is not a barrier to love or friendship and celebrates the special world in which the young girl exists. age level 4 - 8, grade level preschool - 3
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updated May 14, 1999