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- “My Friend Isabelle” by Eliza Woloson – This book tells the story of two friends, one who uses a wheelchair and one who doesn’t, and their friendship.
- “The Deaf Musicians” by Pete Seeger – This book is about a group of musicians who are all deaf, but are still able to make beautiful music together.
- “Just Because” by Rebecca Elliott – This book follows the story of a little girl with a brother who has autism, and how they learn to appreciate and understand each other.
- “Susan Laughs” by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Tony Ross – This is a picture book that celebrates a young girl with a disability. Through vivid illustrations and simple yet powerful language, the book showcases Susan’s daily activities, joys, and challenges, all while emphasizing the fact that Susan is first and foremost a child, just like any other.
- How We Chose These Titles
- Children’s Picture Books About Disabilities and Including Disabled Characters
- Informational Children’s Books About Disabilities
When researching the best children’s books about disabilities to share in the classroom, we learned a lot from children’s publishing agents James and Lucy Catchpole. They are disabled, and they give great tips for teachers on their blog. (See their own picture books below too!) To create this list, we took their advice and prioritized books written...
1. We Move Together by Kelly Fritsch and Anne McGuire
This gem celebrates human connection and calls for collective anti-ableist activism. The resource section at the back of the book helps classes talk about ableism, accessibility, and more. It’s an all-ages book with many layers. Buy it: We Move Together on Amazon
2. What Happened To You? by James Catchpole
Joe is deep into a game of pirates at the playground when other children begin asking him questions about why he has one leg. Joe deftly keeps the focus on play, teaching his playmates about empathy and privacy. This is an important book for talking about respectful responses to (any) differences. Definitely check out the free lesson plans from the author’s website and his personal reasons for writing the book. Buy it: What Happened to You?on Amazon
3. You’re So Amazing! by James and Lucy Catchpole
Joe’s back in this sequel toWhat Happened to You?, enjoying his large crew of buddies on the playground. The trouble is, adults keep interrupting his fun to comment how “amazing” it is that he can play despite his disability. In an interview, author James Catchpole shares: “Joe’s second adventure asks: Does Joe have to be Amazing Joe or Poor Joe? Can’t he just be … Joe?” Kids and adults need to hear this story that challenges commonly assumed narratives about people with disabilities. Buy it:...
18. Not So Different: What You Really Want To Ask About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw
The author uses photos and examples from his own life to answer FAQs and normalize disability for kids. He has a great sense of humor, which makes for an accessible, lighthearted tone. Just give it a read-through first to make sure your students with disabilities would feel comfortable hearing the book shared in a group. Also, point out that while Shane is eager to share personal details, not all disabled people feel the same. Buy it: Not So Different: What You Really Want To Ask About Having...
19. Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes
If you’re looking for children’s books about disabilities featuring service dogs, choose this one! Jessica Kensky, an amputee, shares how her black lab is both a service dog and a treasured companion. Buy it: Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendshipon Amazon
20. All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans With Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel
As an 8-year-old with cerebral palsy, activist Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins crawled to the top of the Capitol steps. This Capitol Crawl protest helped spur Congress to pass the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The resource section teaches readers more about the history of the ADA as well as the work still to be done. Buy it: All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans With Disabilities Changed Everythingon Amazon
May 29, 2024 · Whether you're looking for practical strategies for special education classrooms, legal guidance, or a deeper understanding of specific disabilities, there are plenty of authoritative resources available to help you on this journey. Here are the 20 best books that every special education teacher should read. 1.
- Best Buddies. By Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Arthur Lin. Best Buddies introduces a boy-and-dog duo who are BEST FRIENDS and who do EVERYTHING together!
- Party Problems. By C. L. Reid, illustrated by Elena Aiello. Emma is excited about Izzie's birthday party. But she's also nervous. Is her dress too fancy? Will she know anyone else at the party?
- Cheer Champs. By Elliott Smith, illustrated by Amanda Erb. In this 32-page sports fiction title, Leah wants to use her gymnastics skills by joining the cheer squad.
- Princess is Tired. By Jay Dale, illustrated by Melanie Florian. Princess is just so busy! She is writing a new play, she is going to the zoo with her class, and she has basketball practice.
To be reflective is to consider the larger instructional concerns—learning and motivation theory, developmental issues, and individual student history and needs—all necessary contributions to fully interpret the situation when attempting to solve the problem.
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Aug 9, 2022 · Check out CommonLit's stories and texts about characters with disabilities that will engage students in social-emotional learning with lessons of perseverance.
People also ask
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Stories participants engage in self-reflection to examine personal biases about disability, use media to critically review representations of disability, and learn how to harness the potential of young adult literature to provide illustrative, non-deficit perspectives on disabilities.
