Books for Kids: Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month. The titles below explore a wide range of disability experiences for children of all ages.

Updated June 15, 2023
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Anybody here seen Frenchie?
Connor, Leslie
A big-hearted, beautiful, and funny novel told from multiple viewpoints about neurodiversity, friendship, and community from the award-winning author of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, Leslie Connor. Eleven-year-old Aurora Petrequin's best friend has never spoken a word to her. In fact,...
Henry, like always
Bailey, Jenn
A Schneider Family Book Award Winner  A Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book  A NPR 2023 Books We Love Pick A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023  A 2023 Chicago Public Library Best of the...
Song in the city
Bernstrom, Daniel
From Daniel Bernstrom, the acclaimed author of One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree, comes a charming and irresistibly fun picture book about a young blind girl and her grandmother who experience the vibrant everyday music of their busy city. A young girl, filled with...
Sam's super seats
Brown, Keah
A joyful picture book about a disabled girl with cerebral palsy who goes back-to-school shopping with her best friends, from #DisabledandCute creator and The Pretty One author Keah Brown. Sam loves herself, learning, and making her family and friends laugh. She also loves...
Flipping forward twisting backward
Fullerton, Alma
A diagnosis of dyslexia could change everything for an aspiring fifth-grade gymnast struggling at school in this authentic, high-energy novel in verse. The print edition of this title is set in a font developed to be easy to read. The gym is where Claire shines and...
Speak up!
Burgess, Rebecca
For fans of Click and Brave, this touching coming-of-age middle grade graphic novel debut follows an autistic girl who finds friendship where she least expects it and learns to express her true self in a world where everyone defines her by her differences. Twelve-year-old Mia...
Juan has the jitters
Cruz, Aneta
A story about inclusion, diversity, and the power of math to help one boy with autism thrive among his peers. Juan claps his hands to get his Jitters out. They make his tummy swoosh and swirl. His Jitters happen when there are too many people, too much noise, or too...
Superstar
Davis, Mandy
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year! "Lester's first-person narrative is honest and pure." --Kirkus (starred review) Perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and Wonder, this uplifting debut novel from Mandy Davis follows...
Frankie's world
Dooley, Aoife
From acclaimed Autistic Irish comedian Aoife Dooley comes a fresh and funny debut middle-grade graphic novel about fitting in and standing out. Frankie is different from everyone in her class, and she can't figure out why. She has trouble concentrating, and her classmates tease her...
Figure it out, Henri Weldon
Davis, Tanita S.
Tanita S. Davis, author of Partly Cloudy and Serena Says, has written another funny, warm story featuring middle school and family life--all about the complex calculations it takes for everyone to balance the equations of their lives and what it takes to be part of a team while...
Black bird, blue road
Pasternack, Sofiya
In this historical fantasy novel, praised as a "rich, omen-filled journey that powerfully shows love and its limits*" and "propulsive, wise, and heartbreaking,"** Ziva will do anything to save her twin brother Pesah from his illness--even facing the Angel of Death himself....
A head full of birds
Garibal, Alexandra
A school story to encourage friendship and understanding among children of all abilities.  When the other kids mock her at recess, Nanette doesn't listen. She'd rather focus on puddles, spider webs, and whatever she can create with her hands. One day a boy named Noah-...
Wildoak
Harrington, C. C.
When the fates of a snow leopard, a child, and an ancient forest collide, the unimaginable can happen. Perfect for fans of Pax and The One and Only Ivan. **Winner of the 2023 Schneider Family Book Award!** * "Nuanced and empowering." - Publisher's...
Lila and Hadley
Keplinger, Kody
Can a lost girl save a found dog? Find out in this unforgettable story about discovering true friendship, finding home, and the possibilities of forgiveness. Hadley is angry about a lot of things: Her mom going to jail. Having to move to another state to live with her older sister,...
Hummingbird
Lloyd, Natalie
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book From the bestselling author of A Snicker of Magic comes a heartfelt story about a girl who -- armed with her trusty, snazzy wheelchair -- refuses to let her brittle bone disease stand in the way of adventure Twelve...
Team players
Lupica, Mike
Cassie must learn that you can't "fix" someone else after a girl with Aspergers joins her softball team in the fourth and final book of the Home Team series from New York Times bestselling author and sports-writing legend Mike Lupica. Cassie Bennett is great at being in...
I feel! : a book of emotions
Medina, Juana
Pura Belpré Award-winning author-illustrator Juana Medina helps young readers to identify how they feel with bold, colorful illustrations and simple text in this paper-over-board picture book, the third book in the I WILL! series. Do you feel happy Sad Calm Shy Brave Proud<...
Show us who you are
McNicoll, Elle
A neurodiverse twelve-year-old girl is shown an amazing new technology that gives her another chance to talk to the best friend she lost. But she soon discovers the corporation behind the science hides dark secrets that only she can expose in this heartwarming and heroic sophomore novel from the...
Wiggles, stomps, and squeezes calm my jitters down
Parker, Lindsey Rowe
"This book is for anyone who has ever felt the need for a wiggle, stomp, or squeeze!" This is a story about sensory differences and how some children experience their world, told from a child's perspective. The vibration in her feet when she runs, the tap-tap-tap of...
Charlie makes a splash!
Peete, Holly Robinson
The award-winning team who brought us MY BROTHER CHARLIE present a companion book that celebrates the power of water for those who have autism. Like many kids on the autism spectrum, Charlie finds solace and empowerment in pools, ponds, sprinklers, visiting the aquarium, and swimming in...
Happy again
Plohl, Igor
Lucas fell, and now he lives with a disability. A Level G story about resilience that first graders can read on their own. Lucas is a happy lion. One day Lucas Falls. Can Lucas be happy again? When Lucas falls off a ladder, he hurts...
Julia
Posner-Sanchez, Andrea
Meet your favorite Sesame Street friends in this adorable photographic board book starring Julia, a muppet with autism! Elmo's friend Julia is the star of this colorful, photographic board book. Babies and toddlers will love turning the sturdy pages to find out what Julia--a...
A sky-blue bench
Rahman, Bahram
It's Afghan schoolgirl Aria's first day back at school since her accident. She's excited, but she's also worried about sitting on the hard floor all day with her new prosthetic "helper-leg." Just as Aria feared, sitting on the floor is so uncomfortable that she can't think about learning...
Some days : a tale of love, ice cream, and my mom's chronic illness
Stamm, Julie A.
Even when Wyatt's mom isn't feeling her best, he still thinks she's a superhero! Rosie and Wyatt go on adventures every day: On sleepy days, they build a cozy pillow fort just for two. On wobbly days, Wyatt gets out Rosie's magical walking stick and they cast spells on his toys. And on one super...
You can!
Strick, Alexandra
Young people share valuable advice--words they wish they had heard growing up--to inspire, reassure, encourage, and say You're enough, just as you are. You can . . . be brave, challenge yourself, overcome your fears, be kind, be YOU! Come on an amazing journey with...
Leo + Lea
Wesolowska, Monica
A beautiful celebration of friendship, math, and art that honors different ways of seeing and being in the world. "The mathematical wonder is creatively incorporated." -- Kirkus Reviews "It all adds up to an inventive, affecting story." -- Publishers...
My aunt is a monster
Yee, Reimena
Curses! Adventures! And drama! Oh my! Safia might not be able to see the world, but that doesn't mean she can't experience it to the fullest as she finds herself on her very first adventure! This is a contemporary fantasy middle-grade graphic novel about discovering what you are truly capable of....

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