Books About Disabilities and Neurodivergence

Check out these books if you're looking for a way to help talk to your child about disabilities and neurodivergence.

Updated June 20, 2024
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You're So Amazing!
Catchpole, James/ Catchpole, Lucy/ George, Karen (ILT)
Paper Book
In this authentic and humorous picture book, a child with a limb difference is tired of being told how amazing he is for doing normal things. Joe and his friend Simone are practicing their best playground tricks, but everyone keeps saying how amazing Joe is,...
What happened to you?
Catchpole, James
Paper Book
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor book! This accessible, funny, and groundbreaking story addresses the questions children often ask, as well as a disabled child's choice not to answer. What happened to you? Was it a shark? A burglar?...
Tenacious : fifteen adventures alongside disabled athletes
Cisneros Prevo, Patty
Paper Book
Meet fifteen remarkable athletes who use adaptive equipment in this beautiful and truth-telling picture book. A downhill skier whose blindness has sharpened her communication skills. An adaptive surfer who shreds waves while sitting down. A young man who excels at wheelchair...
Listen : how Evelyn Glennie, a deaf girl, changed percussion
Stocker, Shannon
Paper Book
* Schneider Family Book Award Winner * A gorgeous and empowering picture book biography about Evelyn Glennie, a deaf woman, who became the first full-time solo percussionist in the world. (Cover may vary) "No. You can't," people said. But Evelyn knew...
My brain is magic : a sensory-seeking celebration
Sooful, Prasha
Paper Book
Is your brain magic? Whether your brain buzzes around the room like a bee or tells you to be loud and roar like a lion, celebrate the many things that it can be! This sensory-seeking celebration shines a light on neurodiversity and sensory processing in a fun and action-packed way for all...
Hello goodbye dog
Gianferrari, Maria
Paper Book
For Zara's dog, Moose, nothing is more important than being with his favorite girl. So when Zara has to go to school in her wheelchair, WHOOSH, Moose escapes and rushes to her side. Hello, Moose! Unfortunately, dogs aren't allowed at school and Moose has to go...
My city speaks
Lebeuf, Darren
Paper Book
A young visually impaired girl and her father spend a day in the city, her city, travelling to the places they go together: the playground, the community garden, the market, an outdoor concert. As they do, the girl describes what she senses in delightfully precise, poetic detail. Her city, she says,...
This beach is loud!
Cotterill, Samantha
Paper Book
Patience, understanding, and a soothing exercise saves the beach day when excitement turns to sensory overload. Going to the beach is exciting. But it can also be busy. And loud. Sand can feel hot or itchy or sticky...and it gets everywhere! In This Beach Is Loud...
My ocean is blue
Lebeuf, Darren
Paper Book
'This is my ocean,' the young girl begins as she heads over the dunes with her mother. Then, as they pass the whole day at the seaside, she lyrically describes her ocean in simple, sensory detail. Nothing the girl experiences escapes her careful observation and appreciation. And at day's end, she...
Splash
Cashmore, Claire
Paper Book
This fun-filled and uplifting sports story is based on UK Paralympic gold medalist Claire Cashmore's real-life experience of being afraid of water! A story brimming with positivity, it will inspire readers, differently abled or not, to persevere and overcome their fears.
Emmanuel's dream : the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
Thompson, Laurie Ann
Paper Book
Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah's inspiring true story-which was turned into a film, Emmanuel's Gift,narrated by Oprah Winfrey-is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people-but not by his mother, who taught him to reach...
A walk in the words
Talbott, Hudson
Paper Book
Winner of a Schneider Family Honor! "A beautifully rendered and deeply inspiring book for everyone who has ever read slowly-myself included! Hudson shows us the beauty and magic that can come from taking our time. Brilliant."-Jacqueline Woodson Hudson Talbott's...
Amazing
Antony, Steve
Paper Book
A joyful new picture book by the award-winning Steve Antony, creator of the bestselling Please Mr Panda. A little boy and his pet dragon are the very best of friends. They laugh, they sing, they dance, they snooze. They are both amazing - just like everyone else! A...
Best day ever!
Singer, Marilyn
Paper Book
A sweet dog-loves-kid/kid-loves-dog story, in which the kid uses a wheelchair, from an award-winning children's poet and talented debut illustrator. This playful puppy thinks she's having the best day ever! She's so happy to be out with her friend, she doesn...
A sky-blue bench
Rahman, Bahram
Paper Book
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...
The mermaid with no tail
Long, Jessica Tatiana
Paper Book
Paralympic champion swimmer and gold medalist Jessica Long celebrates the importance of dreaming big and the power of being different in The Mermaid with No Tail. As a baby, Jessica was adopted from a Russian orphanage. Her legs were amputated below the knee when she was 18 months old....
I am a masterpiece! : an empowering story about inclusivity and growing up with Down Syndrome
Armstrong, Mia
Paper Book
Tween actress Mia Armstrong celebrates her fun, funny, beautiful childhood living with Down syndrome in this debut picture book. Mia likes many of the things other people like--going to the beach, the color blue, drawing. But she doesn't like when strangers stare at her because...
The unstoppable Jamie
Givens, Joy
Paper Book
Inspired by the author's son, the story of a boy with Down syndrome who goes on a superhero's journey to New York City and learns what truly makes him unstoppable. Jamie likes to pretend he's a superhero. With his cape and gadgets, he feels like he can face anything. When his...
Lost inside my head
Vigg
Paper Book
★"A celebration of hope, resilience, and the power of ­self-acceptance that will resonate with readers of all ages...A work that depicts ­vividly what the mind of a person with ADHD experiences...Highly recommended." -- School Library Journal How is Vincent supposed to focus...
It was supposed to be sunny
Cotterill, Samantha
Paper Book
A perfectly planned birthday party goes awry in this gentle story about adapting to the unexpected, written for kids on the autism spectrum and called "brilliant" and "engaging" by autism specialist Tony Attwood Laila feels like her sparkly sunshine birthday celebration is on the...
Nope. Never. Not for me!
Cotterill, Samantha
Paper Book
This deceptively simple story guides sensitive kids through trying a new food, with support and encouragement aplenty. Children are often picky eaters, but for kids on the autism spectrum or with sensory issues, trying new foods can be especially challenging. In Nope! Never!...
My whirling, twirling motor
Saunders, Merriam Sarcia
Paper Book
Charlie feels like he has a whirling, twirling motor running inside him all the time and sometimes he just can't settle. When his mom wants to talk to him, he figures he's in trouble...but she has a surprise for him instead! Includes a Note to Parents, Caregivers, and...
It's me, Henry!
Deslauriers, Stéphanie
Paper Book
Henry marches to the beat of his own green thumb in this gentle picture book about a boy on the autism spectrum. Henry doesn't remember to raise his hand and he prefers to call plants by their proper Latin names, much to the frustration of his classmates. Most days, Henry doesn't notice...
Harley the hero
Collins, Peggy
Paper Book
An exciting picture book inspired by a real-life classroom service dog with themes of friendship, neurodivergence, and courage Harley the service dog is on the job! He goes to school every day with Ms. Prichard to make sure she feels safe. Their students are a lot of fun, but Harley...

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