
“When I see you through my eyes, I think that we are different. When I see you through my heart, I know we are the same”.
Doe Zantamanta
It is so important to teach our students to see with their heart. Reading books with characters who have different abilities helps our students to do this. It helps them to build empathy and respect. It gives the chance to look beyond a person’s disability and see who they are inside. And it also allows children who have a disability to see themselves reflected in the book.
This book list features 16 picture books with children who have different abilities. This includes children with autism and Down’s Syndrome and children who are in a wheelchair, are dyslexic or have a learning disability of some kind.
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47 Strings: Tessa’s Special Code by Becky Carey
A childrne’s picture book about the remarkable lessons to be learned from a little girl named Tessa, who was born with Down Syndrome.
All My Stripes: a Story for Children with Autism by Shaina Rudolph
A helpful story for kids with autism spectrum disorders as they follow a young zebra who learns to understand how he is different from the rest of his classmates.
The Alphabet War: a Story about Dyslexia by Diana Burton Robb
Learng to read is a great struggle for Adam, but with expert help, hard work, and belief in himself, he wins “The Alphabet War”. Includes information about dyslexia
The Art of Miss Chew by Patricia Polacco
Describes how a teacher named Miss Chew encoraged individuality, and accepted learning differences, and helped a young student with academic difficulities.
Emmanuel’s Dream: the True Story of Emmanuel Osfosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson
The story of a West African youth who pursued an education, helped support his family and becase a record-setting cyclist in spite of a disability traces his ongoing achievements as an activist.
A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey
Henry would like to find a friend at school, but for a boy on the autism spectrum, making friends can be difficult.
Giant Tess by Dan Yaccarino
Being the only giant around, Tess wants more than anything to be like everyone else, but when she and Smokey, her dragon best friend, use their height to help save the big parade, Tess realizes that she is just the right size.
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: the story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca
A brief rhyming account of the childhood and work of Temple Grandin, an animal scientist who lives with high-functioning autism.
Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrai
Moose loves helping his girl, Zara, and Zara loves having her dog Moose help her. Unfortunately dogs aren’t allowed at school, and Moose’s escape acts arent’ helping his cause. How can Zara get her lovable pooch a free pass to the classroom?
How to Build a Hug: Temple Granddin and her Amazing Squeeze Machine by Amy Guglielmo
As a girl, Temple Grandin loved folding paper kites, making obstacle courses andd building lean-tos. She didn’t like hugs. Temple wante dto be held – but ot her, hugs felt like being stuffed inside the scratchiest scok in the world. Would she ever get to enjoy the comfort of a hug?
Just Ask – Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor
This books is about 12 friends who have different disabilities. It shows how each of these children can work together and use their different abilities to create something wonderful.
My Whirling, Twirling Motor by Merrian Sarcia Saunders
A boy with ADHD feels like he is constantly driven by a “motor”. He keeps getting into trouble, even when he is trying to be good. His mom helps him focus on the things he does right each day.
The PIrate of Kindergarten by George Ella Lyon
Ginny’s eyes play tricks on her, making her see everything double. When she goes to vision screening at school and discovers that not everyone sees this way, she learns that her double vision can be cured.
Uniquely Wired: a Book aobut Autism and its Gifts by Julia Cook
Zak has autism, so he sometimes responds to the world around him in unconventional ways. As he describes his point of view, young readers gain a better understanding of his behaviors and learn valuable lessons about patience, tolerance, and understanding.
We’re All Wonders by R. J. Palacio
Augie enjoys the company of his dog, Daisy, and using his imagination, but painfully endures the taunts of his peers because of his facial deformity.
Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson
Oliver is a little puzzle piece who is excited to find out where he fits. Will he be… in the mane of a unicorn? Or the tentacle of a pirate squad? But when he goes in search of his perfect place, Oliver discovers that finding where he belongs is harder than he thought.