Kids With Special Needs
Did you know that are lots of books about friends with special needs and disabilities? From stories about children with physical differences, to books about neurodiversity, these books help children to feel seen and heard. I hope these books will be helpful to you and your little ones.
I hope you enjoy the books I recommend! Please note that the links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Books About Differences
Just Ask! - this book explains so many different and important topics to children in clear and appropriate ways. In this book, readers will meet children who help them explain Asthma, allergies, Diabetes, different forms of Autism, Dyslexia, using a wheelchair, Tourette’s Syndrome, visual and hearing impairments and stuttering. I love the way each child in the book explains their needs and helps readers draw parallels to their own lives. Written by U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, who struggled to explain her diabetic needs to other children in her early life. This book is one of my new favorites!! Depending on your needs, you can read the whole book at once, or just a few pages as needed.
All Are Welcome - a book for every family! This book features a beautifully diverse community, in which children and adults from many different cultures live, learn, play and celebrate together.
Strictly No Elephants - a sweet but powerful book about acceptance! When children are excluded from a pet club for having “unusual” pets, they decide to form their own club and welcome more friends than they could have ever imagined. Also available in Vietnamese and Chinese language editions.
Rick the Dog With a Difference - I was so happy to receive this book from our friends at Igloo books. Rick is a dog like any other, but with one big difference. He doesn’t like sticks. He wants nothing to do with playing fetch and imagines that he must be the only dog in the world who feels that way. That all changes when he meets a mouse who is allergic to cheese, a duck who hates swimming, and many more friends who share their differences.
Books about Friends Who Are Hearing Impaired
Using Hearing Aids is a very helpful and super age-appropriate book. Author, Harriet Brundle, pairs clear engaging illustrations with informative text. This book can be particularly helpful for young children who are just beginning to use hearing aids. It’s also a great option for any child with questions about hearing aids or deafness.
Let’s Hear It For Almigal - follow Almigal, a girl who is hearing-impaired, as she experiences life with her new cochlear implants.
Nita’s First Signs and Nita’s Day - two fabulous board books featuring essential signs for parents and babies. Pull the tabs on each page to learn a new word and sign. I love the vibrant and colorful illustrations, and my kids loved the interactive feature of the pop-open tabs.
Can Bears Ski? - an endearing book about a daddy bear and his son as they discover his hearing impairment. Throughout the book, readers experience sound the way little bear does, with muffled sounds and misunderstanding. They also explore the variety of emotions daddy bear and little bear feel, as they adapt to life with hearing aids. I love the way love between parent and child is ever present throughout the story.
Books about Kids With Medical Needs and Devices
Hiya Moriah - this book introduces us to Moriah, a little girl with CHARGE Syndrome. She explains how her wheel chair, G-tube, oxygen tank, hearing aids, and tracheostomy help her body. I like this book because it allows readers to see how Moriah is both the same and different from many other children. Also available in Spanish.
When Charley Met Emma - When Charley and Emma meet they have many questions for each other. They have an honest and direct conversation about their differences, and Emma encourages Charley to ask questions. I love the way this book encourages children to speak openly about their differences.
Yes I Can!: A Girl and Her Wheelchair - Carolyn teaches her friends about all of the things she can do, and shows readers the things that make her both the same and different from other children.
I Will Dance - an absolutely gorgeous book about never letting labels or barriers or hold you back. Eva is an imaginative little girl with Cerebral Palsy who uses a wheelchair. She wants nothing more than to be a dancer. Her dream comes true when she attends a dance class for children of all different abilities and meets a teacher who shares her passion for dance.
I See, You See - Follow Maisie, Jonah, and their dog, Tinker, as a simple walk turns into a fantastic adventure. With a bit of imagination, the whispy branches of a willow tree transform into a bell machine, and a field of cattails turns into a sea of popsicles. I love the way this story offers readers a chance to take on new perspectives.
We Are Little Feminists, On the Go - This little board book is packed with stunning photos! Each page features disabled children and adults in motion, as they run, climb, hike, race, and play using their mobility aids. This empowering book celebrates all children and all the ways that they move, including kids with limb differences, using wheelchairs, crutches, and even those with service dogs. I love the way this book honors people of all abilities and helps young readers understand the importance of accessibility for all.
All The Way to the Top - Wow I LOVE this book! It’s equal parts informative and inspiring. Dive into the story of Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, a kid who refused to listen to all of the people telling her about what she couldn’t do. At a young age, she faced barriers to accessibility and fearlessly fought for the rights of people with disabilities. Not even the steps of the Supreme Courthouse could stop her. This book is a must read!
What Happened to You? - This is a book that belongs in every classroom and every library. It’s equal parts honest, real, and heart-warming. Everyone is always asking Joe “what happened to you,” but this story teaches readers that he owes none of them an explanation. I love the way this story presents the author’s lived experience in ways that all children can understand.
Ride, Roll, Run: Time For Fun - This book is fantastic and belongs in every classroom! Featuring a beautifully diverse group of children, each moving and having fun in their own ways. Perfect for readers age 3+.
Best Day Ever - I have a soft spot for books with dogs, so I couldn’t help but grab this book off of the shelf at our library. This playful pup is so excited to be out and about with her best pal, it feels like the best day ever. But when a romp in the mud leads to a bath, the best day quickly starts feeling like the worst. This sweet book is a gentle reminder about the healing power of friendship.
Books About Friends With Down Syndrome
My Friend Has Down Syndrome and Mi Amiga Tiene Sindrome de Down - meet Carmen and Sarah. They go to school and dance class together. Carmen explains the many characteristics that she and Sarah have in common, and some of the ways in which they are different. I love that this because celebrates differences and reminds readers that it is never ok to make fun of someone.
“More books are coming soon!”
Books about neurodivergent friends.
Quick Tips:
Be sure to take a look at my post about friends with autism and neurodiversities.
Find a time when you and your child can read together without distractions. Find a cozy place to sit together, a couch, a bed or even a rug on the floor works.
As you read, take your time. Pause before turning the pages, let your child take in your words and the pictures. This allows time for thinking. Some questions may be answered and new ones may come up. All of this will help your child process the experience.
Make connections between the book and your child’s experiences/friends/family etc.
Acknowledge what your child is saying. Assure them that it’s ok to continue asking questions and talking.
Re-read these books as often as you like.
