Books and Resources to Help Children Understand Differences
DISABILITIES & DIFFERENCES
Books help children understand that people experience, communicate with, and move through the world in different ways. Explore thoughtfully selected stories and practical resources that encourage understanding, inclusion, belonging, and respect for different experiences and ways of being.
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Choosing Books That Help Children Understand Disability and Difference
The books children encounter help shape how they understand people whose experiences differ from their own. This guide offers practical ways to choose stories that represent disability and difference thoughtfully, encourage meaningful conversations, and help children develop understanding, respect, and a sense of belonging.
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Understanding Disability and Difference
BOOKS TO EXPLORE
Books introduce children to people whose bodies, senses, communication, and experiences may differ from their own. These stories offer opportunities to learn about disability through engaging characters and experiences while encouraging understanding, respect, and belonging.
Sonia Sotomayor
DISABILITY · DIFFERENCES · INCLUSION
Anna Sortino
DEAFNESS · DEAF CULTURE · BELONGING
Jamie Sumner
CEREBRAL PALSY · WHEELCHAIR USE · INDEPENDENCE
Ali Stroker
PHYSICAL DISABILITY · WHEELCHAIR USE · THEATER
Different Ways of Communicating and Experiencing the World
Children communicate, learn, play, and experience their surroundings in many different ways. These stories invite readers into those experiences while showing children as full participants in their families, friendships, schools, and communities.
Tiffany Hammond
AUTISM · AAC · COMMUNICATION
Keah Brown
CEREBRAL PALSY · ACCESSIBILITY · SELF-ADVOCACY
Dusti Bowling
LIMB DIFFERENCE · ADAPTATION · FRIENDSHIP
Shelley Rotner
DISABILITY · MOBILITY · NEURODIVERSITY
First-person stories and disability history help young readers understand disability through the experiences and perspectives of disabled people. These books invite questions, share lived experiences, and introduce the advocacy that has helped expand access, inclusion, and opportunity.
Disability Stories, Voices and Rights
Shane Burcaw
SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY · WHEELCHAIR USE · LIVED EXPERIENCE
Edited by Alice Wong
DISABILITY · IDENTITY · FIRST-PERSON STORIES
Maryann Cocca-Leffler & Janine Leffler
DISABILITY RIGHTS · EDUCATION · HISTORY
Samantha Cotterill
AUTISM · SOCIAL CUES · FRIENDSHIP
Learn More About Disability and Inclusion
These resources offer additional information for families and educators seeking to understand disability, support inclusion, and learn more about the rights and experiences of children with disabilities.
UNICEF: Children with Disabilities
A broad, accessible resource about the experiences and rights of children with disabilities, including inclusion in education, play, health care, family life, and community, with attention to the barriers created by environments and attitudes.
Understood: Through My Eyes
Interactive experiences and resources designed to help families, educators, and children better understand what everyday life and learning feel like for children with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia.
U.S. Department of Education: IDEA Resources for Parents and Families
Information and resources for families of infants, children, and youth with disabilities, including education, services, parent support, and disability rights. The page also connects families with Parent Training and Information Centers in every state.
Help Put Meaningful Books Into More Children’s Hands
Nana’s Books Foundation provides thoughtfully selected books to eligible Title I schools and public libraries, helping children access stories that build understanding, connection, and compassion.
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