Disability Pride Month Book Recommendations

July is Disability Pride Month! Let's find books with great disability representation and learn about disabilities that impact many people every day.

Picture Books

Best Day Ever by Marilyn Singer

Cover of Best Day Ever; a dog with a bone and a boy in a wheelchair

This fun-filled rhyming picture book follows a playful puppy and his owner. 

Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus

cover of Can Bears Ski?; a bear wearing hearing aids

A little bear does not understand why people keep asking him “Can bears ski?” until he goes to the doctor for tests and gets hearing aids for the first time. This adorable book introduces deaf characters and hearing aids to young readers.

Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes

Cover of Rescue and Jessica; a girl with prosthetic legs and her service dog

Follow author Jessica Kensky’s true story about adjusting to prosthetics and meeting her service dog, Rescue.  

The Whatifs by Emily Kilgore

Cover of The Whatifs; a girl looking worried surrounded by tiny monsters

Cora’s story of wondering “what if…” resonates with everyone who struggles with anxiety. Kilgore personifies ‘whatifs’ as their own characters on the page always hovering around Cora. The story shows a new outlook through Stella’s perspective of her own ‘whatifs’ with a positive spin that helps Cora.

A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey

Cover of A Friend for Henry; a boy playing with blocks
This picture book follows an autistic boy named Henry who is trying to make new friends. This book features beautiful pictures and a happy story encouraging acceptance and friendship. Jenn Bailey also wrote an early chapter book called Henry, Like Always for young readers who related to Henry.

Chapter Books

Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

Cover of Roll with It; a girl in a wheelchair carrying a pie
This heartfelt chapter book follows Ellie, a twelve-year-old who loves baking and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. When Ellie's grandfather dies requiring her family to move, Ellie faces new challenges at her new school with new friends as she works towards her goal of becoming a professional baker.

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 

Cover of The War That Saved My Life; a girl looking out onto fields
This book follows Ada, a beautifully courageous character who boards a train with her brother in an evacuation from WWII Germany. Ada had grown up abused by her Mam due to her untreated club foot, and in her escape to the country, she learns the healing powers of respect and love.

The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family by Sarah Kapit

Cover of The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family; two girls, one with a notebook and the other with a tablet
This book stars two autistic sisters, Lara and Caroline. When Lara forms Finkel Investigation Agency Solving Consequential Crimes Only, otherwise known as FIASCCO, she does not want her sister involved. This book follows FIASCCO's investigations while Lara and Caroline are struggling to get along.

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt

Cover of Good Different; girl with wings made up of doodles and words carrying a book

Told in verse, this book follows Selah, an autistic 12-year-old girl, as she faces the challenges of middle school, finds her own voice, and learns to advocate for herself.

Graphic Novels

Just Roll with It by Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie

Cover of Just Roll with It; girl standing in front of lockers with other students standing around
Maggie Sankhar is worried about starting sixth grade, but things start well when she joins a club for her favorite role playing game and makes a new friend. However, she also discovers new struggles, like bullies and fears of making mistakes. 

Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee

Cover of Growing Pangs; girl standing with a bee and three other children surrounding her
This colorful graphic novel follows Katie over the course of a year as she starts middle school and struggles with friendship and her mental health.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Cover of El Deafo, deaf superhero bunny flying in the sky
At four-years-old, Cece became deaf after contracting meningitis. This book takes place as Cece is starting first grade at a new school with a new hearing aid, allowing her to hear clearly. The humor and warmth included in this memoir help make it accessible and entertaining.

Nonfiction

Declan Farmer Paralympic Hockey Star by Matt Chandler

Cover of Declan Farmer Paralympic Hockey Star; image of Declan Farmer on ice
Declan Farmer is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist. This inspirational book details his life, challenges, and athletic career.

Frida Kahlo: She Painted Her World in Self-Portraits by Amy Guglielmo

Cover of Frida Kahlo: She Painted Her World in Self-Portraits; cartoon of Frida Kahlo painting a self portrait
This illustrated biography includes both vibrant imagery and illustrations that grab your attention. The text is inspirational, describing how Frida Kahlo celebrated her heritage and honored and persevered through her disabilities. This book includes artistic prompts, direct quotes from Frida Kahlo, and a selection of her works at the end.

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: the Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca
Cover of The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: the Story of Dr. Temple Grandin; cartoon of Temple Grandin with images surrounding her head

This book told in rhyming prose tells the story of Temple Grandin, an autistic girl who struggled to fit in at school but found her place in science. The rhythmic text captures readers' attentions while telling an empowering story encouraging people who might feel different not to doubt themselves and, instead, to reach for their goals.


I hope this helped you find some great new books!

-Alyssa

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