Top Children's Books for Parents, Caretakers, or Educators of Kids with Disabilities: Books to Represent all Children

Hey there! If you’re on the lookout for some fantastic children's books on disabilities, you’ve landed in the right spot! Having the right books by your side can help every child feel represented and loved. Whether you’re a parent, an early childhood education major, or just someone who loves learning with kids, I’ve got some gems to share with you. These books are packed with representation.

Ready to dive in? Let’s explore some of the best reads that will inspire, represent, and encourage you.

Why Books on Disabilities Are a Game-Changer

You might be wondering, why bother with children's books on disabilities, there aren't that many kids that are disabled! Well, here’s the scoop: disability can effect anyone at any age. I know this from a personal standpoint. As a young adult who grew up in and out of the children's hospital, I never saw representation of kids that looked like me. There were no books, films, or TV series featuring teenagers with tubes or medical devices. That is why this topic and website as a whole are so important to me. Every child deserves to see people like them in literature, and you would be surprised at how many disabled kids you already know!

Top Picks: Children's Books on Childhood Cancer.

Here are some of my favorite children's books on childhood cancer:

1. When A Kid Like Me Fights Cancer, written by Catherine Stier and illustrated by Angel Chang.

This book is about a young child who got diagnosed with cancer. It follows a similar writing pattern of, “I have learned…” throughout the book, explaining what this young child is realizing about cancer. Initially not fully knowing what the word “cancer” means, the child begins to understand that this is something he has to fight, something that does not change his personality, something that makes him tired and lose his hair, and eventually, something he does not have to fight alone. The book shows him viewing the hospital for the first time, telling his friends about cancer, being silly, and having his whole town rooting for him. At the end of the book the child is hit with the realization that so many people want to help him, like a teenager who gave him a teddy bear and the medical team.

Overall, I think this book is a beautiful representation of how cancer does not change who the young boy is. It is a part of him, something he has to fight, but not something that controls him or changes him fundamentally. I loved the representation of feeding tubes, child life specialists, and various races in this book. It is a developmentally appropriate way to explain cancer to first graders and second graders. I especially loved that it was based on a true story from the Co-Founder of the National Pediatric Cancer Society, Melissa Helms. This book shows the true dedication of suffering parents, turning pain into purpose, the beauty of community, and the resilience of a small child.

2. My Life with Leukemia, written by Mari Schuh and illustrated by Ana Sebastian.

This informational and storytelling centered book discusses a child who got diagnosed with leukemia, went through chemotherapy, and eventually went into remission. It explained the symptoms of leukemia, what it was like to be in the hospital, not being able to play with friends because of high infection risks, and all that this young girl missed out on. It also explained all the activities that she got to do, like going on a trip, selling lemonade, and raising money for toys for the children’s hospital.

This book is a great way of explaining cancer to children. It goes through a variety of different treatments in a child-friendly way and also describes the beautiful aspects of the protagonist's life.

Top Picks: Children's Books on Neurodiversity

1. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin was written by Julia Finley Mosca, illustrated by Daniel Rieley, and initially published on August 29, 2017 by The Innovation Press. A later version of the book was published on March 5, 2019.

This book is a rhythmic and playful overview of Dr. Temple Gradin’s life. It showcases her life from birth until becoming a successful scientist and speaker, highlighting the uniqueness of her Autism, supportive family life, resilience, and intelligence.

In The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin began her life as a sensitive and hot headed child that was unable to speak until age three, although she was verbal in the sense that she could make sounds to express her emotions. After special therapies, she was able to develop verbal language. Following this, she entered school where she was bullied. She was eventually kicked out for her retaliation against the bullies.

Following Temple’s expulsion she began working on her aunt’s farm where she fell in love with the animals. Then a teacher assisted her in finding her love for science. Soon enough she was a revolutionary inventor that changed the farming industry, a world-renowned speaker, an award winner, and a college graduate.

The book uses rhyming to give it a childlike affect, but despite the book being centered towards children, I have found it to be an inspiring and beautiful tale on resilience for all ages. This young child who suffered so severely from bullying and struggled with outbursts became a revolutionary scientist, showcasing grit and a passion for changing the world.

Overall, I was impressed by the rhyming pattern, the ability to adapt the book in a developmentally appropriate way, and the plot line. I enjoyed how they made Temple a strong character, and I especially loved the highlight of being, “different, not less.”

2. Kimberly’s Way with Words was written by Connie Colwell Miller and Illustrated by Helena Perez Garcia. There are two different publishers. One publisher is the Creative Company, which was published on January 14, 2025. The other publisher is Amicus Learning, which was published January 1, 2025.

The book explores different ways of communicating, covering a sweet story about a non-speaking Autistic girl named Kimberly who is getting groceries with her mom. In the book, Kimberly attempts to communicate with her favorite cashier in American Sign Language. He does not understand so Kimberly’s mom gives her an AAC, which stands for an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device. This device looks like an iPad and uses buttons to speak words out loud. Kimberly presses the buttons to communicate with the cashier and eventually resolves a conflict she has with the flavor of lollipop he gave her.

In terms of representation, this is a great book to show multiple forms of communication to children. It is also a lovely book that features kindness toward disabled people, which is not always common when a person tries to communicate alternatively. I could see this book being used in the classroom setting to explain nonverbal communication and other languages as well.

Finding Books That Celebrate Diversity and Inclusion

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that kids need to see themselves in the stories they read. Books that celebrate diversity and inclusion help children develop empathy and a positive sense of identity.

Look for books that:

• Feature characters from different cultures, abilities, and family structures.

• Address topics like kindness, acceptance, and overcoming challenges.

• Use respectful and accurate language.

  
  

The EduAndYou website is a treasure trove for finding such books. It’s especially helpful for parents and educators who want to support children with disabilities or those from underrepresented communities.

By choosing inclusive books, you’re helping build a kinder, more understanding world one story at a time!

Your Next Steps: Dive Into These Books Today!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab one of these educational books and start your adventure!