Yes, We Can!
Books About Children Living with All Kinds of Disabilities

• Someone Special, Just Like You. By Tricia Brown; Photos. by Fran Ortiz. Holt, 1984. (j362.4048 Brow) Ages 3-6
  Young children with a variety of disabilities are shown to like the same things that all children do. (also j362 Brow)
• Extraordinary Friends. By Fred Rogers; Putnam, 2000. (j362.4083 Roge) Ages 5+
  Lively color photographs and straightforward text show the adaptability of six diverse children with physical disabilities. In the Let’s Talk About It series.
• Seeing Things My Way. By Alden R. Carter; Photos. by Carol S. Carter. Whitman, 1998. (j362.4183 Cart) Ages 6-9
  A visually impaired second-grader describes how she and her classmates live normal lives with various vision problems.
• The Handmade Alphabet. By Laura Rankin; Dial, 1991. (j419 Rank) Ages 5+
  Wonderfully diverse hands demonstrate each letter of the manual alphabet used in American Sign Language, while the colored pencil drawings suggest objects from A to Z.
• Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair. By Jamee Riggio Heelan. Illus. by Nicola Simmonds. Peachtree, 2000. (j616.836 HeeL) Ages 5-9
  A young boy with cerebral palsy tells how a wheelchair helps him lead a much fuller life.
• The Making of My Special Hand: Madison’s Story. By Jamee Riggio Heelan. Illus. by Nicola Simmonds. Peachtree, 1998. (j617.575 HeeL) Ages 5-9
  A young girl born without one hand describes how her electric “helper hand” was made and how it works.
• Living with Diabetes. By Jenny Bryan; Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2000. (j618.9246 Brya) Ages 6+
  Three young people and one adult live normal, active lives despite their diabetes. Other subjects in the Living With series: blindness, cerebral palsy, deafness, epilepsy and Down syndrome.
• The A.D.D. Book for Kids. By Shelley Rotner and Sheila Kelley. Photos. by Shelley Rotner. Millbrook, 2000. (j618.9285 Rotn) Ages 5-8
  In their own words, children explain what it’s like dealing with attention-deficit disorder. Bright, upbeat photographs personalize their explanations.
• Frida. By Jonah Winter; Illus. by Ana Juan. Arthur A. Levine, 2002. (j759.972 KahL) Ages 6-9
  In her youth, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo overcame polio and a debilitating accident to create unique and renowned art. (also available in Spanish)
• A Picture Book of Louis Braille. By David A. Adler; Illus. by John and Alexandra Wallner. Holiday House, 1997. (jB Brai) Ages 5-8
  Because of his own blindness, a young Frenchman created an alphabet used by the blind to read and write. Includes actual raised dot letters and numbers.
• Wilma Unlimited. By Kathleen Krull;Illus. by David Diaz. Harcourt, 1996. (jB Rudo) Ages 5-9
  Wilma Rudolph overcame polio to win three Gold Medals in track at the 1960 Olympics.
• My Buddy. By Audrey Osofsky. Illus by Ted Rand. Holt, 1992. (jF Osof) Ages 6-9
  A boy with muscular dystrophy appreciates the dog trained to help him with tasks such as turning on lights and answering the telephone.
• Sosu’s Call. By Meshack Asare. Kane/Miller, 2002. (jPS Asar) Ages 5-8
  An African boy who can’t walk saves his village during a fierce storm with the help of his dog.
• Harry and Willy and Carrothead. By Judith Caseley. Greenwillow, 1991. (jPS Case) Ages 4-7
  A boy, born without a lower left arm, stands up for a quiet classmate and wins over the class bully. The three become good friends.
• Mama Zooms. By Jane Cowen-Fletcher. Scholastic, 1993. (jPS Cowe) Ages 3-5
  A young boy’s mother takes him everywhere in her wheelchair, “a zooming machine.”
• We Can Do It! By Laura Dwight. Star Bright, 1998. (jPS Dwig) Ages 4-8
  Kids with blindness, spina bifida, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy show what they can do. (also available in Spanish)
• 1, 2, 3 for You and Me. By Meg Girnis. Photos. by Shirley Leamon Green. Whitman, 2001. (jPS Girn) Ages 3-6
  This simple counting book introduces numbers from 1 to 20 using photographs of children with Down syndrome. Companion to ABC for You and Me (2000).
• Dad and Me in the Morning. By Patricia Lakin. Illus. by Robert G. Steele. Whitman, 1994. (jPS Laki) Ages 5-8
  Deafness does not prevent a young boy from enjoying a glorious sunrise at the beach with his father.
• Looking Out for Sarah. By Glenna Lang. Talewinds, 2001. (jPS Lang) Ages 5-8
  A day in the life of a Labrador guide dog for Sarah who, although blind, teaches dance and music. Based on a true story.
• Becky the Brave. By Laurie Lears. Illus. by Gail Piazza. Whitman, 2002. (jPS Lear) Ages 5-8
  Sarah bravely explains what happened the day before when her older sister had an epileptic seizure at school.
• Ben Has Something to Say. By Laurie Lears. Illus. by Karen Ritz. Whitman, 2000. (jPS Lear) Ages 5-9
  Ben, who suffers from stuttering, must speak up in order to save the guard dog he befriended at the junkyard.
• Ian’s Walk. By Laurie Lears. Illus. by Karen Ritz. Whitman, 1998. (jPS Lear) Ages 6-9
  Ian sees, hears, smells and feels everything his older sisters do when they go to the park, but because of autism, his reactions are somewhat different.
• Moses Goes to a Concert. By Isaac Millman. Farrar, 1998. (jPS MiLL) Ages 5-8
  A class of deaf children takes a field trip to the symphony and makes a surprising discovery. Told in pictures, text and American Sign Language. Followed by Moses Goes to School (2000).
• Princess Pooh. By Kathleen M. Muldoon. Illus. by Linda Shute. Whitman, 1989. (jPS MuLd) Ages 4-7
  Patty Jean tries her older sister’s wheelchair and discovers it’s not the royal throne she imagined.
• I Have a Sister - - My Sister is Deaf. By Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson. Illus. by Deborah Ray. HarperCollins, 1977. (jPS Pete) Ages 4-8
  A girl tells about the everyday activities of her younger, hearing impaired sister. Based on the author’s own experiences. (also available in Chinese)
• Thank You, Mr. Falker. By Patricia Polacco. Philomel, 1998. (jPS PoLa) Ages 5-8
  In this autobiographical picture story, a girl with an unnamed learning disability finally learns to read. (also available in Spanish)
• Way to Go, Alex! By Robin Pulver. Illus. by Elizabeth Wolf. Whitman, 1999. (jPS PuLv) Ages 4-8
  With mixed emotions, Carly helps her mentally challenged brother prepare to compete in the Special Olympics.
• Sarah’s Sleepover. By Bobbie Rodriguez. Illus. by Mark Graham. Viking, 2000. (jPS Rodr) Ages 5-8
  A storm knocks out the lights, and Sarah, blind since birth, takes charge to help her frightened cousins who are spending the night.
• Susan Laughs. By JeanneWillis. Illus. by Tony Ross. Holt, 2000. (jPS WiLL) Ages 3-5
  Lively illustrations and simple, rhyming text describe Susan’s active life. She sings and swims, she rides and hides. In the last illutration she’s shown in her wheelchair.  

• Alexander, Sally Hobart. Do You Remember the Color Blue? Viking, 2000. j305.9081 ALex (Ages 5+)
  Kids ask questions of an author who has been blind for more than 20 years, questions such as, “Do people treat you differently?”
• Bernstein, Joanne E. Special Parents, Special Children. Whitman, 1991. j306.874 Bern (Ages 8-12)
  Four children talk about living with a special needs parent - one blind, one deaf, one wheelchair bound and one a dwarf.
• Kent, Deborah and Kathryn A. Quinlan. Extraordinary People with Disabilities. Children’s Press, 1996.j363.4092 Kent (Ages 9+)
  Fifty-three short biographies of people who have overcome different kinds of disabilities to do great things with their lives.
• Kids Explore the Gifts of Children with Special Needs. John Muir, 1994. j371.91 Kids (Ages 8-11)
  Ten kids answer questions about their various disabilities, including brittle bone disease, fetal alcohol syndrome and hemophilia. Elementary school students in the Westridge Young Writers Workshop are responsible for this candid exploration.
• Gold, Susan Dudley. Cystic Fibrosis. Enslow, 2000. j616.37 GoLd (Ages 9+)
  Introduces Kenny and clearly explains the symptoms, cause, treatment and prognosis of his condition. Other subjects in the Health Watch series: arthritis, asthma, attention-deficit disorder, bipolar disorder and depression, diabetes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy.
• Haldane, Suzanne. Helping Hands: How Monkeys Assist People Who Are Disabled. Dutton, 1991. j618 HaLd (Ages 8-11)
  Photo essay that introduces a teenage quadriplegic and the capuchin monkey which has been trained to help him.
• Williams, Tenley. Stevie Wonder. Chelsea House, 2002. j780.2 Wond (Ages 9+)
  Chronicles the life of the popular Grammy-winning composer, pianist and singer who was born blind. Part of the Overcoming Adversity series.
• McMahon, Patricia. Dancing Wheels. Photos. By John Godt. Houghton Mifflin, 2000. j792.8087 McMa (Ages 8-11)
  Inspiring introduction to a young people’s dance troupe that combines stand-up dancers and sit-down dancers in their wheelchairs.
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  Savage, Jeff. Top 10 Physically Challenged Athletes. Enslow, 2000. j796.087 Sava (Ages 9+)
  Succinct descriptions of special athletes. Included are baseball’s Jim Abbott (born with one hand) and pro golfer Casey Martin (who uses a motorized cart because of a circulatory leg disability).
• Kehret, Peg. Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio. Whitman, 1996. jB Kehr (Ages 10+)
  A children’s writer recalls living away from home at a special hospital where she received rigorous rehabilitation at age 12.
• Lawlor, Laurie. Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit. Holiday House, 2001. jB KeLL (Ages 10+)
  The story of the deaf and blind girl taught to communicate by finger-spelling. She is known worldwide for her intelligence, determination and activism.
• Freedman, Russell. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Clarion, 1990. jB Roos (Ages 10+)
  At age 39, while a state senator in New York, Roosevelt contracted polio, but he continued in politics and became the 32nd President of the United States.
• Betancourt, Jeanne. My Name is Brain Brian. Scholastic, 1993. jF Beta (Ages 9-12)
  A sixth grade boy hates school, but his attitude improves once he is diagnosed with dyslexia.
• Blatchford, Claire H. Nick’s Mission. Lerner, 1995. jF BLat (Ages 9-12)
  A 12-year-old deaf boy balks at daily speech therapy sessions during summer vacation until a scary encounter with smugglers underscores the importance of communication.
• Blume, Judy. Deenie. Bradbury, 1973. jF BLum (Ages 10+)
  When a 13-year-old discovers she has scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, dreams of becoming a model must be put on hold.
• Byars, Betsy. The Summer of the Swans. Viking, 1970. jF Byar (Ages 10+)
  A teenage girl is transformed when her younger brother with special needs disappears while trying to find the swans he had seen the day before.
• Christopher, Matt. Wheel Wizards. Little, Brown, 2000. jF Chri (Ages 9-12)
  Paralyzed by a car accident and his subsequent anger, a 12-year-old boy grows more positive when he begins to play wheelchair basketball.
• DeClements, Barthe. Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You. Viking, 1985. jF DeCL (Ages 8-11)
  Helen fears that her limited ability to read will keep her in sixth grade forever, until a new teacher recognizes that she is dyslexic.
• Dorris, Michael. Sees Behind Trees. Hyperion, 1996. jF Dorr (Ages 9-13)
  A visually impaired Native American boy earns the name “Sees Behind Trees” by using his other senses to “see what can’t be seen.”
• Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. Farrar, 1998. jF Gant (Ages 10+)
  Joey is a “wired up mess” who tells what it’s like to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Followed by Joey Pigza Loses Control (2000).
• Getz, David. Thin Air. Holt, 1990. jF Getz (Ages 9-12)
  Jacob struggles with severe asthma. He also struggles with his family and everyone at his new school to be treated as a regular kid.
• Holt, Kimberley Willis. My Louisiana Sky. Holt, 1998. jF HoLt (Ages 10+)
  Tiger Ann Parker, a straight A student, learns to lovingly accept her
  mentally challenged parents in this touching coming-of-age story.
• Konigsburg, E.L. The View from Saturday. Atheneum, 1996. jF Koni (Ages 10+)
  A wheelchair bound teacher, Mrs. Olinski, returns to teaching after a car accident and shapes four sixth graders into a victorious academic bowl team.
• Slepian, Jan. The Alfred Summer. Philomel, 2001. jF SLep (Ages 10+)
  Groundbreaking novel about four outcasts who build a rowboat over the summer. One boy is mentally retarded and another has cerebral palsy. Reissued edition.
• Voigt, Cynthia. Izzy, Willy-Nilly. Atheneum, 1986. jF Voig (Ages 12+)
  A sophomore in high school begins the slow, agonizing adjustment to life after having her leg amputated below the knee.