SJPL Picks: Disability Representation in Picture BooksLike this list

46 items

• Too Much!

  An Overwhelming Day

  Gutierrez, Jolene,

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  Sometimes everything is too much! Too loud, too bright, and all too overwhelming. Writing from her own experience with sensory processing disorder, Jolene Gutiaerrez's compassionate picture book explores the struggles of a sensorily…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ruby the Rambunctious

  Andrés, José Carlos, 1969-

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  Ruby is a little girl with lots of energy! But recently she has been falling down a lot. When she runs, she falls; when she dances, she falls; when she picks something up, she often drops it. Everyone thinks she's a bit clumsy! When Ruby…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Unstoppable Jamie

  Givens, Joy,

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  Inspired by the author's son, the story of a boy with Down syndrome who goes on a superhero's journey to New York City and learns what truly makes him unstoppable. Jamie likes to pretend he's a superhero. With his cape and gadgets, he…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Dancing Hands

  a Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language

  Que, Joanna,

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  This artful picture book about friendship and sign language, originally published in the Philippines in concert with the nonprofit Room to Read, is beautifully revised for this global edition. Sam’s new neighbors’ hands make graceful…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Day With No Words

  Hammond, Tiffany,

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  A Day With No Words invites readers into the life of an Autism Family who communicates just as the child does, without spoken language. Young children will learn what life can look like for an autistic child who uses nonverbal…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ninja Nate

  Sheppard, Markette,

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  Nathaniel, or, as his friends call him, Ninja Nate, has been dressing like a ninja all summer long—even sleeping in his suit. And he doesn’t plan on stopping for his first day of fifth grade, especially when he has been hiding his robotic…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Tenacious

  Fifteen Adventures Alongside Disabled Athletes

  Cisneros Prevo, Patty,

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  Meet fifteen remarkable athletes who use adaptive equipment in this beautiful and truth-telling picture book. A downhill skier whose blindness has sharpened her communication skills. An adaptive surfer who shreds waves while sitting down.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Obioma Plays Football

  Unigwe, Chika,

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  9 year-old Obioma is a football star. She uses a special stick to score goals and never loses a race in her wheelchair! But when she moves to a new city, she has to go to a new school where she has no friends, and everyone calls her “the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Tulip in Winter

  a Story About Folk Artist Maud Lewis

  Stinson, Kathy,

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  Known for her vibrant and cheerful paintings of landscapes, plants, and animals, Maud Lewis’ iconic folk art is celebrated around the world. Despite her beautiful art, she spent much of her life living in poverty with rheumatoid arthritis.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Thomas & Friends. All Engines Go. Thomas and Bruno

  Webster, Christy,

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  An exciting storybook based on the new Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go!™ animated series on Netflix and Cartoonito, introducing Bruno, Thomas’ new brake car friend with autism! When Diesel’s speediness gets him into trouble, Thomas and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• What Happened to You?

  Catchpole, James, 1980-

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  This accessible, funny, and groundbreaking story addresses the questions children often ask, as well as a disabled child's choice not to answer. What happened to you? Was it a shark? A burglar? A lion? Did it fall off? A boy named Joe is…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Charlie Makes a Splash!

  Peete, Holly Robinson, 1964-

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  Charlie, a boy with autism, describes what his life is like with his twin sister Callie, who does not have autism, and explains how water--whether in a pool, a tub, or in the aquarium--is like a warm hug, which settles him down and calms…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Sam's Super Seats

  Brown, Keah,

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  "A child with cerebral palsy describes how resting helps them to have fun.Every morning, as Daddy combs Sam’s hair, Sam, a Black child sporting glasses, lists qualities they like about themselves. Today, Sam likes their dance skills, their…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Up and Adam

  Zapata, Debbie,

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  "With kindness in his heart and a smile on his face, Adam, a young boy with Down syndrome, and his dog, Up, help make a difference in their community when they help clean up the town after a big storm." -- Novelist.

• Ali and the Sea Stars

  Stroker, Ali, 1987-

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  "Tony Award–winning Stroker (Oklahoma!), the first wheelchair-user to appear on Broadway, has written an exuberant fictional tale loosely based on her own childhood. Depicted in Reid's buoyant illustrations as an energetic white girl in a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• It's Me, Henry!

  Deslauriers, Stéphanie, 1987-

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  "This picture book about a young boy on the autism spectrum highlights the way he functions differently than his classmates. His way of being in the world has both its challenges and its strengths"--Provided by publisher.

• Brilliant Bea

  Rudolph, Shaina,

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  "With help from Ms. Bloom and some new friends, Beatrice discovers that learning differently is not something to be afraid of, and that dyslexia does not define who she is." -- Novelist.

• The Curiosities

  Fraillon, Zana,

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  "Weaving together Filipino legends and one boy’s experience with neurodiversity, this takes its readers on a journey of discovery with young Miro. Spirit-like creatures dubbed Curiosities have become attached to Miro, showing him different…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Midnight & Moon

  Cooper, Kelly, 1963-

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  "Moon cannot see but he hears sounds that other horses ignore: the eggshell crack of a meadow lark hatching. The glide of a salamander into the pond. Clara does not speak but she hears sounds that other children ignore: the hum of the oven…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Dancing With Daddy

  Schulte, Anitra Rowe,

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  "Elsie can't wait to go to her first father-daughter dance. She picked out the perfect dress and has been practicing swirling and swaying in her wheelchair. Elsie's heart pirouettes as she prepares for her special night. With gestures,…Read moreRead more of this annotation