Recommended Books for Children
books that celebrate differences or feature characters who have triumphed over adversity
Fictional Picture Books that Embrace Differences
Individuality
Henkes, K. (1991).Chrysanthemum Big Book. Greenwillow Books. (ages 4–8)
Kraus, R. (1994). Leo the Late Bloomer. HarperCollins. (ages 4–8)
Leonni, L. (1973). Swimmy. Dragonfly Books. (ages 4–6)
Most, B. (2003). The Cow That Went OINK. Sandpiper. (ages 3–8)
Naliboff, J. (2004). The Only One Club. Flashlight Press. (ages 4–8)
Nikola-Lisa, W. (1995). Bein’ With You This Way. Lee & Low Books. (ages 4–8)
Parr, T. (2009). It’s Okay To Be Different. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. (ages 4–8)
Yim, S. (2002). Ruby’s Wish. Chronicle Books. (ages 5–9)
Fictional Chapter Books that Embrace Differences
Appearance
Blume, J. (1986) Blubber. New York, NY: Yearling. (obesity; ages 9–12)
Crucher, Chris. (2003). Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. Greenwillow. (obesity and disfigurement; ages 12 and up)
Graff, Lisa. (2007) The Thing About Georgie. Harper Trophy (dwarfism; ages 9–12)
Autism Spectrum and Related Disorders
Baskin, N. (2010). Anything but Typical. Simon & Schuster. (autism spectrum disorder; ages 9–12)
Choldenko, G. (2006). Al Capone Does My Shirts. (autism spectrum disorder; ages 9–12)
Hesser, T. (1999). Becoming Naomi Leon. Scholastic (obsessive-compulsive disorder; ages 12 and up)
Hoopman, K. (2001). Of Mice and Aliens: An Asperger Adventure. Jessica Kingsley. (Aspergers syndrome; ages 9–12)
Hoopman, K. (2001). The Blue Bottle Mystery: An Asperger Adventure. Jessica Kingsley. (Aspergers syndrome; ages 9–12)
Lord, C. (2008). Rules. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. (Aspergers syndrome; ages 10–12)
Mass, W. (2003) A Mango-Shaped Space. Little, Brown (synesthesia; ages 12 and up)
Stork, Francisco X. (2011). Marcelo in the Real World. Scholastic. (Aspergers; ages 14 and up)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Gantos, J. (2000). Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. HarperCollins. (ADHD; ages 9–12)
Gantos, J. (2002). Joey Pigza Loses Control. HarperCollins. (ADHD; ages 10–12
Abilities
Auch, MJ. (2009) The One-Handed Catch. Square Fish (physical disability; ages 9–12)
Conly, J. (1995) Crazy Lady. HarperCollins (mental disability (MR); ages 9–12)
Trueman, T. (2005). Cruise Control. Harper Teen (cerebral palsy; ages 12 and up)
Trueman, T. (2001). Stuck in Neutral. Harper Teen (cerebral palsy; ages 12 and up)
Wolff, V. E. (2002). Probably Still Nick Swanson. Simon Pulse. (special ed; ages 11–15)
Individuality
Gallo, D., Ed. (2003). On the Fringe. Speak. (individuality; ages 12 and up)
Paterson, K. (1996). Flip Flop Girl. Puffin (hardship and individuality; ages 9–12)
Spinelli, J. (2003). Loser. HarperCollins. (bullying; ages 8–12)
Culture, Race, and/or Religion
Armstrong, W. (2001). Sounder. Harper Perennial Modern Classics. (racism; ages 9–12)
Kerr, J. (2009). When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. Puffin (anti-semitism; ages 9–12)
Lowry, L. (1998). Number the Stars. Laurel Leaf (anti-semitism; ages 9–12)
Reiss, J. (1990). The Upstairs Room. HarperCollins (anti-semitism; ages 14 and up)
Speare, E.G. (2011). The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Sandpiper (culture; ages 9–12)
Spinelli, J. (1999.) Maniac Magee. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. (racism; ages 9–12)
Taylor, M. (2004). Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Puffin (racism; ages 9–12)
Taylor, M. (1998). The Friendship. Puffin (racism; ages 9–12)
Yolen, J. (2004). The Devil’s Arithmetic. Puffin (anti-semitism; ages 10–14)
Sexual Orientation
Howe, J. (2003). The Misfits. Atheneum. (ages 14 and up)
Sanchez, A. (2006). So Hard to Say. Simon & Schuster Children’s Books. (ages 12 and up)
Non-Fiction Picture Books that Embrace Differences
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Elder, J. (2005). Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes. Jessica Kingsley. (ages 7 and up)
Edwards, B. (2002). My Brother Sammy. Bloomsbury Publishing. (ages 4–8)
Sabin, E. (2006).The Autism Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone with Autism. Watering Can Press. (ages 9–12)
Gender
Welden, A. (1999) Girls who Rocked the World: Heroines from Sacagawea to Sheryl Swoopes. Gareth Stevens Publishing. (ages 9–12)
Roehm, M. (2010). Girls who Rocked the World, 2: Heroines from Harriet Tubman to Mia Hamm. Read How You Want. (ages 9–12)
Learning Challenges
Lauren, J. (2009). That’s Like Me! Stories About Amazing People With Learning Differences. Star Bright Books. (ages 8–10)
Physical Challenges
Barasch, L. (2004). Knockin on Wood: Starring Peg Leg Bates. Lee & Low. (ages 4–8)
Kaminsky, M. Uncommon Champions: Fifteen Athletes who Battled Back. (2003). Boyds Mills Press (ages 11–14)
Krull, K. (2000). Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman. Sandpiper (ages 9–12)
Thomas, P. (2005). Don’t Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability. Barrons (ages 4–8)
Troupe, Q. (2005). Little Stevie Wonder. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. (ages 9–12)
Sexual Orientation
Krakow, K. (2002).The Harvey Milk Story. Two Lives Publishing. (ages 11–14)
Various Differences
Kent, D. (1997). Extraordinary People with Disabilities. Children’s Press (ages 9–12)
Kindersley, A. (1995). Children Just Like Me: A Unique Celebration of Children Around the World. DK Children. (ages 6–10)
Sabin, E. (2007). The Special Needs Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone with Special Needs. Watering Can Press. (ages 9–12)
