Stories are powerful and can inform our formative understanding of the world and society around us. Positively representing disability in these stories helps foster understanding, acceptance and inclusion.
Here are some great children’s books that celebrate disability:
Come Over To My House by Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin
Co-written by disability advocate Eliza Hull and Australian Children’s Laureate Sally Rippin, this inclusive rhyming tale explores the home lives of various families who are Deaf or disabled.
ABC Disability by Sarah Rose
ABC Disability shares an A to Z of celebrating diversity with bold and bright illustrations.
Written by three-time Paralympian swimmer, medal-winner and disability advocate Sarah Rose, and illustrated by award-winning illustrator, Beck Feiner, this vibrant picture book also includes the Auslan sign for each letter of the alphabet.
Included by Jayneen Sanders
Included is a heartwarming picture book that introduces six wonderful kids—Sam, Rishi, Jay, Audrey, Ty, and Zara—each with their own unique abilities. Through games, books, and silliness, these children share the universal desire to feel safe, loved, and included. Included aims to explore diversity and inclusion, showing that children with disabilities are just like kids everywhere, with strengths and areas for growth.
A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond
A Day With No Words offers a glimpse into the life of an Autism family where communication happens without spoken words.
The book follows a mother and her child as they navigate a day using a tablet for communication. Written by an autistic mother of two autistic sons, and illustrated by Kate Cosgrove, A Day With No Words normalises nonverbal communication methods, providing representation of neurodiversity and autism in a way that celebrates and affirms.
All My Stripes by Shaina Rudolph & Danielle Royer
All My Stripes is a story about Zane, a young zebra on the Autism spectrum, who worries his differences make him stand out from his peers.
The story serves as a valuable teaching tool for caregivers, including parents, grandparents, and teachers, to help children and family members understand the Autism spectrum.
The book also includes a Reading Guide with additional background information about Autism.
