July is Disability Pride Month! Read these stories with your kids to learn more about the varying experiences of living with a disability and celebrate the ways our differences make us unique.
By Howard County Library System’s children’s instruction & research specialist
Jean Boone and senior teens’ instructor & research specialist Carmen Jessop
Board Books
“All Kinds of People” by Shelley Rotner & Sheila M. Kelly
With joyful, vibrant portraits of children with every shade of skin, this book celebrates human diversity and our connections to one another.
“Julia” by Andrea Posner-Sanchez
This bright board book introduces Julia, a “Sesame Street” muppet with autism, but that’s not what defines her. Just like her “Sesame Street” friends, Julia loves to build with blocks, play with her dog and have fun with her family and friends.
Picture Books
“Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You” by Sonia Sotomayor
A lively garden of children with diverse needs encourages readers to notice and talk about their unique abilities and challenges. Whether it’s taking shots of insulin, using a wheelchair or an inhaler, having a guide dog to explore the world or using sign language, differences are celebrated.
Instead of fearing or ignoring differences, let’s explore them and get to know each other!
“I Talk Like a River” by Jordan Scott
This book explores the experience of a child who struggles to form words and speak fluently through lyrical text and art. With each insightful page, readers see an empathetic window into the perceptions of those who stutter.
“Best Day Ever!” by Marilyn Singer
A joyful read, “Best Day Ever!” follows a playful and mischievous dog as he takes his boy on a merry chase. Even when the pup goes too far and gets a scolding, unconditional love wins the day. Though his boy uses a wheelchair, he’s the perfect partner for a perfect day.
Elementary Books
“Tenacious: Fifteen Adventures Alongside Disabled Athletes” by Patty Cisneros Prevo, illustrated by Dion MBD
Discover the stories of extraordinary disabled athletes, from sprinters, to surfers to ice hockey players, in this collection of brief bios. Each athlete identifies a daily challenge and a daily joy they experience and offers inspiration for overcoming obstacles.
“Stuntboy, In the Meantime” by Jason Reynolds
Stuntboy, aka Portico Reeves, may be a superhero (in secret), dedicated to keeping everyone around him super and safe. But he’s got his own trouble to deal with—the frets!—also known as anxiety. With plenty of humor and comic book art, this chapter book takes on worry with laughter.
Middle Grade Books
“Roll With It” by Jamie Sumner
Twelve-year-old Ellie, who has cerebral palsy, finds her life transformed when she moves with her mother to small-town Oklahoma to help care for her grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s disease.
“You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P!” by Alex Gino
When her new baby sister is born deaf, Jilly makes an online connection with a fellow fantasy fan who happens to be Black and deaf, and she begins to learn about the many obstacles that exist in the world for people who are different from her.
Teen Books
“Stars in Their Eyes: A Graphic Novel” by Jessica Walton
Maisie is on her way to her first Fancon and can’t wait to meet her idol—an action star who had an above-the-knee amputation, just like Maisie. But then she meets Ollie, a cute volunteer working at the show. Soon they geek out about nerd culture, and after they spend the day together, Maisie is torn. What happens when you have feelings for someone who lives hundreds of miles away?
“Chaos Theory” by Nic Stone
When Shelbi sees Andy at his lowest, she can relate, and she doesn’t resist reaching out. There’s no doubt their connection has them both seeing stars; however, the closer they get, the more the past threatens to pull their universes apart. From bestselling author Nic Stone, “Chaos Theory” delivers a tour de force about living with grief, prioritizing mental health and finding love amid the chaos.
