Picture books highlighting visible disability
5 February 2025
Picture books are a great way to help children understand the world around them. Books with characters who have physical disability show children that everyone is unique. These stories can teach us about acceptance and inclusion- and help children with visible disabilities feel seen and represented.
Below, we’ve put together a list of books that highlight disability in a positive and meaningful way. Happy reading!
All about diversity
By Felicity Brooks, illustrated by Mar Ferrero
This book illustrates how we can be different in many ways, the clothes we wear, the food we eat, what we celebrate, as well as having different bodies and brains. Like other Usborne books, it’s packed with facts that children will love to explore over several readings.
This book helps children celebrate and appreciate diversity and shows how all children can feel valued and respected.
Come over to my house
By Eliza Hull and Sally Rippin
Come Over To My House is a gorgeous picture book that explores the home lives of children and parents who are Deaf or have a disability. The lovely rhyming text shows friendly characters inviting friends to come and play.
“Come over to my house. Come over and play! I’ll show you around, you can stay the whole day. We’ll swing on the swing-set and splash in the pool. Then I’ll race you inside where my bedroom is cool.”
Dancing with Daddy
By Anita Rowe Schulte, illustrated by Ziyue Chen
Dancing with Daddy is a story about Elsie, a little girl looking forward to a father-daughter dance. She can’t wait to wear her new red dress with a matching red bow and dance the night away!
We also learn that Elsie uses a wheelchair and a PODD book to communicate and receives her nutrition through a tube connected to her tummy. This beautiful book is written by Anitra Rowe Schulte, the mother of a child with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. The illustrations are delightful, making this an excellent read-aloud picture book that children like Elsie and others will cherish.
Emmanuel’s Dream – The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
By Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Sean Qualls
This award-winning picture book tells the remarkable true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a boy born in Ghana with one deformed leg. Not only did Emmanuel survive, with the support and love of his mother, he showed the determination to follow his dreams and make a difference.
Included
By Jayneen Sanders, illustrated by Camila Carrossine
This is a great conversation starter for any classroom. The book introduces six children with different disabilities and explores what makes us the same and different.
Great discussion questions are included at the end.
Susan Laughs
By Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross
Susan laughs, and she sings. she rides, she swings. She gets angry, she gets sad, she is good, she is bad…
Told in rhyme, this story follows Susan through a series of familiar activities. She swims with her father, works hard in school, plays with her friends, and even rides a horse. Lively, thoughtfully drawn illustrations show a busy, happy little girl with whom younger readers will identify. Not until the end of the story is it revealed that Susan uses a wheelchair.
Told with insight, and without sentimentality, here is an inspiring look at one spunky little girl whose physical disability is never seen as a disadvantage.
What Happened to You?
By James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George
Joe is playing pirates at a playground when he’s asked, “What happened to you?” We see Joe answering some silly questions through a humorous storyline and gorgeous illustrations. By the end, the children in the playground focus on being pirates, not on Joe’s differences.
Based on the author’s real childhood experiences of growing up with limb difference, the book includes tips on how to talk to a child when they blurt out the question, “What Happened to You?!”
You’re So Amazing
By James and Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George
One-legged Joe is often told that he’s “Amazing Joe” or “Poor Joe”, but mostly he’d rather just be Joe.
Joe is an amputee and loves playing soccer and being a swashbuckling pirate with his friends. Joe is amazing. He knows this because wherever he goes people always tell him he’s amazing. Amazing for sliding down the slide, for kicking a ball. even walking to get an ice cream, or even just eating an ice cream. Of course, being Amazing Joe is better than being Poor Joe. But Joe doesn’t want to be Amazing Joe OR Poor Joe. He’s happiest when he’s just Joe.
Useful links
Our favourite picture books about autism
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