Celebrate Disability Pride Month: Picture Book Lists to Combat Abelism and Curate Inclusive Shelves
Disability Representation belongs on ALL Shelves
July is Disability Pride Month ~ a time to honor the diversity, strength, and brilliance of the disability community. One powerful way to celebrate is by sharing stories that reflect and respect disabled experiences. In this post, I’ve curated picture book lists that challenge ableism and help families and educators build inclusive shelves. These books uplift disabled voices, normalize accessibility, and remind all readers that everybody deserves to be seen, valued, and represented.
Curate Disability-Inclusive Libraries with these picture books featuring:
Find the Full List on Amazon / Bookshop, or click on the individual titles linked below.
Deafness
Cesaria Feels the Beat by Denise Rosario Adusei | An empowering picture book about a deaf girl who feels music through her bare feet. When told to wear shoes for her Carnival performance, Cesaria stands up for herself, showing others a new way to connect with the rhythm.
Blindness
A Sky that Sings by Anita Sanchez | Mia, a blind girl with a love for birds, takes her tía on a special bird-listening adventure through the park. Using her sharp ears to identify birds by their songs, Mia teaches her aunt a new way to experience nature.
Cerebral Palsy
I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood | Follow Eva, a young girl with cerebral palsy, as she pursues her dream of becoming a dancer. Unsure of what dance looks like for someone who uses a wheelchair, Eva finds a class for dancers of all abilities ~ and the courage to shine.
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome
Dancing with Daddy by Anitra Rowe Schulte | Elsie is excited for her first father-daughter dance, twirling in her wheelchair and sharing her joy with her family. But when a winter storm threatens to cancel the big night, she wonders if her dream will come true
Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes Doesn’t Stop Maddie! by Sarah Glenn Marsh | After being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Maddie feels nervous about managing it and telling her friends. But with time, support, and courage, she learns to talk openly about her condition and gains confidence in herself.
Prader-Willi Syndrome
Together, We Are Family by Emily Hamilton | This warm picture book celebrates the everyday moments of family life, with all its ups and downs. Centered on the love between parent and child, it shows that while every family is unique, love is what makes them whole.
Wheelchair Use
Logan’s Greenhouse by JaNay Brown-Wood | Logan is preparing for a pet playdate and needs to find his carrots ~ but his greenhouse is full of look-alike plants! With clues and comparisons, readers help Logan search through sweet potatoes, turnips, and more.
Limb Differences
Ninja Nate by Markette Sheppard | Nathaniel ~ aka Ninja Nate ~ uses his ninja persona to face the new school year with a robotic leg. Unsure how his friends will react, he hides behind his costume until the support of his family helps him find the courage to be fully himself.
Severe Food Allergies
Zoey has an Allergy by Anisha Angella | Zoey, a lively and curious five-year-old shares her journey managing allergies. Through her story, she teaches kids and families how to stay safe and care for loved ones with allergies.
Amniotic Band Syndrome
What Makes you Super? Let’s Talk About Amniotic Band Syndrome by Fernanda Neves | A heartfelt love story celebrating differences, inspired by a spirited little girl with a limb difference caused by Amniotic Band Syndrome.
Congenital Heart Disease
What Makes you Super? Let’s Talk About Congenital Heart Disease by Fernanda Neves | An empowering picture book featuring a little girl living with a congenital heart defect (CHD).
Sickle Cell Disease
My Life Beyond Sickle Cell Disease by Hey Gee | Beautifully illustrated graphic novel that shares the real-life story of a high school track athlete managing sickle cell disease. Through her races and challenges, she learns the importance of teamwork, self-care, and support from family and healthcare providers.
Cancer
Making Happy by Sheetal Sheth | When Leila’s mother becomes sick, life changes for their family, but their love and laughter remain strong. Inspired by the author’s own experience with cancer.
Epilepsy
All About Brains by Lake Bell | For share day at school, Nova plans to bring her favorite breakfast pickles ~ but when the jar is empty, she shares something even more special: her brain sparkles, a nickname for her epilepsy. As she explains her unique brain, her classmates begin to share their own differences, celebrating the many wonderful ways brains can be unique.
Traumatic Brain Injury
The Resilient Brain by Katianne Olson | Inspired by the author’s experience supporting a loved one with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), this book offers an educational and empowering look at TBI. It explains the brain’s amazing functions, the rehabilitation journey, and provides support and hope for children and families navigating this common invisible injury.
Chronic Illness
Kenzie’s Little Tree by Alison McGauley | Kenzie’s mom doesn’t always feel well, much like a delicate tree weathering changing seasons. Through hospital stays, quiet cuddles, and worries during a snowstorm, Kenzie learns that, like the resilient tree, her mom’s strength and love endure ~ and so does hers.
OCD
I Think I Think A Lot by Jessica Whipple | A thoughtful young girl reflects on how she and her classmates approach kindness, gratitude, and caring in different ways. Inspired by the author’s experience with OCD, this story celebrates neurodiversity, self-acceptance, and the unique ways we all experience the world.
Sensory Processing Disorder
Too Much!: An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutiérrez | Explores sensory overload through the eyes of a sensorily sensitive child. Drawing from the author’s own experience with sensory processing disorder, it offers comforting strategies and reassurance that it’s okay to have days when everything feels like too much.
Autism
The Boy Who Said Wow by Todd Boss | Celebrates the power of art through Ronan, a nonverbal boy who finds his voice at his first Mozart concert. After a quiet evening, Ronan’s first big “WOW!” surprises and delights everyone, spreading joy far beyond the concert hall.
Bipolar Disorder
Ups and Downs by Nancy MacNairn | A young girl navigates life with her mother, who has Bipolar Disorder. Through the ups and downs, the girl never doubts her mother’s love, offering a touching look at family, resilience, and understanding.
Generalize Anxiety Disorder
Anxious by Luciana DeLuca | Gently explores the complex feelings of anxiety through the story of a little girl who wants to play and sing but feels overwhelmed and scared. Slowly, the young girl learns to ask for help and finds small ways to cope.
Down Syndrome
Hide and Shh! by Christina Dendy | Dinah, a young girl with Down Syndrome, loves playing games with her older sister but sometimes struggles to play in her own way. This charming story shows how they learn flexibility and inclusion, discovering that adapting and valuing each other’s ideas makes playtime more fun for everyone.
Clinical Depression
Dark Cloud by Anna Lazowski | Abigail carries a dark cloud of worries that affects her everyday life, from friendships to ballet class. Over time, she learns that her cloud changes size and that she can find ways to manage it ~ like trapping it in a sandcastle or stepping away to feel the sunshine.
ADHD
Wepa by J de laVega | Mia Emilia Lucia Renata is full of wepa ~ her vibrant energy and spirit, which her mom and teachers sometimes misunderstand as being too messy or loud. With encouragement from her Abuela and friends, Mia learns to embrace her wepa (ADHD) and finds a place where her energy is celebrated, not suppressed.
Dyslexia
Brilliant Bea by Shaina Rudolph | Beatrice struggles with reading and writing but shines as a natural storyteller. With support from a caring teacher and an old-fashioned tape recorder, she finds a new way to share her voice and reveal her true talents to her classmates.
Congenital disorders of glycosylation
A.Z.’s Adventures through the Sugar Tree Forest by Nare Garibyan | Follow a little boy on a quest to collect “glycan fruit” needed for health and happiness. Alongside friends, he overcomes challenges to reach the Sugar Tree Forest and return home.
For more recommendations, check out these picture book lists:
AAC Devices / PECS in Picture Books (Amazon | Bookshop)
Picture Books featuring Limb Differences (Amazon | Bookshop)
Picture Books featuring Down Syndrome (Amazon | Bookshop)
Autism Acceptance Picture Books (Amazon. | Bookshop)
Deaf /Hard of Hearing Picture Books (Amazon | Bookshop)
Blind / Low Vision Picture Books (Amazon | Bookshop)
Neurodivergence Picture Books (Amazon | Bookshop)
Cerebral Palsy Picture Books (Amazon | Bookshop)
Epilepsy Picture Books (Amazon | Bookshop)
Sensory Processing Differences Picture Books (Amazon | Bookshop)
Disability Rights (Amazon | Bookshop)
I hope this book list is useful! Please consider subscribing for more bookish content.
Here’s to raising our young readers and future leaders~
Happy Reading,
Maya
I’m a professor in special education and I have been having my students select books with disability representation to teach lessons in their practicum placements. Your lists are so helpful in finding books!