Disability Pride Month: Combat Ableism with Disability-Inclusive Picture Books

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the diversity, resilience, creativity, and contributions of the disability community while recognizing disability as a natural and valuable part of human diversity.

One powerful way to honor Disability Pride Month is by sharing stories that authentically represent disabled experiences. In this post, I’ve curated picture book lists that challenge ableism, celebrate disability identity, and encourage empathy without centering pity or “overcoming” narratives. They also help children understand the importance of accessibility and inclusion, and remind readers that everybody deserves to be seen, valued, and represented.

Disability-Inclusive Picture Books ft:

Find the Full List on Amazon / Bookshop, or click on the individual titles linked below.

Physical Disabilities

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

Awesomely Emma by Amy Webb | Emma, a confident girl with limb differences, knows that being different isn't something to fix, it's simply part of who she is. But when accessibility barriers at an art museum leave her excluded during a class trip, Emma finds the courage to speak up for herself.

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).

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

Neurological, Developmental, Learning, and Intellectual Disabilities

Autism

A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond | Aidan, an Autistic child who communicates using a speech-generating tablet, spends a joyful day with his mom. The story celebrates nonspeaking communication and reminds readers that there are many meaningful ways to connect, understand, and be heard.

ADHD

Ady and Me by Rich Pink | Follows Sophie and her personified ADHD, "Ady," as they navigate a busy school day together. While Ady can make it hard to stay focused, stay organized, and keep up with classroom expectations, he also brings curiosity, creativity, and joy.

Dyslexia

Wiggling Words by Kate Rolfe | Follows a child who desperately wants to finish a story, but the words on the page keep wiggling, jiggling, and jumping, making reading frustrating. Instead of giving up, the child begins to see the letters in a new way, transforming them into imaginative shapes and possibilities. Inspired by the author's own experience with dyslexia.

Down syndrome

I am a Masterpiece by Mia Armstrong | Mia loves many of the same things other kids do, but she also has Down syndrome, which gives her a unique way of seeing the world. Through her joyful perspective, she shows that what makes her different is also her superpower.

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.

FOXG1 syndrome

Joyfully Josie by Nicole Johnson | Josie, has FOXG1 syndrome, a rare condition that brings significant challenges. Even so, Josie’s joy and positivity shine through, helping others learn about inclusion and kindness toward people who may look different.

Sensory Processing Disorder

Make It All Go Away by Helen Docherty | Melodie struggles with a family outing because the noisy, smelly, bright, and overwhelming environment triggers sensory overload and stress. As she navigates her discomfort, she learns ways to self-soothe and find calm.

Invisible & Undiagnosed Disabilities

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.

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.

Celiac disease

I’m a Gluten-Sniffing Service Dog by Michal Babay | Chewie is a service dog in training who must learn to focus on detecting gluten for his human, Alice, to keep her safe from getting sick. Despite distractions and challenges, he works to stay focused because Alice depends on him.

Chronic illness

Gentle Hugs by Lily Guzman | Alex confides in his loyal dog Nico as he navigates his mother’s chronic illness. Through Nico’s steady companionship and his mother’s quiet, enduring love, Alex learns that love can be gentle, consistent, and deeply powerful even in difficult times.

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.

Sickle cell anemia

Just Like the Moon by Maite Rodriguez | Told through the voice of Zoe, a young girl with sickle cell anemia, the story blends everyday life with imagination to show her hospital visits, challenges, and resilience. Through creative metaphors and hope-filled imagery, Zoe reframes her condition with strength and optimism.

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.

Cancer

Warrior by Shannon Stocker | Maria, a brave young warrior, journeys through a fantasy world filled with challenges like the Serpent Sea and Fear Forest as she tries to reach a mountain bell to defeat monsters. In reality, her adventure reflects her experience as a child facing cancer, and with the support of her team, she is reminded of her strength, courage, and identity as a warrior.

Emotional & Psychiatric Disabilities

OCD

The Compulsion Cloud by Averi Ridge Castaneda | Holly is overwhelmed by a “compulsion cloud” that represents her OCD, filling her with anxious thoughts and demands she feels compelled to follow. With the help of a therapist using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), she begins learning how to face her fears and resist compulsions.

Bipolar disorder

Mama Moon by Noah Grigni | A child compares their mother to the moon, reflecting how she changes between joyful and difficult “phases” due to bipolar disorder. Together, the family navigates these ups and downs, showing the steady presence of care even in hard times.

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.

Depression

A Blue Kind of Day by Rachel Tomlinson | Coen experiences a deep sadness that makes it hard for him to feel comforted, even when his family tries to cheer him up. The story shows depression as heavy and isolating, and highlights how listening, patience, and quiet support can help someone begin to open up and feel understood.

Sensory Disabilities

Deafness

Sound Switch Wonder by Dr. Christine Ko | A young deaf boy with cochlear implants explores what sound means to him, choosing when to engage with the hearing world and when to experience silence. As he moves through his day, he learns to help his hearing family understand his perspective.

Blindness

I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich | Neveah, a blind girl, experiences the changing seasons through her senses of touch, smell, taste, and hearing. As she moves through winter, spring, summer, and autumn, she shows how the world can be fully understood and enjoyed beyond sight.

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For more recommendations, check out 11 additional disability-inclusive picture book lists: