All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything

362.4 PIM

Jennifer Keelan was determined to make a change―even if she was just a kid. She never thought her wheelchair could slow her down, but the way the world around her was built made it hard to do even simple things. Like going to school, or eating lunch in the cafeteria. Jennifer knew that everyone deserves a voice! Then the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law that would make public spaces much more accessible to people with disabilities, was proposed to Congress. And to make sure it passed, Jennifer went to the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC to convince them. And, without her wheelchair, she climbedL ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP!

The Remember Balloons

E OLI

James’s Grandpa has the best balloons because he has the best memories. He has balloons showing Dad when he was young and Grandma when they were married. Grandpa has balloons about camping and Aunt Nelle’s poor cow. Grandpa also has a silver balloon filled with the memory of a fishing trip he and James took together. But when Grandpa’s balloons begin to float away, James is heartbroken. No matter how hard he runs, James can’t catch them. One day, Grandpa lets go of the silver balloon—and he doesn’t even notice! Grandpa no longer has balloons of his own. But James has many more than before. It’s up to him to share those balloons, one by one.

We Want to Go to School

344.73 COC

There was a time in the United States when millions of children with disabilities weren't allowed to go to public school. But in 1971, seven kids and their families wanted to do something about it. They knew that every child had a right to an equal education, so they went to court to fight for that right. The case Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia led to laws ensuring children with disabilities would receive a free, appropriate public education. Told in the voice of Janine Leffler, one of the millions of kids who went to school because of these laws, this book shares the true story of this landmark case.

Awesomely Emma: A Charley and Emma Story

E WEB

Emma has limb differences, but different isn't bad, sad, or strange. It's just different! But when some accessibility problems get in the way at the local art museum, it ruins the fun of a class trip...and then Emma's friend Charley makes things even worse! In the middle of a really bad day, Emma has to call upon her sense of inner awesome to stand up for herself and teach everyone a lesson about the transformative power of feeling awesome in your own skin.

I Talk Like a River

E SCO

When a boy who stutters feels isolated, alone, and incapable of communicating in the way he'd like, it takes a kindly father and a walk by the river to help him find his voice. Compassionate parents everywhere will instantly recognize a father's ability to reconnect a child with the world around him.

Different - A Great Thing to Be!

E AVI

Macy is a girl who’s a lot like you and me, but she's also quite different, which is a great thing to be. With kindness, grace, and bravery, Macy finds her place in the world, bringing beauty and laughter wherever she goes and leading others to find delight in the unique design of every person.

Meeting Mimi: A Story About Different Abilities

E DOL

Mimi is new at school, and everyone is excited to get to know her! Join Mimi’s classmates as they learn about her different abilities, appreciate diversity, and most of all make a new friend?

We Move Together

E FRI

A bold and colorful exploration of all the ways that people navigate through the spaces around them and a celebration of the relationships we build along the way. We Move Together follows a mixed-ability group of kids as they creatively negotiate everyday barriers and find joy and connection in disability culture and community. A perfect tool for families, schools, and libraries to facilitate conversations about disability, accessibility, social justice and community building. 

What Happened to You?

E CAT

What happened to you? Was it a shark? A burglar? A lion? Did it fall off? A boy named Joe is trying to play pirates at the playground, but he keeps being asked what happened to his leg. Bombarded with questions and silly suggestions, Joe becomes more and more fed up...until the kids finally understand they don't need to know what happened. And that they’re wasting valuable playtime!

Not So Different

362.4 BUR

Shane Burcaw was born with a rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which hinders his muscles’ growth. As a result, his body hasn’t grown bigger and stronger as he’s gotten older—it’s gotten smaller and weaker instead. This hasn’t stopped him from doing the things he enjoys (like eating pizza and playing sports and video games) with the people he loves, but it does mean that he routinely relies on his friends and family for help with everything from brushing his teeth to rolling over in bed.

Zion Unmatched

921 CLA

This stunning photographic essay showcases Zion Clark’s ferocious athleticism and undaunted spirit. Cowritten by New York Times best-selling journalist James S. Hirsch, this book features striking, visually arresting images and an approachable and engaging text, including pieces of advice that have motivated Zion toward excellence and passages from Zion himself. Explore Zion’s journey from a childhood lost in the foster care system to his hard-fought rise as a high school wrestler to his current rigorous training to prepare as an elite athlete on the world stage. Included are a biography and a note from Zion.

My Life With Autism

618.92 SCH

Zen loves to draw and play video games. He also has autism. Zen is real and so are his experiences. Learn about his life in this illustrated narrative nonfiction picture book for elementary students. Kids are naturally curious about differences and disabilities. Zen sheds light on his life, with the help of experienced children’s author Mari Schuh. Zen is not defined by his condition, but he does some things differently than neurotypical people. Beautiful illustrations and a dyslexic-friendly font promote accessibility.

Alex and His Magical Colors

E DEN

Simple text and colorful illustrations follow the story of an Autistic boy named Alex, who cannot stand too much loud noise, even though he would love to be able to go out and play with the other school kids. To cope, Alex retreats into his room and makes colorful, twirling art, but one day he sees how gray and drab everything outside is, and decides to venture out into the noise to bring some color to his neighbors.

Unbound: The Life and Art of Judith Scott

921 SCO

This illustrated children's book chronicles the life of artist Judith Scott, a woman who was underestimated her entire life because she was deaf and had Down's Syndrome, but who later became a prominent artist. Institutionalized when she was seven, Judith was thought to be mentally incompetent, when in fact, she was merely deaf. At the age of thirty-five, she was reunited with her twin sister and began to develop her artistic style when she enrolled in art classes. Judith soon began showing her textile art at galleries and lived until the age of sixty-two.

Sometimes Noise is Big: Life With Autism

618.92 COE

Sometimes noise is too big for my ears. Sometimes the light is too loud for my eyes. I have autism and this means that sometimes the world around me is just too much! This book will help you to see the world through my eyes and to understand why I react to things the way I do.

Aaron Slater, Illustrator

E BEA

Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers. When his teacher asks each child in the class to write a story, Aaron can’t get a single word down. He is sure his dream of being a storyteller is out of reach . . . until inspiration strikes, and Aaron finds a way to spin a tale in a way that is uniquely his. Printed with a dyslexia-friendly font, Aaron Slater, Illustrator tells the empowering story of a boy with dyslexia who discovers that his learning disability may inform who he is, but it does not define who he is, and that there are many ways to be a gifted communicator.

Just Ask!

E SOT

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor presents a story inspired by her own childhood diagnosis of diabetes. Here a young Sonia and her friends decide to plant a garden and each child contributes something even though he or she has asthma, a wheelchair, a stutter, blindness, deafness, allergies, Down syndrome, or ADHD. Their differences make them special and the children ask questions of each other in order to learn more about each other.

Abdul’s Story

E THO

Abdul loves to tell stories, but he wishes it wasn't so hard to write them all down. He struggles to write his letters correctly, and it soon makes him frustrated and sad. He assumes his stories just aren't meant to be written down. One day, an author comes to visit and Abdul is surprised that he looks like him and tells stories about people and neighborhoods that seem familiar to him. When the author stays and has the children write stories, Abdul learns the author too has a messy notebook. The author encourages Abdul to write without stopping and then pick out the best parts of his work, revising it until he gets it the way he wants it. This gives Abdul the encouragement he needs to tell his stories.

Rescue and Jessica: A Life Changing Friendship

E KEN

Rescue the dog is at first disappointed when he receives the news he is to become a service dog. He had thought he would be a Seeing Eye dog--but, when he meets Jessica, a girl whose life turned out very different than she thought it would, too, Rescue realizes he can still be a seeing eye dog. He can help Jessica see a future for herself.

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures

921 GRA

When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe!

We’re All Wonders

E PAL

Augie enjoys the company of his dog, Daisy, and using his imagination, but painfully endures the taunts of his peers because of his facial deformity.

The William Hoy Story

796.357 HOY

Presents a brief picture book biography of William Ellsworth Hoy, a deaf player who taught referees to use sign language and became the stolen bases leader in the National Baseball League in his day.

My Three Best Friends, and Me, Zulay

E BES

Zulay, a blind first-grader, is just learning to master her cane, but when her teacher announces an upcoming field day, Zulay surprises everyone by declaring that she would like to run in the race. Luckily, Zulay's three best friends Chyng, Nancy, and Maya are there to offer support and cheer her on. Bright, expressive Zulay may not be able to see the track with her eyes, but she discovers another way to get around using her sense of touch. Running around the track, climbing trees, swimming, and reading Braille are all activities Zulay is determined to do successfully. 

Emmanuel’s Dream

921 YEB

Emmanuel, a young man born in Ghana with a deformed leg, refused to beg to survive and instead persevered until he was able to get a job and raise money to achieve his dream, riding a bicycle 400 miles across Ghana to bring attention to the plight of disabled people. As a result of his efforts, the Parliament passed a Persons with Disabilities act and Emmanuel opened a school for students with disabilities.

A Boy and a Jaguar

921 RAB

Alan's voice often turns against him just when he needs it most—his stutter makes him the object of ridicule, punishment and misunderstanding by peers and teachers alike. But the ostracism he experiences only serves to deepen his compassion and empathy for the majestic big cats in cages at the Bronx Zoo. Alan promises the cats that he will “be their voice and keep them from harm” if he can ever find his own voice. This book presents the true story of famous cat conservationist Alan Rabinowitz who makes good on his promise by studying animals in the wild and using his knowledge and understanding to advocate on their behalf. 

The Princess and the Peanut Allergy

E MCC

Regina has a huge, princess-themed, peanut-filled cake planned for her birthday party, that is until she learns that her best friend Paula has a severe peanut allergy! In this introduction to food allergies, Regina learns how dangerous an allergic reaction can be, and how she can best help a friend stay safe. With dimensional and bright illustrations, this book perfectly depicts the importance of respecting a friend's needs.

My Brother, Charlie

E PEE

"Charlie has autism. His brain works in a special way. It's harder for him to make friends. Or show his true feelings. Or stay safe." But as his big sister tells us, for everything that Charlie can't do well, there are plenty more things that he's good at. He knows the names of all the American presidents. He knows stuff about airplanes. And he can even play the piano better than anyone he knows.Actress and national autism spokesperson Holly Robinson Peete collaborates with her daughter on this book based on Holly's 10-year-old son, who has autism.

It’s Okay to Be Different

E PAR

Told with Todd Parr's signature wit and wisdom, It's Okay to Be Different cleverly delivers the important messages of acceptance, understanding, and confidence in an accessible, child-friendly format. The book features the bold, bright colors and silly scenes that made Todd a premiere voice for emotional discussions in children's literature. Targeted to young children first beginning to read, this book will inspire kids to celebrate their individuality through acceptance of others and self-confidence—and it's never too early to develop a healthy self-esteem.

Thank You Mr. Falker

E POL

Patricia Polacco is now one of America's most loved children's book creators, but once upon a time, she was a little girl named Trisha starting school. Trisha could paint and draw beautifully, but when she looked at words on a page, all she could see was jumble. It took a very special teacher to recognize little Trisha's dyslexia: Mr. Falker, who encouraged her to overcome her reading disability. Patricia Polacco will never forget him, and neither will we.

You Are Enough: A Book About Inclusion

618.92 OHA

"It can be hard to be different--whether because of how you look, where you live, or what you can or can't do. But wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same? Being different is great! Being different is what makes you YOU. This inclusive and empowering picture book from Sofia Sanchez--a young model and actress with Down syndrome--reminds readers how important it is to embrace your differences, be confident, and be proud of who you are.