(Books Listed by Grade Level)
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"When children are not able to find themselves or their lives reflected in classroom literature, they are less engaged and interested in the reading process. Beyond that, the subtle message is that school is for someone else, not people like you."
- Anonymous student, Quoted in "Heightening Awareness about the importance of Using Multicultural Literature" by Susan A. Colby and Anna F. Lyon Below is a list of children's books featuring positive portrayals of children with diverse abilities. Included with each book is a list of curriculum areas that the books could be used with, so that the inclusion of literature featuring diverse children is more natural. I hope that they will be helpful in continuing to foster your welcoming classroom environment while meeting your curriculum needs. |
Grades Preschool through Second
Friends at School
by Rochelle Burnett, Photographs by Matt Brown
With full-color photographs, pictures and describes a day at an inclusive early childhood program, where diverse students share friendships and learning activities.
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Going to School, School Routines
Russ and the Firehouse
by Janet Elizabeth Rickert, Photographs by Pete McGahan
A young boy named Russ, who has Down syndrome, visits his uncle, a firefighter, at the fire station. Russ explores the firehouse and helps the firefighters with their work, including inspecting equipment, testing a fire hydrant, and giving the firehouse dog a bath. Russ is thanked for his help and invited to come and visit again.
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Firehouses, Community Helpers, Community Service, Jobs
Where's Chimpy?
by Berniece Rabe, Photographs by Diane Schmidt
It's time for bed, and Misty can't find her stuffed monkey, Chimpy. She and her father look all the places she's been: playing with friends in the yard, the living room, taking a bath, etc. She finds toys, books, etc., but not Chimpy. Misty finally finds him, but then her dad can't find his glasses. Misty finds them on the floor, and he reads her a bedtime story.
Note: Misty's diversity label (not mentioned in the text of the book) is Down Syndrome.
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Cleaning Up, Daily Routines
Moses Goes to a Concert
by Isaac Millman
Moses, a student who is deaf, and his classmates take a field trip to an orchestral concert, where they meet a percussionist who is also deaf. Moses and his classmates learn how she became a member of the orchestra and come away from the experience believing that "when you set your mind to it, you can become anything you want."
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Music, Science (sound waves/vibrations), Goal Setting
See the Ocean
by Estelle Condra, Illustrated by Linda Crockett-Blassingame
Nellie loves her family's annual tradition: a vacation to the beach. She likes to feed the birds and play in the sand and water. The book ends with a lovely description of how Nellie can "see" the ocean.
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Science/Dramatic Play (Oceans, Beaches, etc), Families, Siblings, Vacations (for older readers - a study of metaphor in Nellie's description: "the ocean is an old, old man born at the beginning of time...his beard blows white on the sandy beach. Fish swim in his long, wavy hair...")
I Like Me!
by Nancy L. Carlson
A story of a cheerful pig who is her own best friend and celebrates the things that make her unique. She also describes making mistakes, but puts a positive spin on them by continuing to "try and try again."
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Self-Esteem/Self-Respect, Self-Care, Stress Management
ABC for You and Me
by Margaret Girnis, Photographs by Shirley Leamon Green
An alphabet book in the style of 'A is for Apple' featuring photographs of diverse children with Down Syndrome.
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Alphabet, Phonics
Susan Laughs
by Jeanne Willis, Illustrated by Tony Ross
A story in rhyme that describes the daily adventures of a young girl. Readers follow Susan as she plays outside, paints pictures, swims with her family, and experiences emotions common to young children including fear, anger, and joy. Susan is not shown using her wheelchair until the final illustration, by which time it has been shown that she is " just like me, just like you."
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Daily/School Activities, Emotions
Grades Third through Fourth
It's Your Turn at Bat
by Barbara Aiello and Jeffrey Shulman
This beginner chapter book is about Mark, a fifth grader and aspiring sports writer who uses a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy. After being assigned a writing topic about the sewing machine, Mark makes a new friend at the senior center, ending his stereotypes of senior citizens. He also manages the school's baseball team, and when the money for uniforms ends up missing, "Mrs. R" shows up on game day with another surprise for Mark.
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Responsibility, Sports, Stereotypes
Brian's Bird
by Patricia Anne Davis, Illustrated by Layne Johnson
Brian, an eight-year-old who is blind, learns to care for his new pet bird, Scratchy, and teach him to talk. When his brother accidentally leaves the front door open and the bird flies out, Brian is upset at his brother, but they team up to find him. Brian ends up bringing Scratchy home and the brothers make up.
Curriculum/Activity Areas: Caring for Pets, Families
Note 1: All books featured on this site have been evaluated based on criteria from the Circle of Inclusion Home Page at http://www.circleofinclusion.org/english/books/index.html . However, please review all texts before sharing them with your children or students.
Note 2: The grade levels mentioned are basic guidelines. Books can be used for a variety of grade levels and ages based on the needs and interests of your children/students.