Please welcome Jo Meserve Mach and Vera Lynne Stroup-Rentier for #ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2017. Their book, Neema Wants to Learn, relates to their list of eight books for kids with disabilities. We are giving away a copy of Neema Wants to Learn. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to win.
The books we publish focus on inclusion and honoring children with disabilities by sharing their stories. I have selected picture books that I feel represent individuals with disabilities as they should be represented.
Books For Kids with Disabilities
1. Susan Laughs by Jeanne Willis
Susan has fun swimming with her dad, riding a house, playing with her friends. She just happens to need to use a wheelchair sometimes. [picture book, ages 4-7]
2. My Friend Isabelle by Eliza Woloson
Charlie has fun with his friend Isabelle. She does things differently because she has Down Syndrome. But that doesn’t matter, because she’s a great friend. [picture book, ages 4-7]
3. Mama Zooms by Jane Cowen-Fletcher
Mama may be in a wheelchair but that doesn’t mean she can’t have lots of fun with her young son. They have lots of adventures together. [picture book, ages 4-7]
4. A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz
A young boy who stutters is very happy he can talk easily to animals. When he grows up he chooses a job to take care of animals. [picture book, ages 4-7]
5. Just Because by Rebecca Elliot
A little boy loves his older sister just because. He enjoys her and doesn’t think about how her physical disabilities limit her. [picture book, ages 5-7]
6. Anna & Natalie by Barbara H. Cole
Anna enters a contest to put the wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Her seeing eye dog, Natalie, is going to be with her when she wins. [picture book, ages 6-9]
7. Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson
True story of a boy in Ghana who was born with a deformed left leg. He showed his country how he wouldn’t let that prevent him from playing sports or riding a bicycle.[picture book, ages 4-8]
8. Neema Wants To Learn by Jo Meserve Mach and Vera Lynn Stroup- Rentier
True story of a young girl living in a orphanage in Tanzania. She has learning disabilities but that doesn’t stop her from learning in lots of fun ways. [picture book, ages 4-8]
Neema Wants to Learn GIVEAWAY
Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to win. We can only mail to U.S. and AFO boxes due to the high cost of shipping.
Jo Meserve Mach, author, spent 36 years as an Occupational Therapist. She is very passionate about sharing the stories of children with special needs. Jo embraces the joy that individuals with disabilities bring to our communities through their unique gifts.
Vera Lynne Stroup-Rentier, author, worked professionally in Early Childhood and Special Education programming for 25 years. She has a PhD in Special Education and is currently working at the Kansas State Department of Education. Vera is passionate about the inclusion of each and every child in settings where they would be if they did not have a disability.
Learn more at their website.
To find more diverse and multicultural books for children, please check out our Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents. We also have Pinterest board full of ideas:
I adore Amelia Bedelia Goes to School.
An important distinction on this excellent list: these are Books ABOUT Kids with Disabilities FOR ALL KIDS!
You are absolutely right! Plus they aren’t about disabilities. These books are about kids.