The Power of Characters with Disabilities in Kids’ Books


Characters with disabilities break down stereotypes and foster empathy and understanding. These books have the power to boost the self-esteem of disabled children and create disability awareness for all kids.

In honor of We Are the Scrappy Ones, releasing April 1st, 2025. I’ve curated a list of my favorite contemporary picture books featuring and celebrating our differences. The artwork for “We are the Scrappy Ones” represents four major categories of disability: physical, behavioral, developmental, and sensory. I aim to include a broad selection in my reading list today as well. Please share your favorite children’s books about Disability Awareness in Children’s Books?

A selection of picture books featuring kids with disabilities. This is a summary of pictures that are in the article

Picture Book with Physical Disability Representation

Athletes of different ages with different disabilities burst into action on the front cover of "Tenacious"

The illustrations by Dion MBD are graphic and contempory, perfectly capturing the action of this book.

An excellent chocie for an inclusive picture book about characters with disabilities. In the classroom, use this book during sporting seasons like the super bowl or the Olympics. “Tenacious” is written by a Olympic medalist!

Children’s Book about Characters with Disabilities in Historical Events

Cover of "All the way to the top" main character is disabled and crawls up steps with t-shirt tied around forehead holding back hair.

The true story of Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins is written and illustrated in the story, “All The Way To The Top.” When young Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins took to the captial steps to climb, and becoming an iconic moment in the protest for disability rights.

A book about children making history is a rare story to find and highlight in the class. Pair this book with lessons about how laws are created.

Humorous Children’s Books Featuring Characters with Disabilities

This is an image of the book cover "Sam's Super Seats. " Sam's Super Seats features a young character with a disability. Three girls sit on a bench with shopping bags nearby. There are tropical plants behind them.

Sam’s Super Seats features a young character with a disability. Sam has cerebral palsy along with self love and a lot of humor! Follow Sam’s trip to the mall with her friends.

An illustration of a bear with hearing aids, the title of this picture book is called Can Bears Ski?

Extra silly story by Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar. This one will delight kids with deafness and all children learning to navigate their world.

the cover of the picture book We Move Together is orange with an illustration of different feet, some with disabilties - service dog feet, feet with cane, feet resting in  a wheel chair and two other feet standing.

Bold color will light up readers in “We Move Together.” This book features a many different disabiltiies but mainly features a wide range of visible and physical differences.

Kids will appreciate the many characters and bold colors.

Conversation Starting Picture Books including characters with disabilities

The picture book title "Just Ask" is designed in floral letters with a child pushing a wheel barrel. The Wheel barrel has plants inside.

Just Ask celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. The author’s own experience, as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges–and looks at the special powers those kids have as well.

As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we’re not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask.

Two children swing on a white background. One child with disabilities has one leg.

Author James Catchpole and Illustrator Karen George come together for this important conversation-starting topic. The delicatly drawn illustrations have a playful and bright color chocies.

The main character is constantly seen first for his disability. He’s fed up after being asked about his leg. Kids with and without disabilities will relate.

This creative duo also has another book “You’re SO Amazing.” That opens up conversations to have with your kids.

On the cover of this picture book, the child looks up at hair accessories. She has no hair and is wearing a sunflower headband. The Title of the book is called "what's silly hair day with no hair?"

This story features a young character with alopecia areata. Inclusion, friendship and acceptance are positive themes throughout this book. The playful color palette and theme add silliness to a hard topic.

Children may lose hair for many reasons this also makes a terrific support book. I especially like this book as a coversation starter because this book deals with a visable difference.

More Great Picture Books about Disabled Characters

Illustrated in a collage style this colorful book is a excellent read. The main character is blind and travels through the city in a sensory journey.

Three children and a man walk in the park. The book is titled let's go for a walk"

This highly interactive book features a children with physical and sensory disability and differences. The creators Ranger Hamza and Kate Kronreif take readers through a journey with ideas how to make your own walks and hikes lots of fun.

This book will inspire you to explore your own neighborhood and honor differences.

Exceptional Artwork for Children’s Books with Characters With Disabilties

Illustrated with a painterly style, the main character is waist deep in rushing water without shirt

I love this book because of it’s beautiful illustrations. The poetic language is a fantastic read with brilliant analogy of a river. The Author writes from his own expirences with a studder.

On a nearly black background, a boy sits on the ground with neon flowers. There is a playground behind them drawn in neon colors.

Illustrated in a beautifully limited neon palette this book’s crucial statement that nonverbal people have as many words and as much intelligence as anyone else.

Children’s Books Can Empower Disabled Kids

I hope you are feeling inspired to illuminate a disabled voice in your next reading session. Whether your classroom shelf needs more disability representation or you are interested in targeted reading for disability awareness, these essential books are great reads for any day and everyone.

And don’t forget to buy We Are The Scrappy Ones April 1st!

Six kids floating in space with disabilities.

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