Today I bring you even more recent and relevant kids’ books featuring disabled characters. The artwork I created for “We are the Scrappy Ones” represents four major categories of disability: physical, behavioral, developmental, and sensory. I aim to include more to add to that broad selection in my reading list today. This time around I want to include some books for older readers too. Restack, reorder, donate, and make room on the bookshelf for a few more books with disability representation for your big and little readers. A bookshelf without disabled characters is a one-dimensional offering!
In case you missed it:
Previous Post/The Power of Characters with Disabilities: 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.

Don’t forget, to order “We Are The Scrappy Ones” sold everywhere April 1st, 2025. (This link will take you to 2 Dandelions Bookshop | 428 W Main Street, Brighton, MI 48116)
Middle Grade Books For Foodie Readers
Growing up with Crohns, I’ve ran into different stories featuring CD. The main character in Gut Reaction I know my younger self would find dignified and empowered. I highly recommend.

Critically acclaimed, bestselling author and Newbery Honor-winner, Kirby Larson, and her daughter, debut author, Quinn Wyatt, pen this gorgeously moving and often funny story that explores what living with a chronic illness is like.
Inspired by Quinn’s own personal journey, Gut Reaction is full of heart and humor and highlights the importance of asking for help when it comes to mental and physical health alike.

Author-Illustrated & Brand New
If you love Author-Illustrator creators and irresistible characters, Bitsy Bat is great pick. In Bitsy Bat School Star, I especially like the back matter, “Autism Facts!” Bitsy Bat has a new book that is celebrating a book birthday this week- Bisty Bat Team Star!

A little bat struggles to fit in only to learn to celebrate differences in this “darling book for all children but especially those with autism” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) from Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Kaz Windness about starting school, making friends, and seeing what makes each person special.
Bitsy Bat Team Star: This sequel to Bitsy Bat, School Star is told from an autistic perspective and celebrates how our differences make each of us shine brightly on our own and as part of a team. Happy Book Birthday Bitsy!

Books for Readers who Love a Series
Twelve-year-old Ellie, who has cerebral palsy, finds her life transformed when she moves with her mother to small-town Oklahoma to help care for her grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s Disease

More Book Series
You’ll love Wednesday and Woof. HarperChapters builds confident readers one chapter at a time! With short, fast-paced books, art on every page, and milestone markers at the end of every chapter, they’re the perfect next step for fans of I Can Read!
![Wednesday and Woof #1: Catastrophe [Book]](https://thescraplibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/81gn-LuoXL.jpg)
Can Wednesday and her service dog, Woof, sniff out Mrs. Winter’s missing cat before her big trip? This is the first book of a fun full-color early chapter book series about the best detectives in the Midwest!


Aven Green Sleuthing Machine (illustrated by Gina Perry) are part of larger series
Even More Book Series

She’s solved many important cases like The Mystery of the Cranky Mom, The Mystery of the Missing Ice Cream, and The Mystery of the Smelly Feet. Her record is nearly 100% (only The Mystery of the Cereal in My Underpants remains unsolved to this day).
Aven asks all the right questions, wields her detective kit carefully, and follows up on every clue. Then her teacher’s lunch bag (with her lunch still in it) is taken and Aven’s great-grandma’s beloved dog goes missing! Can this perceptive detective crack two cases at the same time?
Luckily, Aven has a super-powered brain full of lots of extra brain cells to take on both cases. See, she was born without arms, so all of the cells that were supposed to make her arms went into making her brain instead. At least that’s her working theory for The Mystery of Why I Have So Many Extra Brain Cells.


More Books Featuring Disabled Characters
El Deafo is a go-to for author-illustrator voices. This one is from 2014, it’s innovative storytelling makes these one to keep going back to.
![El Deafo: Superpowered Edition!: A Graphic Novel [Book]](https://thescraplibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/612JPXMh1yL.jpg)
El Deafo is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Cece Bell. The book is a loose autobiographical account of Bell’s childhood and life with her deafness. The characters in the book are all anthropomorphic bunnies. Cece Bell, in an interview with the Horn Book Magazine, states “What are bunnies known for?

I don’t think Sunshine is often considered when thinking about disability-themed reading but this book is a great pick for older readers. More perspectives for your bookshelf that talk about disability and illness.
I hope some of these reads have caught your eye for the first time or maybe a books you saw and meant to revisit. Find at your bookstore or library, open up another perspective 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.