Helping children understand and accept differences is one of the most powerful ways we can build more inclusive classrooms and communities. Picture books about disabilities offer a meaningful starting point for these conversations—inviting curiosity, encouraging empathy, and showing that every child has value, no matter how they move, communicate, or experience the world. Whether you’re teaching about inclusion or supporting a student with special needs, these five books about disabilities provide both heart and insight to help children see the wonder in everyone.
For some of the books on this website, I have created interactive read-alouds to enrich their use in the classroom. These interactive read-alouds include discussion questions, activities, and prompts that engage students and deepen their understanding of the book’s themes. More interactive read-alouds are on the way. If there are specific books for which you would like to see a read-aloud created, please contact me using the form at the bottom of the page.
To learn more about supporting social-emotional learning and using interactive read-alouds in the classroom, check out these posts:
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Summary: Celebrate Our Differences is a heartwarming addition to the My Dragon Books series, designed to teach children about inclusion and different abilities. In this story, a lovable dragon learns that everyone has unique challenges and strengths, from ADHD and autism to physical disabilities, nut allergies, and asthma. Through engaging storytelling and bright illustrations, the book encourages kids to recognize, respect, and celebrate the differences that make each person special.
Description: This book is an excellent tool for helping children develop awareness and empathy toward individuals with visible and invisible disabilities. Through the perspective of a friendly dragon, young readers are introduced to a variety of conditions and learn that differences should be embraced rather than feared. The story emphasizes that everyone has something valuable to offer, reinforcing the message that diversity makes the world a richer and more interesting place. The simple language and engaging artwork make this book accessible for younger audiences, while the important themes provide a foundation for meaningful discussions about inclusion and kindness.
Reviews and Considerations: Parents, teachers, and caregivers appreciate Celebrate Our Differences for its ability to introduce complex topics in an age-appropriate and compassionate way. Many readers highlight how the book helps children understand and accept both visible and invisible disabilities. Educators find it particularly useful during lessons on inclusion, with some using it during Autism Acceptance Week and similar awareness events.
Some readers note that the book excels at addressing neurodiversity alongside physical disabilities, filling a gap in children’s literature. While most reviews are overwhelmingly positive, a few readers felt that ADHD’s portrayal could have been more nuanced. Overall, this book is widely praised as a valuable resource for fostering empathy and inclusivity in young children.
Summary: Authentically Addie follows a young girl named Addie on a trip to the zoo, where she meets various animals with disabilities. As she interacts with her animal friends, Addie learns about their unique challenges and adaptations, reinforcing the idea that differences should be embraced and celebrated. Inspired by the author’s real-life daughter, Addie, the story introduces children to a range of disabilities, encouraging curiosity, kindness, and inclusion.
Description: This engaging book introduces children to disabilities in a relatable way, using animal characters to represent conditions like cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and hearing loss. The vibrant illustrations and thoughtful storytelling make it an excellent tool for fostering empathy and understanding. Authentically Addie encourages children to ask kind questions, embrace diversity, and recognize that everyone has something valuable to contribute.
Reviews and Considerations: Parents and educators love this book for its positive representation of disabilities. Many readers appreciate how it makes children with unique needs feel seen while promoting kindness and acceptance. One particularly moving response came from a teen with a stutter who felt deeply understood by the story. This book is a must-have for families and classrooms looking to promote inclusivity in an engaging, heartfelt way.
Summary: In this second book of the Authentically Addie series, young Addie is off on another heartwarming adventure—this time to the ocean. As Addie explores the coastline, she encounters sea creatures who each have a different disability. With curiosity and compassion, she learns about their unique needs and abilities, making connections that highlight how diversity makes the world more beautiful. Created by author Stephanie Wolfe and her real-life daughter Addie, this book gently opens the door to conversations about disability and acceptance.
Description: This teaching book uses storytelling to help children recognize and celebrate differences. The animals Addie meets each represent a different disability, and the story models how to ask respectful questions, show empathy, and include others with kindness. The illustrations are vibrant, and the dialogue is age-appropriate for early elementary students. Because the book was inspired by the author’s own daughter, it carries an authentic tone that makes the message even more impactful. It’s an excellent read-aloud for classrooms looking to build a foundation for inclusion, especially during units on friendship, community, or identity.
Reviews and Considerations: Readers consistently praise this book for its gentle but powerful approach to teaching about disabilities. Many families and educators note that it helps young children see disability not as something to fear or pity, but as one of many ways humans (and animals!) experience the world. Parents appreciate the faith-affirming message that everyone is made purposefully, while educators highlight how the story fosters rich classroom discussions. A few reviewers wished for slightly larger print, but the overwhelming sentiment is one of gratitude for a resource that makes empathy accessible to even the youngest learners.
Summary: In Just Ask!, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor draws from her own childhood experience with diabetes to craft a beautifully inclusive book that introduces readers to children with a wide variety of disabilities and medical conditions. As the characters work together to plant a community garden, each shares a bit about themselves—from using wheelchairs and canes to living with ADHD, asthma, or autism. Their openness encourages readers to follow the book’s central advice: if you’re curious, just ask—with kindness and respect.
Description: This is a teaching book designed to spark inclusive conversations. Each page introduces a different condition or disability, such as Down syndrome, Tourette’s, deafness, and food allergies, through the voice of a child who experiences it. The explanations are simple but informative, making the book especially useful as a read-aloud for classroom discussions about differences. With vibrant illustrations by Rafael López and a question at the end of each child’s vignette, the book invites personal reflection and helps children connect what they’re reading to their own lives. While the text is longer and more detailed than many picture books, it rewards discussion and can be easily adapted to different grade levels.
Reviews and Considerations: Educators and families alike praise Just Ask! for its powerful blend of representation and compassion. Many readers note that children were excited to recognize themselves or loved ones in the book, often exclaiming, “That’s me!” when a familiar condition appeared. Teachers report using the book to prompt meaningful conversations about empathy, accommodations, and fairness versus equality. While a few reviewers found the book a bit wordy for very young readers, most felt its richness made it ideal for repeated readings and deeper classroom exploration. The message is clear, empowering, and universally relevant: it’s okay to notice differences—and even better to understand them.
Summary: Inspired by the bestselling novel Wonder, this picture book introduces young children to Auggie Pullman, a boy who feels ordinary on the inside but knows others don’t always see him that way. With a strikingly simple narrative and emotionally resonant illustrations, We’re All Wonders invites readers to step into Auggie’s world and see life through his eyes. As Auggie imagines soaring into space to find a place where he belongs, the story gently reminds us all that kindness and empathy can help us see the “wonder” in everyone.
Description: Designed as a younger companion to the Wonder chapter book, this story centers on belonging, self-worth, and choosing kindness. Auggie has a craniofacial condition, but the book doesn’t name his diagnosis—instead, it focuses on his feelings and desire to be accepted. The sparse but powerful text, paired with vivid illustrations, makes it ideal for early elementary classrooms, read-alouds, and social-emotional lessons. The message is universal and accessible: differences don’t define us—how we treat one another does. While it doesn’t teach about a wide range of disabilities like some other books in this list, it’s a deeply emotional and affirming story that can prompt rich discussion.
Reviews and Considerations: Teachers, parents, and even high school counselors consistently recommend this book as a powerful tool for building empathy in young children. Many readers found it especially meaningful for children with visible differences, with several reviews highlighting how the book helped their kids feel seen. Others used it to introduce concepts of kindness and inclusion to preschoolers and early elementary students. While some hoped for more examples of diverse disabilities, most agreed that the emotional clarity of Auggie’s voice helps open children’s hearts. We’re All Wonders is a beautiful way to plant the seeds of compassion, especially when paired with ongoing classroom conversations.
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