Kids of all abilities should be able to feel seen and included in the stories they’re told growing up.
In this blog, Tayla, one of our Client Support Specialists and in-house nutritionists, has curated a list of children’s books that create a welcoming space where diversity and inclusion are celebrated: A blind chef opens his own café, sports are enjoyed by people of all abilities, and Down syndrome and Asperger’s Syndrome are super powers.
Included
Written by Jayneen Sanders and illustrated by Camila Carrossine
Included is a story that follows six children: Sam, Rishi, Jay, Audrey, Ty and Zara.
Each one of them is unique, and together they set out on a journey into diversity and inclusion, showing that children with disabilities are just like any others. They have strengths and weaknesses, and they seek belonging and acknowledgement.
The book offers insights on how to embrace inclusivity in play and celebrates the beauty of diversity. Readers will learn that differences in abilities make the world more vibrant and fascinating.
Craig Shanahan: Cooking up a Storm
Written by John Dickson and illustrated by Claudia Frittitta
Craig Shanahan always dreamed of being a chef. But after two operations on his eyes, he was almost completely blind.
But Craig decided he had too much he wanted to do to let that stop him: Craig opened his own café, the Blind Chef Cafe and Dessert Bar on Sydney’s Penrith’s High Street.
This delightful book is one in a series of three biographies produced by Vision Australia, highlighting role-model Australians living with blindness or low vision.
Max the Champion
Written by Sean Stockdale and Alex Strick and illustrated by Ros Asquith
As we journey alongside Max and his vivid imagination, we encounter a whole host of characters from diverse backgrounds. Some communicate through sign language, others rely on guide dogs, and some have unique physical traits.
Max’s classmates reflect a spectrum of abilities and appearances, including a child with Down syndrome, one with an eye patch, and another who wears a leg orthotic. Max’s best friend navigates the world in a wheelchair, and Max himself wears a hearing aid and carries an asthma inhaler.
But the heart of this story isn’t focused on disability–it’s about embracing the diversity of the community around us.
Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Superpowers
Isaac is a superhero! He has a kind of superpower called Asperger’s Syndrome. In this book, Isaac takes us through what it’s like to have his type of superpowers in a gentle and positive way. to bring understanding and inclusiveness to a young audience.
This book is described by the National Autistic Society as “delightful … full of positive messages.”
Just Because
Just Because captures the unconditional love between a brother and his sister.
As Toby shares the special bond he and his sister Clemmie share and the adventures they embark on together, readers gradually discover that his sister has special needs.
This book is a heartwarming exploration of sibling friendship and is a gentle introduction to the concept of disability for young children.
You Are Enough: A Book About Inclusion
This is a book about how it can be hard to be different–but how boring would it be if we were all the same? It follows an 11 year old girl with Down Syndrome as she proudly and confidently does not let anything hold her back from what she wishes to achieve. It shows us how our differences are what make us special and who we are.
Inspired by the life of Sofia Sanchez, a young Ukrainian-American actress and model, the book includes extra content about Sofia’s journey, along with information about Down syndrome and how we can all strive to be more accepting, inclusive, and kind.
I Am a Masterpiece!
Like many others, thirteen-year-old Mia enjoys going to the beach, the color blue, and drawing. But, noting that “sometimes people forget their manners,” she dislikes when strangers treat her differently because of how she looks.
Mia considers Down syndrome her superpower. In her book, she gives us a peek into the life of a child with Down syndrome, helping some readers feel seen while helping others understand their friends, classmates, and family members who are neurodivergent.
*Cover image of Craig Shanahan and his book c/o Vision Australia.
