Inclusive Books

“Reading about someone in a book just like me or my brother makes me so happy. I hope it lets more people understand different disabilities so people accept us more.” - Naomi aged 16

My daughter had always loved reading but when she progressed from young children’s picture books to chapter books she struggled to find an author or a genre she really connected with. That was until we discovered inclusive books; fictional stories that include characters with a range of different abilities that immediately made her feel seen and valued. Over the years as an autistic young lady she’s collected an entire bookshelf of books with characters with varying disabilities and I’m very grateful for her help and support in writing this blog.

For ease of use I’ve grouped the books into different disabilities but it’s well worth reading every one of them to broaden your mind, become more inclusive and enjoy getting to know some wonderful fictional characters as they live their lives and have adventures.

Eating disorders:

Taking up Space by Alyson Gerber

Autism

The Space We're In by Katya Balen

Can You See Me?, Do You Know Me?, Ways to Be Me and All the Pieces of Me all by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott.

Finding My Voice and Frankie’s World (graphic novels) by Aoife Dooley

The Asparagus Bunch by Jessica Scott-Whyte

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The Boy Made of Bricks by Keith Stuart (adult novel)

Show Us Who You Are by Ellie McNicoll

The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas (adult novel)

I’m Not Upside Down I’m Downside Up (P.D.A) by Danielle Jata-Hall and Harry Thompson

Cerebral Palsy

Out of My Mind, Out of My Heart and Out of My Dreams by Sharon M Draper

The Amazing Edie Eckhart and The Amazing Edie Eckhart: The Big Trip by Rosie Jones

O.C.D

When I See Blue and Because We are Bad by Lily Bailey

Braver by Deborah Jenkins

Counting by 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

OCDaniel by Wesley King

The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson

Sensory Processing Disorder

Tune it out by Jamie Sumner

Not if I Can Help It by Carolyn Mackler

Wheelchair use

Air by Monica M. Roe

Push girl by Chelsie Hill

How we roll by Natasha Friend (also includes alopecia)

Braced by Alyson Gerber (scoliosis)

Facial disfigurement

Wonder, and Auggie & Me by R. J. Palacio

Selective Mutism

Being Miss Nobody by Tamsin Winter

Call Me Lion by Camilla Chester

Stutter

The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh and The Funniest Boy in the World by Helen Rutter

ADHD

Focussed by Alyson Gerber

The Boy with the Butterfly Mind by Victoria Williamson

Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick

Down Syndrome

For the Love of Oscar and Don’t Be Sorry by Sarah Roberts

Of course this isn’t and never could be an exhaustive list and we are constantly on the look out for other inclusive books showing characters my daughter can relate to. I’d love to hear your recommendations too and perhaps one day my own daughter might even write her own book too!