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Maine DEC has provided a list of children's books which deal with disability issues. The list of books is divided by topic with information about the Subject, Recommended age level, and summary provided for each book.
There are several other sites with listings of children's literature related to disabilities.
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities has a Guide to Children's Literature and Disabilities has a bibliography of reading material listing other guides, as well as books divided by disability category with the reading level provided.
KidSource Online This bibliography is intended to help parents and professionals identify books that are written about or include characters who have a disability. The list is grouped according the following disabilities: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), blindness, cerebral palsy, deafness, learning disabilities, serious or life-threatening conditions, physical disabilities, and other disabilities.
Subject: A.I.D.S, H.I.V, Siblings
Recommended Age Level: 6 and up
Coles, Robert. (1994). Kids Speak about AIDS. IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
Summary: In writings and drawings, children with HIV infection and AIDS tell how it feels to be different from other kids, how they face rejection when people know they are sick, and how it feels to lose loved ones to AIDS. Brothers and sisters have worries of their own. They speak of the fear that their siblings will die, the strain of keeping the family's secret, and sometimes, the lonely feeling that others do not notice them.
Subject: A.I.D.S, H.I.V
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Glaser, Elizabeth. (1991). For Our Children. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Company.
Summary: This book is to benefit the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. People need to know that they cannot get AIDS through a hug or a kiss from an infected person. Children with HIV can carry on normal lives, playing with friends, and attending school. There are twenty song lyrics from Walt Disney Records album performed by the world's leading recording artists.
Subject: A.I.D.S
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Hausherr, Rosemarie. (1989). Children and the AIDS Virus. New York: Clarion Books.
Summary: Explains in simple terms the body's immune system, how it is attacked by the AIDS virus, and what can be done to prevent the disease. This is a warm, open story about AIDS, created especially for young children to read alone or with an adult. The text is divided into a main text for the young reader and an informational text for parents.
Subject: A.I.D.S, H.I.V
Recommended Age Level: 5-10
Quackenbush, Marcia. (1988). Does AIDS Hurt? Educating Young Children About AIDS. Santa Cruz, CA: ETR Associates.
Summary: This book gives teachers, parents, and other care providers the latest information, terminology, and age-appropriate guidelines for educating young children about HIV and AIDS. Explains the difference between HIV and AIDS and offers advice on when and where to use those terms with young children. A new section discusses how to develop AIDS-specific curricula and offers content guidelines for early elementary students.
Subject: Amputee
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Archibald, Joseph. (1973). The Fifth Base. New York: Macrae Smith Co.
Summary: Andy Carson is a white rookie pitcher with the St. Cloud Vikings, a farm club for St. Louis. A fight with another teammate, Hagerman, leaves Andy's ring finger mangled on his pitching hand. After being dismissed, he gives up his dream, until he is found by an old time catcher who convinces him to pitch again. Andy eventually strikes Hagerman out so many times that the slugger is prevented from breaking the record in a four-game series. This story illustrates the idea that good sportsmanship is an asset.
Subject: Attention Deficit Disorder
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Corman, C. and Trevino, E. (1995). Eukee: The Jumpy Jumpy Elephant. Specialty Press.
Summary: Eukee is a smart little elephant who likes to chase butterflies, blows bubbles, and do cartwheels. However, he always feels jumpy inside and can never finish the march at school. He is unhappy that because he doesn't have any friends so Eukee agrees to a visit to the doctor where he learns he has ADD.
Subject: Attention Deficit Disorder
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Gehret, Jeanne. (1991). Eagle Eyes: A Child's View of Attention Deficit Disorder. New York: Verbal Images.
Summary: Ben, a boy with attention deficit disorder, describes the frustrations and feelings associated with his initially unidentified syndrome.
Subject: Attention Deficit Disorder
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Janover, Caroline. (1997). Zipper, The Kid with ADHD. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Zachary (nicknamed Zipper), a fifth-grader who has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has trouble concentrating and controlling himself until a retired jazz musician recognizes his talent, believes in him, and gives him the motivation to start trying to do better.
Subject: Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Hearing Impairment, Learning Disabilities, Siblings, Visual impairment
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Meyer, Donald, Ed. (1997). Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Several siblings share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with special needs. The children whose essays are featured range in age from 4 to 18 with a variety of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, visual and hearing impairments, and Down syndrome.
Subject: Attention Deficit Disorder
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Quinn, Patricia. (1991). Putting On The Brakes. Washington, DC: Magination Press.
Summary: All you need to know about ADHD- what it is and what to do about it. A guide to understanding and gaining control over attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This book attempts to give ADHD kids a sense of control and a perception of goals that they can attain. It is important for both parents and children to keep the hopeful message of this book when reading and talking together with ADHD kids.
Subject: Autism
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Amenta III, Charles A. (1992). Russell Is Extra Special: A Book about Autism for Children. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Summary: This story is a portrayal of an autistic boy and his family. The book is designed to help children and their parents understand this serious developmental disorder.
Subject: Autism
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Katz, I. and Ritvo, E. (1993). Joey and Sam. Real Life Story Books.
Summary: Sam is 5-years old and has autism, and Joey is his 6-year-old brother. They describe an ordinary day at home and at school, showing some of the ways they are different and alike.
Subject: Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Siblings
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Meyer, Donald, Ed. (1997). Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Several siblings share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with special needs. The children whose essays are featured range in age from 4 to 18 with a variety of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, visual and hearing impairments, and Down syndrome.
Subject: Autism
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Nollette, Cindy Dolby. (1985). Having a Brother Like David. Minneapolis: Children's Medical Center.
Summary: Marty's brother, David, is autistic. Marty explains that David looks a lot like other children but has special needs.
Subject: Autism
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Thompson, Mary. (1996). Andy and His Yellow Frisbee. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Sarah is a new girl at school who is curious about why Andy spins his yellow frisbee every day by himself on the playground. When Sara tries to talk to Andy, Rosie, Andy's older sister, watches, and worries about how her brother may react. Rose knows that Andy is in his own world most of the time, and that he has trouble finding the words to express himself.
Subject: Autism
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Watson, Esther. (1996). Talking to Angels. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace.
Summary: Christa is an autistic girl who is described in this picture book by her sibling. Her behavior is described and illustrated in different media's, including her favorite sounds and textures, occasional staring and fixation on stimuli, and interactions with others.
Subject: Autism, Physical Disabilities
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Werlin, Nancy. (1994). Are You Alone on Purpose? Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Summary: This novel focuses on the lives of two Jewish families, one including an autistic boy and his academically gifted sister, the other featuring a bully who suffers a severe spine injury in a diving accident and is paralyzed from the waist down.
Subject: Autism
Recommended Age Level: 16 and up
Wiltshire, Stephen. (1991). Floating Cities. New York: Summit Books.
Summary: Stephen Wiltshire is a sixteen-year-old autistic boy and lives within his own private world. His remarkable drawings express an understanding of his surrounds that most people would envy. Stephen's art displays expert draftsmanship and a mastery of perspective, but more importantly it exposes his mysterious creative ability to capture the feeling of the building. This book is a number one best seller in England.
Subject: Appendectomy, Death, Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: 10-14
Arundel, Honor. (1970). The Girl in the Opposite Bed. New York: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Summary: Fourteen-year-old Jane is hospitalized for an appendectomy. She must deal with many new experiences including separation from her parents, physical pain, and the death of a kind old lady in the next bed. This book focuses on Jane's sensitivity toward others.
Recommended Age Level: 7-9
Brink, Benjamin. (1996). David's Story: A book about Surgery. New York: Learner Publishing Group.
Summary: Through David's experience readers are introduced to the surgical process such as: anaesthetic, the operating room, and the recovery room. Illustrates what transpires when David has an operation to correct the problems with his face caused by birth defects.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 4 and up
Bergman, Thomas. (1989). One Day At A Time. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens Children Books.
Summary: When Thomas Bergman visits the children's cancer ward, he finds a bright, positive attitude and a healthy fighting spirit. This book introduces us to Hanna and Frederick, two brave young children. Guided by them, their parents, and their doctors, we journey to the world of the leukemia patient. This book contains an informative glossary, index, and lists of books and organizations.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 8 and up
Brack, Pat. (1990). Moms Don't get Sick. Aberdeen, SD: Melius & Peterson Publishing Company.
Summary: This is a book written by Pat, a mother who has breast cancer and Ben, her son, who is eight years old at the time of the diagnosis. This powerful book consists of alternating sections by mother and son, describing each one's experience and feelings at various points throughout the treatment and recovery period. In the book, the mother and son share with you, in great detail, everything that is happening--the events surrounding the mother's diagnosis, treatments and recovery. This book can help a parent understand the child's reactions; also, it will help school-age children identify with someone who has been through a similar experience.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 3-7
Chamberlain, Shannin. (1990). My ABC Book of Cancer. San Francisco, CA: Synergistic Press.
Summary: Ten-year-old Shannin describes in ABC format her experience with cancer. “J is for Joy for each day that I have for none of us knows when the day will no longer come for any of us.” The book concludes with a discussion of childhood cancer, suggested reading list, glossary and resource guide.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 4 and up
Drescher, Joan. (1996). The Moon Balloon. Bethesda, MD: Association for the Care of Children's Health.
Summary: This story provides a safe, supportive outlet to help children cope with stress and mixed up feelings that accompany illness, change or any new situation. This book can be a great resource to provide the opportunity for children to create their own stories of hope and discovery.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Gaes, Jason. (1987). My Book for kids with Cansur. Aberdeen, SD: Melius & Peterson Publishing Inc.
Summary: A true story of courage and hope written by eight-year-old Jason Gaes. At the age of six, Jason was stricken with Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. Jason decided to write this book because he wanted others to know that kids do not always die from cancer. This book is presented just as Jason wrote it, with his own spelling, style, and handwriting.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 8 and up
Jampolsky, Gerald. (1995). There is a Rainbow Behind Every Dark Cloud. California: Celestial Arts.
Summary: This is a book about eleven children, age 8-19, who are sick with cancer and other sicknesses and are scared they might die. The children share their experiences with a terminal illness and try to help each other cope with the idea of their own death.
Each chapter describes some experience of the children with their illness and dying. The children illustrate the book with drawings. The children heal by letting go of the past and letting the past completely disappear and not hanging on to it. In this way, they overcame their fears. There is a section on choosing to heal yourself, including praying for help.
Subject: Cancer, Family Relationships
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Kohlenberg, Sherry. (1994). Sammy's Mommy Has Cancer: A Story for Children Who Have a Loved One with Cancer. Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Summary: A mother wrote this book for her child to help him understand what is happening with her developing breast cancer. The boy, Sammy, watches his mother through the diagnosis, the treatment, and the recovery, and he remains strong as his mother fights the cancer to get well. In the beginning of the book, the author has included a note to parents; she tells why she wrote this book that is especially helpful. Also, she includes some activities to do with your child to help them cope with cancer.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 10 and up
Lancaster, Matthew. (1983). HANG tougHf. NJ: Paulist Press.
Summary: Matthew, a cancer patient, wrote this book. In his own writing and his own words, he speaks to everyone with cancer with advice on how to get through the doctors, pills, and the pain. His positive attitude about hanging `tougHf' and praying to God to get through the suffering help children to see that they are not alone. Some of his drawings are very graphic and may be disturbing to young or easily frightened children.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Loranger-Kuntz, Nancy. (1993). Marvin's Marvelous Medicine. Orange County, CA: Children's Hospital.
Summary: Marvin explains a marvelous medicine called G-CSF. If you stay still during the injections then it will not hurt. You must remember to take a deep breath and let it out slowly, or you can count to three, some kids look away while others like to watch. When the injection is finished you will get a bandaged. Then you can go out and play.
Subject: Cancer, Death
Recommended Age Level: 7-10
Maple, Marilyn. (1992). On the Wings of a Butterfly: A Story about Life and Death. Seattle, WA: Parenting Press, Inc.
Summary: This is a story about a young girl, Lisa, who has cancer and a caterpillar, Sonya, that she finds in her yard. Lisa identifies with Sonya as she undergoes physical changes to eventually become a monarch butterfly. Just as Lisa undergoes physical changes during chemotherapy as her cancer progresses, Sonya forms a cocoon and sleeps. After the butterfly emerges from the cocoon, Lisa dies. Lisa's parents are sad; nonetheless, they see the beauty in all the monarch butterflies that land in their yard after Lisa's funeral.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Murray, Susan. (1991). Fuzzy and Frankie. Washington, DC: Goetz Printing Co.
Summary: In this story, Fuzzy, a teddy bear who belongs to a sick boy, Frankie, tells you his point of view. Frankie is going to the hospital with Fuzzy, and Fuzzy realizes from the grim faces around him that something is very wrong with Frankie. Frankie must undergo a series of tests, and Fuzzy wishes that he could do something to make Frankie feel better. Frankie, however, becomes weaker, and he misses his friends. When Frankie sees his parents crying, Fuzzy explains why his parents are worried about him. Slowly he gets visitors, and he notices that the other children in the hospital were fat or had lost their hair because of their medicines. Soon, Frankie gets well again, and he is able to go home.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 8 and up
Saltzman, David. (1995). The Jester Has Lost His Jingle. CA: The Jester Co., Inc.
Summary: In this charming book the Jester awakes one morning to find laughter missing in his kingdom and his friend Pharley, set off on a quest to find it. They ultimately discover that not only can laughter redeem a weary world. It can also provide the best medicine for anyone facing overwhelming obstacles.
Subject: Cancer, Death, Family Relationships, Siblings
Recommended Age Level: 8 and up
Sims, Alicia. (1993). Am I Still a Sister? Slidell, LA: Big A & Co.
Summary: This is a book of letters that a young girl, Alicia, wrote to her brother, Austin. Austin died of brain cancer when he was very young. Alicia explores some questions that young children may have for a dead sibling--such as, "Am I still a sister?” Alicia explores the answers to these questions in her letters. As she grows older, she confronts her feelings of anger, jealousy, and pain over the attention that her brother received before he died. Alicia thinks his death was her fault because she sometimes wished that he would disappear forever. As she matures, she realizes that it was not her wish; rather if was a more powerful force that caused her brother to die. Austin was part of her and she is a sister.
Subject: Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 7-10
Schulz, Charles M. (1990). Why, Charlie Brown, Why? New York: Topper Books.
Summary: Linus must deal with the illness of his new friend, Janice. Janice has leukemia, and she misses school for several weeks at a time. When she returns to school, she is wearing a new hat because she has no hair. The class bully pulls off her hat and makes fun of her. Linus, however, jumps in to defend his friend. This situation is just one example of several reactions to a person with leukemia. Linus shows the reader how she or he should behave towards a friend who has cancer. Later in the story, Janice must return to the hospital. When she returns to school, however, she has a surprise--all her hair has grown back. The ending provides a positive outlook for any child with cancer.
Recommended Age Level: 6-12
Vinga, Judith. (1993). Eric's Mom Fought Cancer. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whiteman & Company.
Summary: Eric's mother has breast cancer. The book starts with a flashback to the diagnosis of the breast cancer, when the family got together and hugged and cried. The morning of her operation, Eric's Grandmother comes to stay with him until his Mother's operation is over. When she returns home, she is unable to play with him. Eric does not believe that she will EVER get better and he feels he may have caused he illness. One night before she comes home, he makes a snowman for her. She is very sick, and she can not see the snowman. Eric is so angry with her that he destroys the snowman, but he is instantly sorry. While on a skiing trip with his father Eric buys a hat with pigtails for his Mom, and she decides to wear it until her hair grows back.
Subject: Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Visual Impairment
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Dwight, Laura. (1992). We Can Do It! New York: Checkerboard Press.
Summary: Meet five special children and see what they can do. Gina is a five-year-old and has spina bifida, but she can do lots of things. Jewel is a four-year-old with cerebral palsy and she can do lots of things.
Subject: Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Siblings, Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Meyer, Donald, Ed. (1997). Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Several siblings share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with special needs. The children whose essays are featured range in age from 4 to 18 with a variety of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, visual and hearing impairments, and Down syndrome.
Subject: Chicken pox
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Galbraith, Kathryn. (1976). Spots are Special! New York: Atheneum.
Summary: Having chicken pox provides a little girl with a chance to make up all sorts of games. This story will be a comfort for any child who has chicken pox.
Subject: Chicken pox
Recommended Age Level: 3-7
Lerner, Marguerite. (1959). Peter gets the Chickenpox. Minneapolis: Medical Books for Children.
Summary: Peter does not feel well at school after being sent home his mother notices blisters and red spots on his skin when she puts him to bed. The doctor assures the boy that the spots will disappear and he will be able to return to school in about a week. A doctor writes this story and in a short section for parents, the author provides more technical information regarding chicken pox.
Subject: Chicken pox, Shingles
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Silverstein, Alan. (1998). Chickenpox and Shingles. NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Summary: Chickenpox is a highly infectious disease, which produces a red rash and lots of itchiness. Chickenpox is caused by a herpes virus, which can spread quickly though schools and families. This book explores the history of chickenpox and shingles, discussing symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
Subject: Chronic Illness, Fear, Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: 16 and up
Huegel, Kelly. (1998). Young People and Chronic Illness. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit.
Summary: Learn about their illnesses, some of the most common among young people with chronic illness, but also about their families, friends, struggles, and dreams. Learn about the five steps for managing illness, suggestions for battling a fear of hospitals, and advice on communicating with family. This book is beneficial for parents and children because it is written from the perspective of individuals who have faced hospitalization and suggestions for battling the fear of hospitals.
Recommended Age Level: 16 and up
Bluebond-Langner, Myra. (1978). The Private Worlds of Dying Children. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Summary: In this book attention is given to those who live in the shadow of chronic illness: the parents and the well siblings. Family members talk about their experiences in their own words, we see how parents, well siblings and the ill child struggle in different ways, to contain the intrusion of the disease into their lives. The author looks at how parents adjust their priorities and their idea of what constitutes normal life, how they try to balance the needs of family members while caring for the ill child, and how they see their future.
Subject: Chronic Illness, Family Relationships, Siblings
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Peterkin, Allan. (1992). What About Me? When Brothers and Sisters get Sick. New York: Magination Press.
Summary: Laura tries to cope with her brother being ill. This book deals with the many complicated feelings that the well child experiences such as: guilt about feeling that they caused the illness, fear that the sibling will die, anger over being left out, and anxiety about catching the illness. Includes suggestions for parents to help their well child cope with a chronically ill sibling. When a child becomes ill their siblings frequently experience conflicting emotions. This book will help the well child identify with Laura and can open the arena for discussion in a family.
Subject: Cleft Palate, Hearing Impairment, Physical Disabilities, Visual Impairment
Recommended Age Level: 5-10
Rosenberg, Maxine. (1983). My Friend Leslie. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd Books.
Summary: Presents a multi-handicapped Kindergarten child who is well accepted by her classmates. When people talk to Leslie, she leans close and when she reads her nose almost brushes the page. This book addresses many questions and feeling that are likely to arise when non-disabled children as well as adults meet Leslie for the first time.
Recommended Age Level: 16 and up
Bluebond-Langner, Myra. (1978). The Private Worlds of Dying Children. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Summary: In this book attention is given to those who live in the shadow of chronic illness: the parents and the well siblings. Family members talk about their experiences in their own words, we see how parents, well siblings and the ill child struggle in different ways, to contain the intrusion of the disease into their lives. The author looks at how parents adjust their priorities and their idea of what constitutes normal life, how they try to balance the needs of family members while caring for the ill child, and how they see their future.
Subject: Cystic Fibrosis
Recommended Age Level: 16 and up
Silverstein, Robert. (1994). Cystic Fibrosis. New York: Franklin Watts.
Summary: Cystic Fibrosis is a lethal hereditary disease that afflicts about 30,000 Americans. The characteristics of cystic fibrosis are the buildup of thick, sticky mucus in the respiratory and digestive systems. Many cystic fibrosis suffers die before the age of thirty. This book offers an overview of the current controversy surrounding the testing to determine whether cystic fibrosis can be passed on to one's children.
Subject: Cystic Fibrosis
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Smith, Susan Tumiel. (1995). CF And Me. New York: Children's Hospital of Buffalo.
Summary: This book was written to help your child begin to understand about cystic fibrosis. The story emphasizes how important these daily routines such as chest PT, aerosols, and taking enzymes to aid in food digestion are to keep your child feeling as well as possible. It tries to help your child understand that devoted performance of these routines will help give your child the energy to do the things other children do.
Subject: Death, Hospitalization, Appendectomy
Recommended Age Level: 10-14
Arundel, Honor. (1970). The Girl in the Opposite Bed. New York: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Summary: Fourteen-year-old Jane is hospitalized for an appendectomy. She must deal with many new experiences including separation from her parents, physical pain, and the death of a kind old lady in the next bed. This book focuses on Jane's sensitivity toward others.
Subject: Death, Grief
Recommended Age Level: 6-8
Bernstein, Joanne. (1977). When People Die. New York: Irwin & Company Limited.
Summary: Explains in simple terms the reason for death, theories on the afterlife, burial practices, grief, and the naturalness of death in the chain of life.
Subject: Death
Recommended Age Level: 8-12
Brown, Laurie. (1996). When Dinosaurs Die. Canada: Little, Brown & Company.
Summary: Death to a child can be perplexing and troublesome. This book gives examples in simple language some of the feelings people may have regarding the death of a loved one. This book offers a glossary of terms related to death and can serve as a comfort to children and families at a difficult time in their lives.
Subject: Death
Recommended Age Level: 8-12
Buscaglia, Leo. (1982). The Fall of Freddie the Leaf. New Jersey: Slack Incorporated.
Summary: Freddie the leaf and his companion leaves change with the passing seasons until they finally fall to the ground with the winter snow. This book illustrates the delicate balance between life and death. Adults will find this book an inspiring when explaining how delicate life is to children.
Subject: Death
Recommended Age Level: 8 and up
Carter, Forest. (1976). The Education of Little Tree. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.
Summary: This is a true story of a young Cherokee boy, Little Tree, during the 1930's. When Little Tree's parents die, he goes to live with his Indian grandparents who teach him the ways of the Indian--the natural approach to life and death. This is a story of love and respect, along with sad times. The boy learns about the cycle of life and death through his exposure to the hard times living in the Tennessee mountains during the Depression. When Little Tree grandparents are considered unfit by law, Little Tree is sent to an orphanage; eventually he is reunited with his grandparents but not for long. Little Tree's grandparents and a friend die of old age, and Little Tree must go off on his own. This is a warm and happy book filled with love and respect for life.
Subject: Death
Recommended Age Level: 6-12
Heegaard, Marge. (1991). WHEN Someone VERY Special DIES: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief. New York: Kerry Harwood.
Summary: This is a workbook for children who have suffered the death of a loved one. It asks the child to illustrate feelings, to remember the loved one that died and to reflect upon themselves. Loss causes grief much like a wave; sometimes it is great and sometimes it is not. The book discusses different causes of death and funerals to help your child understand why these things are happening. This book lists ways for your child to let out their anger in a positive and safe way! Most importantly, this book helps your child to communicate his or her feelings through the exercises. It tells them that they can still have fun and be happy after the death of a loved one.
Subject: Death
Recommended Age Level: 6-12
Levine, Jennifer. (1992). Forever in My Heart. Surnsville, NC: Mountain Rainbow Publications.
Summary: This is a story about a young girl, Missy, and her dog, Rufus. Missy's Mom is dying. Rufus tells how he had a sister and she died. He had many questions--why did she die, does it hurt, why do we have funerals, etc. The book examines these questions by asking the child their feelings. Rufus tells us it helps to talk to others and you should too. People die, but love lives forever. This book is appropriate for children of all ages to help them cope with emotional stress when a parent is terminally ill. The younger child creates a level of safety, and the older child is invited to discuss their feelings. The story helps children participate in life as the parent dies.
Subject: Death, Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 7-10
Maple, Marilyn. (1992). On the Wings of a Butterfly: A Story about Life and Death. Seattle, WA: Parenting Press, Inc.
Summary: This is a story about a young girl, Lisa, who has cancer and a caterpillar, Sonya, that she finds in her yard. Lisa identifies with Sonya as Sonya undergoes physical changes to eventually become a monarch butterfly. Just as Lisa undergoes physical changes during chemotherapy as her cancer progresses, Sonya forms a cocoon and sleeps. After the butterfly emerges from the cocoon, Lisa dies. Lisa's parents are sad; nonetheless, they see the beauty in all the monarch butterflies that land in their yard after Lisa's funeral.
Subject: Death
Recommended Age Level: 3-6
Mellonie, B. and Ingpen, R. (1981). Lifetimes: The beautiful way to explain death to children. New York: Bantam Books.
Summary: This is a book that explains life and death by describing beginnings, endings, and about living in between. Wonderful illustrations tell about plants, animals, people, and that dying is as much a part of living as being born. All living things have their own special Lifetimes.
Subject: Death, Family Relationships, Siblings, Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 8 and up
Sims, Alicia. (1993). Am I Still a Sister? Slidell, LA: Big A & Co.
Summary: This is a book of letters that a young girl, Alicia, wrote to her brother, Austin. Austin died of brain cancer when he was very young. Alicia explores some questions that young children may have for a dead sibling--such as, "Am I still a sister?” Alicia explores the answers to these questions in her letters. As she grows older, she confronts her feelings of anger, jealousy, and pain over the attention that her brother received before he died. Alicia thinks his death was her fault because she sometimes wished that he would disappear forever. As she matures, she realizes that it was not her wish; rather if was a more powerful force that caused her brother to die. Austin was part of her and she is a sister.
Subject: Death, Grief
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Stein, Sara Bonnett. (1974). About Dying: An Open Family Book for Parents & Children Together. New York: Walker & Co.
Summary: This book explains death and life using an analogy of a pet dying and applying this experience to the death of a child's grandfather. By learning to cope with the death their pet Snow, the Eric and Jane learn to mourn the loss of their grandpa. The book is designed as a shared experience between an adult and a child. The text of the book is divided into two parts: the adult should read the text on the left several times before reading the large type text to the child. The pictures and the words in large print are to start the talking between the adult and the child.
Subject: Death, Grief
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Viorst, Judith. (1971). The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. New York: Aladdin Books, Macmillan Publishing Co.
Summary: This is a story about a boy whose cat, Barney, has just died. The boy's mother tells him that they will have a funeral for Barney, but first, he must think of ten good things about Barney. The boy can only think of nine for the funeral. When he snacks with his friend, Annie, they argue whether Barney is in Heaven or in the ground. The boy's father says that no one knows too much about Heaven, but if there is a Heaven, he is sure there is room for Barney. He tells his son that Barney will help flowers grow, and the boy decides that is the "tenth good thing about Barney!"
Subject: Diabetes
Recommended Age Level: 7-14
Kipnis, Lynne. (1979). You Can't Catch Diabetes from a Friend. FL: Triad Scientific Publishers.
Summary: This book provides accurate information about juvenile diabetes that is easy to understand. The reader will meet Karen, Danny, Colleen and Robert, Ages 7-14, who are for active kids. Colleen must test her urine for glucose everyday, but is afraid to tell her parents when the test results do not come out right. Robert earns money-cutting lawns, but one day has an insulin reaction.
Subject: Diabetes
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Landau, Elaine. (1994). Diabetes. New York: Twenty-First Century Books.
Summary: All known causes and effects of diabetes are explained with the most recent scientific information and modern technical advances. The reader will read about the role models who have triumphed over advertises related to having diabetes. Myths and stigmas attached to this condition or illness is discussed.
Subject: Diabetes
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Silverstein, Alvin. (1994). Diabetes. NJ: Enslow Publications, Inc.
Summary: This book gives examples of the lifestyles of people living with the disease called diabetes. This chronic disease prevents the body from effectively storing and using glucose as an energy source. The authors explain the disease including its symptoms, causes, and ongoing treatment necessary for its control. Described are the new research and improved technology that will make living with diabetes easier.
Subject: Diabetes
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Silverstein, Alvin. (1981). Runaway Sugar: All About Diabetes. New York: Lippincott.
Summary: Chances are you have wondered what diabetes is all about. The author explains what may cause diabetes and what happens to the body when it occurs, how a healthy body digests and uses food, and then how these processes differ in a diabetic. Also discusses the symptoms and various treatments for diabetes.
Subject: Diabetes
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Westcott, Nadine. (1991). Even Little Kids Get Diabetes. IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
Summary: A young girl who has diabetes since she was two-years-old describes her adjustments to the disease. Diabetes means that you have to do special stuff every day to stay healthy. You have to make sure that you eat healthy too. But you are still a regular kid.
Subject: Doctors
Recommended Age Level: 4-6
Brazelton, T. Berry. (1996). Going to the Doctor. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
Summary: A pediatrician tells what happens when a child goes to the doctor for a check up, with explanations of the instruments and procedures that will be encountered. Dr. Brazelton's humor, honesty, and above all his respect for the child's curiosity and worries shine through on every page. There is an afterward to help parents make the most of each checkup.
Subject: Doctors
Recommended Age Level: 4-6
Wolde, Gunillia. (1972). Tommy Goes to the Doctor. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Summary: Describes how the doctor checks Tommy's weight, height, throat, ears and reflexes. Tommy has to get a shot and engages in dramatic play.
Subject: Down Syndrome
Recommended Age Level: 7-9
Berkus, Clara Widess. (1992). Charlsie's Chuckle. Rockville, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Charlsie, a 7-year-old boy with Down syndrome, has an infectious laugh and enjoys bicycling around his neighborhood. On one such excursion he inadvertently wanders into an argumentative city council meeting and brings humor and harmony to the quarrelsome adults.
Subject: Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Visual Impairment
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Dwight, Laura. (1992). We Can Do It! New York: Checkerboard Press.
Summary: Meet five special children and see what they can do. Gina is a five-year-old and has spina bifida, but she can do lots of things. Jewel is a four-year-old with cerebral palsy and she can do lots of things.
Subject: Down Syndrome
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Holcomb, Nan. (1987). How About A Hug. Hollidaysburg, PA: Jason and Nordic Publishers.
Summary: A young girl with Down syndrome includes the details of a typical day in her life. While her daily activities require a degree of concentration and don't go perfectly smoothly, she is surrounded by helpful, supportive and affectionate friends, family, and teachers, all of whom she agrees to hug when they offer.
Subject: Down Syndrome
Recommended Age Level: 7-9
Kneeland, Linda. (1989). Cookie. Hollidaysburg, PA: Jason and Nordic Publishers.
Summary: A 4-year-old girl, named Molly, with Down Syndrome, has difficulty talking. Her frustration with communication difficulties is relieved when someone comes to teach her sign language. Molly learns to communicate with the use of sign language.
Subject: Down Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Siblings, Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Cerebral Palsy
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Meyer, Donald, Ed. (1997). Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Several siblings share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with special needs. The children whose essays are featured range in age from 4 to 18 with a variety of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, visual and hearing impairments, and Down syndrome.
Subject: Down Syndrome
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Schwier, Karen Melberg. (1997). Idea Man. Diverse City Press.
Summary: Erin is angry when her parents leave her overnight with family friends. The family's older son, Jim, has Down syndrome and Erin doesn't want to be seen with him because at school he's known as the dork. Erin is embarrassed when kids at school witness Jim giving her a hug. She realizes she misjudged him after he helps her with a homework assignment.
Subject: Down Syndrome
Recommended Age Level: 7-9
Testa, Maria. (1990). Thumbs Up, Rico! Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
Summary: Rico is a boy with Down syndrome who loves basketball. The story describes his relationship with a neighborhood boy named Caesar, his older sister Nina, and his art class.
Subject: Ear Tubes
Recommended Age Level: 5-7
Dooley, Virginia. (1996). Tubes in My Ears: My Trip to the Hospital. New York: Mondo Publishing.
Summary: A hospital can be a scary place for a child. An African American boy describes what happens when he goes to the hospital to have tubes put in his ears. Additional information or parents appear in boxes offering supplementary facts. Having tunes placed in a child's ears is not an unusual procedure. This book would be helpful in describing short-term hospital visits for children.
Subject: Ear Tubes
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Pace, Betty. Chris Gets Ear Tubes
Summary: Chris has chronic ear infections that begin to affect his hearing. He goes to the hospital for a minor operation; the doctor inserts tiny tubes to drain the fluid from his middle hear and to improve his hearing.
Subject: Emotional Needs
Recommended Age Level: Adult
Hardgrove, Carol B., M.A. (1972). Parents and Children in the Hospital. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
Summary: Discusses the importance of meeting the emotional and developmental needs of young children during times of hospitalization. Researched the total development of the hospitalized child, both the negative and positive effects. Focused on programs that accurately describe what it is like from day to day, what the tone of the units conveys to the family and the child, and what the professional staff says about the programs.
Subject: Emotional Needs
Recommended Age Level: 6-12
Simon, Norma. (1976). Why Am I Different? IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
Summary: Portrays everyday situations in which children see themselves as “different” in family life, preferences and aptitudes, and yet, feel that being different is alright. Differences make our world more interesting, colorful, and better than it would be if everyone were the same.
Subject: Emotional Needs
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Sendak, Maurice. (1984). Where The Wild Things Are. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers.
Summary: Max is causing mischief and is sent to bed without supper. This makes him angry so Max then dreams that he is in the land of the wild things, and is king. But Max misses his home, so he sails back, and finds dinner waiting for him!
Subject: Emotional Needs
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Wilt, Joy. (1979). Handling Your Ups and Downs. Texas: Educational Products Division.
Summary: This book deals with human emotions. It is not always difficult to handle comfortable feelings because they make us feel good about life and ourselves in general. There is no greater pleasure than feeling happy, loved, and respected.
Subject: Epilepsy
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Carson, Mary Kay. (1998). Epilepsy. Springfield, NJ: Enslow Publishers.
Summary: Explores the topic of epilepsy, discussing its history, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and possible ways to prevent some forms of the disease.
Subject: Epilepsy
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Landua, Elaine. (1994). Epilepsy. New York: Twenty-First Century Books.
Summary: Epilepsy -- Diagnosing and treating epilepsy -- Surgery -- The facts about epilepsy -- Overcoming obstacles.
Subject: Eyeglasses
Recommended Age Level:
Brindze, Ruth. (1975). Look how many people wear glasses: the magic of lenses. New York: Atheneum.
Summary: Traces the history of spectacles over seven hundred years and discusses how lenses are made, how eyes work, and how to choose the right glasses.
Subject: Eyeglasses
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Brown, Marc. (1979). Arthur's Eyes. Boston: Little, Brown & Company.
Summary: His friends tease Arthur when he gets glasses, but he soon learns to wear them with pride.
Subject: Eyeglasses
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Goodsell, Jane. (1965). Katie's Magic Glasses. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Summary: Five-year-old Katie does not realize that she sees things differently than other people. During a preschool physical examination, the doctor realizes that Katie needs glasses. After visiting the eye doctor, she is fitted with red frames. When Katie's glasses finally arrive she decides to wear them just once, and she receives a wonderful surprise she finally sees things clearly. This story points out the positive aspects of wearing glasses.
Subject: Eyeglasses
Recommended Age Level:
Kelley, Alberta. (1978). Lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses, and contacts: the story of vision aids. Nashville: T. Nelson
Summary: Presents a history of vision aids from ancient times to the present and discusses the medical care offered by ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians, and what new developments can be expected in the future.
Subject: Eyeglasses
Recommended Age Level: 8-10
Lord, Beman. (1961). Guards for Matt. New York: Henry Z. Walk, Inc.
Summary: Matt is a middle student who has broken his glasses three times while participating in sports. His mother has insists that if Matt wants to play basketball he must wear glass guards. After saving enough money for glass guards, basketball season is over. He spends his money for a new pair of hockey gloves instead.
Subject: Eyeglasses
Recommended Age Level: 5-9
Wolff, Angelika. (1970). Mom! I Need Glasses! New York: Lion Press.
Summary: Seven-year-old Susan has difficulty seeing the ball during games of catch and is unable to perceive words on the chalkboard from her seat in the back of the classroom. Susan goes to the doctor and reads an eye chart. Once Susan receives glasses, she is able to see more clearly and return to her regular classroom seat. This book may help calm children's fears about going to the eye doctor and their anxieties about the change of wearing eyeglasses will have on their appearance.
Subject: Family Relationships, Siblings
Recommended Age Level: 8-12
Duncan, Debbie. (1995). When Molly was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children. Boston: Rayre Productions.
Summary: Anna' s little sister Molly has been very ill and has to have an operation. Anna is concerned that she caused her sisters illness and she worries about catching it. Anna takes part in Molly's rehabilitation process. This book addresses the concerns of the well child such as: anger at her parents preoccupation with ill Molly, sadness at being left behind with grandparents, and other issues that brothers and sisters may face when a sibling is ill.
Subject: Family Relationships, Fear, Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: 7-9
Johnston, Marianne. (1998). Let's Talk about When Someone You Love is in the Hospital. Rosen Publishers Group.
Summary: Discusses visiting loved ones in the hospital and how to make them feel better. A person may look sick and you may have scary feelings at this time. It is important to prepare a child to visit a loved one in the hospital. The child may be frightened by the environment or not understand why the person has to be there.
Subject: Family Relationships, Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Kohlenberg, Sherry. (1994). Sammy's Mommy Has Cancer: A Story for Children Who Have a Loved One with Cancer. Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Summary: A mother wrote this book for her child to help him understand what is happening with her developing breast cancer. The boy, Sammy, watches his mother through the diagnosis, the treatment, and the recovery, and he remains strong as his mother fights the cancer to get well. In the beginning of the book, the author has included a note to parents; she tells why she wrote this book that is especially helpful. Also, she includes some activities to do with your child to help them cope with cancer.
Subject: Family Relationships, Siblings, Chronic Illness
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Peterkin, Allan. (1992). What About Me? When Brothers and Sisters get Sick. New York: Magination Press.
Summary: Laura tries to cope with her brother being ill. This book deals with the many complicated feelings that the well child experiences such as: guilt about feeling that they caused the illness, fear that the sibling will die, anger over being left out, and anxiety about catching the illness. Includes suggestions for parents to help their well child cope with a chronically ill sibling. When a child becomes ill their siblings frequently experience conflicting emotions. This book will help the well child identify with Laura and can open the arena for discussion in a family.
Subject: Family Relationships, Siblings, Cancer
Recommended Age Level: 8 and up
Sims, Alicia. (1993). Am I Still a Sister? Slidell, LA: Big A & Co.
Summary: This is a book of letters that a young girl, Alicia, wrote to her brother, Austin. Austin died of brain cancer when he was very young. Alicia explores some questions that young children may have for a dead sibling--such as, "Am I still a sister?” Alicia explores the answers to these questions in her letters. As she grows older, she confronts her feelings of anger, jealousy, and pain over the attention that her brother received before he died. Alicia thinks his death was her fault because she sometimes wished that he would disappear forever. As she matures, she realizes that it was not her wish; rather if was a more powerful force that caused her brother to die. Austin was part of her and she is a sister.
Subject: Fear
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Erikson, K. and Roffery, M. (1989). I'm Brave! New York: New York Viking Penguin, Inc.
Summary: Young children will enjoy taking the first steps to understanding their emotions and fears with this book. The illustrations and encouraging stories are wonderful for sharing again and again.
Subject: Fear, Hospitalization, Chronic Illness
Recommended Age Level: Adult
Huegel, Kelly. (1998). Young People and Chronic Illness. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit.
Summary: Learn about their illnesses, some of the most common among young people with chronic illness, but also about their families, friends, struggles, and dreams. Learn about the five steps for managing illness, suggestions for battling the fear of hospitals, and advice on communicating with family.
Subject: Fear, Family Relationship, Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: 7-9
Johnston, Marianne. (1998). Let's Talk about When Someone You Love is in the Hospital. Rosen Publishers Group.
Summary: Discusses visiting loved ones in the hospital and how to make them feel better. A person may look sick and you may have scary feelings at this time. It is important to prepare a child to visit a loved one in the hospital. The child may be frightened by the environment or not understand why the person has to be there.
Subject: Fear
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Macdonald, Maryann. (1990). Sam's Worries. London: Hyperion Books for Children.
Summary: When Sam's mother cannot reassure him, his bear comes to the rescue with a plan that not only puts Sam at ease and lets him sleep, but also guarantees that no boogie men or vampires will ever get near his bed!
Subject: Grief, Death
Recommended Age Level: 6-8
Bernstein, Joanne. (1977). When People Die. New York: Irwin & Company Limited.
Summary: Explains in simple terms the reason for death, theories on the afterlife, burial practices, grief, and the naturalness of death in the chain of life.
Subject: Grief, Death
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Stein, Sara Bonnett. (1974). About Dying: An Open Family Book for Parents & Children Together. New York: Walker & Co.
Summary: This book explains death and life using an analogy of a pet dying and applying this experience to the death of a child's grandfather. By learning to cope with the death their pet Snow, the Eric and Jane learn to mourn the loss of their grandpa. The book is designed as a shared experience between an adult and a child. The text of the book is divided into two parts: the adult should read the text on the left several times before reading the large type text to the child. The pictures and the words in large print are to start the talking between the adult and the child.
Subject: Grief, Death
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Viorst, Judith. (1971). The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. New York: Aladdin Books, Macmillan Publishing Co.
Summary: This is a story about a boy whose cat, Barney, has just died. The boy's mother tells him that they will have a funeral for Barney, but first, he must think of ten good things about Barney. The boy can only think of nine for the funeral. When he snacks with his friend, Annie, they argue whether Barney is in Heaven or in the ground. The boy's father says that no one knows too much about Heaven, but if there is a Heaven, he is sure there is room for Barney. He tells his son that Barney will help flowers grow, and the boy decides that is the "tenth good thing about Barney!"
Subject: Hearing Aid, Hearing Impairment
Recommend Age Range: 4-8
Litchfield, Ada Bassett. (1987). A Button in her Ear. Albert Whitman & Company.
Summary: Angela, a young girl with a hearing loss, describes how her hearing loss was detected, and talks about her audiologic examination, the hearing aid fitting, and how her hearing aid helps her. She explains that she now misunderstands speech only occasionally and states that she can turn off her hearing aid when she doesn't want to listen to her friend, Buzzie.
Subject: Hearing Aid
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Peters, Tim. (1997). Hooray For Harold. Dr. Wellbook
Summary: Although he has big ears, Harold Mouse has a hard time hearing. He is sad when his friends tease him because of his new hearing aids. He is able to overcome his embarrassment to help a friend in need and regain the confidence he lost. He proves to himself and to others that he has lots of special qualities.
Subject: Hearing Impairment, Sign Language
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Addabbo, Carole. (1998). Dina the Deaf Dinosaur. Hannacroix Creek Books.
Summary: Dina, a deaf dinosaur, runs away from home because her parents will not let her learn sign language although it would allow her to communicate ideas that are more complicated. In the forest, Dina meets Otto the owl, Camilla the chipmunk, and Moliere the mole. Fortunately, Otto learned some sign language years before when he lived below a deaf dove. Dina teaches them the sign language alphabet and a few words. They invited her to stay with them.
Subject: Hearing Impairment, Learning Disabilities
Recommended Age Level: 9-12
Andrews, Jean. Flying Fingers Club.
Summary: The two main characters in this series are Donald who is learning disabled and Matt who is deaf. Nine year old Donald isn't looking forward to a new school year in a new city without his old friend, Jackie. On his first day of school, he meets Matt, who is deaf. Donald learns some signs, and the two boys become friends. When Jackie comes to visit, the three boys embark on an adventure to investigate why newspapers are disappearing from Donald's sister's newspaper route.
Subject: Hearing Impairment
Recommend Age Range: 9-12
Charlip, Remy. (1987). Handtalk birthday: a number & storybook in sign language. New York: Four Winds Press.
Summary: Words and sign language depict friends helping a deaf woman celebrate her birthday.
Subject: Hearing Impairment
Recommend Age Range: 9-12
Hirsch, Karen. (1981). Becky. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.
Summary: Becky, a young deaf girl, lives with a hearing family during the week while attending a school for deaf students. Becky enables the hearing family to become conscious of problems facing the deaf. The family learns sign language and becomes sensitive to deafness. The book is written from the point of view of a girl in this family.
Subject: Hearing Impairment
Recommend Age Range: 4-8
Levi, Dorothy. A Very Special Friend. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.
Summary: Frannie is sad because she has no friends. When she meets Laura, who uses sign language, she becomes even sadder because she thinks she can't talk to Laura. Laura teaches Frannie sign language, and they are best friends by the end of the summer.
Subject: Hearing Impairment, Siblings
Recommend Age Range: 4-8
Levi, Dorothy. (1992). A Very Special Sister. Washington, DC .Gallaudet University Press.
Summary: This is a picture book. Laura, who is deaf, is excited about becoming a big sister, but she worries that a new baby who can hear might get more love from their mother than she does. Text and illustrations also provide instructions for signing eight words.
Subject: Hearing Impairment, Hearing Aid
Recommend Age Range: 4-8
Litchfield, Ada Bassett. (1987). A Button in her Ear. Albert Whitman & Company.
Summary: Angela, a young girl with a hearing loss, describes how her hearing loss was detected, and talks about her audiologic examination, the hearing aid fitting, and how her hearing aid helps her. She explains that she now misunderstands speech only occasionally and states that she can turn off her hearing aid when she doesn't want to listen to her friend, Buzzie.
Subject: Hearing impairment, Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Siblings, Visual impairment
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Meyer, Donald, Ed. (1997). Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Several siblings share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with special needs. The children whose essays are featured range in age from 4 to 18 with a variety of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, visual and hearing impairments, and Down syndrome.
Subject: Hearing Impairment, Siblings
Recommend Age Range: 4-8
Peterson, Jeanne Whitehouse. (1977). I Have A Sister, My Sister Is Deaf. New York: Harper & Row.
Summary: A young girl describes everyday occurrences in her home with her younger deaf sister; what her sister can and can not do; how they communicate; speech training; and how they play together.
Subject: Hearing Impairment
Recommend Age Range: 12 and up
Risking, Mary. (1993) Apple is my Sign. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Summary: Harry, a 10-year-old deaf child of deaf parents who own a Pennsylvania apple farm, is sent to a residential school in Philadelphia around the turn of the century. Wary of hearing people, Harry's father always keeps his family separated from them. The family is changed, however, when Harry comes home from school at Christmas and shares what he has learned from his classmates.
Subject: Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Cleft Palate, Physical Disabilities
Recommended Age Level: 5-10
Rosenberg, Maxine. (1983). My Friend Leslie. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd Books.
Summary: Presents a multi-handicapped Kindergarten child who is well accepted by her classmates. When people talk to Leslie, she leans close and when she reads her nose almost brushes the page. This book addresses many questions and feeling that are likely to arise when non-disabled children as well as adults meet Leslie for the first time.
Subject: Hearing Impairment
Recommend Age Range: 4-8
Showers, Paul. (1990). Ears Are For Hearing. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.
Summary: Listen to the world around you. How many different sounds do you hear? Describes the process of hearing, during which sound waves travel through the ear and become signals the brain interprets as individual sounds.
Subject: Hearing Impairment, Meningitis
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Virginia M. Scott. (1987). Belonging. Washington, DC: Kendall Green.
Summary: The world of Gustie Blaine changes dramatically in the summer of her fifteenth year. That's when Gustie contracts meningitis, which results in the gradual loss of her hearing. Some peers, once thought of as her friends, eliminate her from their group, but new friendships help her overcome this disappointment. After a few months, Gustie begins to accept and adjust to her loss of hearing.
Subject: Hemophilia
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Brung, Dick. (1981). Children's Hemophilia Book.
Summary: Four-year-old John would sometimes have a funny feeling in his arm or his legs. John would tell his parents and they would take him to the Children's Hemophilia Center to get and infusion. John would climb on his mommy's knee and have a hug during the infusion. Most of the time John did not have to think about his hemophilia. He could play with his friends and someday he wanted to be a big, strong farmer.
Subject: Hemophilia, Von Willebrand Disease
Recommended Age Level: 3-8
Shapiro, Jane. (1994). Diane Dino's Dilemma. Michigan St. University: Armour Pharmaceutical Company.
Summary: Diane began to have nosebleeds that would not stop and her legs were covered with bruises. Mama took her to the doctor who suggested that Diane see a hematologist, a doctor who knows all about blood. The hematologist diagnosed Diane with Von Willebrand disease. She finds out that she can still do most of the things she loves to do, but sometimes she may have to get factors
Subject: H.I.V, Siblings, A.I.D.S
Recommended Age Level: 6 and up
Coles, Robert. (1994). Kids Speak about AIDS. IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
Summary: In writings and drawings, children with HIV infection and AIDS tell how it feels to be different from other kids, how they face rejection when people know they are sick, and how it feels to loose loved ones to AIDS. Brothers and sisters have worries of their own. They speak of the fear that their siblings will die, the strain of keeping the families secret, and sometimes, the lonely feeling that others do not notice them.
Subject: H.I.V, A.I.D.S
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Glaser, Elizabeth. (1991). For Our Children. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Company.
Summary: This book is to benefit the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. People need to know that they cannot get AIDS through a hug or a kiss from an infected person. Children with HIV can carry on normal lives, playing with friends, and attending school. There are twenty song lyrics from Walt Disney Records album performed by the worlds leading recording artists.
Subject: H.I.V, A.I.D.S
Recommended Age Level: 5-10
Quackenbush, Marcia. (1988). Does AIDS Hurt? Educating Young Children About AIDS. Santa Cruz, CA: ETR Associates.
Summary: This book gives teachers, parents, and other care providers the latest information, terminology, and age-appropriate guidelines for educating young children about HIV and AIDS. Explains the difference between HIV and AIDS and offers advice on when and where to use those terms with young children. A new section discusses how to develop AIDS-specific curricula and offers content guidelines for early elementary students.
Subject: Hospitalization, Appendectomy, Death
Recommended Age Level: 10-14
Arundel, Honor. (1970). The Girl in the Opposite Bed. New York: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Summary: Fourteen-year-old Jane is hospitalized for an appendectomy. She must deal with many new experiences including separation from her parents, physical pain, and the death of a kind old lady in the next bed. This book focuses on Jane's sensitivity toward others.
Subject: Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: Adult
Beuf, Ann Hill. Biting off the bracelet. United States of America: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1979.
Summary: Social situations of the hospitalized child in twentieth-century America. Children's hospital has characteristics of depersonalization and enforced helplessness. Examines interpersonal approaches employed by staff and patients in dealing with tensions and the idealistic goals of children's hospitals.
Subject: Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: Adult
Hardgrove, Carol B., M.A. (1972). Parents and Children in the Hospital. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
Summary: Discusses the importance of meeting the emotional and developmental needs of young children during times of hospitalization. Researched the total development of the hospitalized child, both the negative and positive effects. Focused on programs that accurately describe what it is like from day to day, what the tone of the units conveys to the family and the child, and what the professional staff says about the programs.
Subject: Hospitalization, Tonsillectomy
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Hautzig, Deborah. (1985). A Visit to the Sesame Street Hospital. New York: Random House.
Summary: Grover, his mother, Ernie, and Bert visit the Sesame Street Hospital in preparation for Grover's upcoming tonsillectomy. The familiar characters transform an unfamiliar hospital into a place to be trusted. Many typical questions about a tonsillectomy are discussed.
Subject: Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: 6-8
Howe, James. (1997). The Hospital Book. New York: Morrow, William & Co.
Summary: A visit to the hospital for the first time will be easier for children if they know what to expect when they get there. This book introduces them to different professionals and the various equipment children may encounter during their stay. The main purpose of the hospital is to get the child well. Describe feelings throughout the hospital experience to give the child a sense of what behaviors can be expected and what will be looked for from them. Defines who the personnel are, what the equipment is, and explains different treatments.
Subject: Hospitalization, Chronic Illness, Fear
Recommended Age Level: Adult
Huegel, Kelly. (1998). Young People and Chronic Illness. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit.
Summary: Learn about their illnesses, some of the most common among young people with chronic illness, but also about their families, friends, struggles, and dreams. Learn about the five steps for managing illness, suggestions for battling a fear of hospitals, and advice on communicating with family.
Subject: Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: 7-9
Johnston, Marianne. (1997). Let's Talk about Going to the Hospital. New York: PowerKids, Press.
Summary: The text stresses that although shots and certain tests may hurt, they are done for the patients good. Explains what a hospital is, what happens there, and when a patient can go home. Unfamiliar words are explained in the context. Preparing a child for their impending hospitalization can make the experience less terrifying. Children want an honest explanation about what a hospital visit will bring-good or bad.
Subject: Hospitalization, Fear, Family Relationship
Recommended Age Level: 7-9
Johnston, Marianne. (1998). Let's Talk about When Someone You Love is in the Hospital. Rosen Publishers Group.
Summary: Discusses visiting loved ones in the hospital and how to make them feel better. A person may look sick and you may have scary feelings at this time. It is important to prepare a child to visit a loved one in the hospital. The child may be frightened by the environment or not understand why the person has to be there.
Subject: Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: 4-9
Livingston, Carole. (1990). Why am I going to the Hospital? New York: Carol Publishing Group.
Summary: Nobody likes going to the hospital, not even a grown-up. But for children, going to the hospital can be an especially frightening experience. This helpful guide discusses the reasons for a hospital visit, the special jobs of the people who work there and much more.
Subject: Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: 5-7
Rogers, Fred. (1997). Going to the Hospital. New York: The Putnam Publishing Group
Summary: Hospitalization can be a scary time; however, some advance warning about what to expect can make a difference for the child. Mister Rogers presents a truthful reassurance that helps young children deal with their current fears about their hospital experience.
Subject: Learning Disabilities, Hearing Impairment
Recommended Age Level: 9-12
Andrews, Jean. Flying Fingers Club.
Summary: The two main characters in this series are Donald (learning disabled) and Matt (deaf). Nine year old Donald isn't looking forward to a new school year in a new city without his old friend, Jackie. On his first day of school, he meets Matt, who is deaf. Donald learns some signs, and the two boys become friends. When Jackie comes to visit, the three boys embark on an adventure to investigate why newspapers are disappearing from Donald's sister's newspaper route.
Subject: Learning Disabilities, Siblings, Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Meyer, Donald, Ed. (1997). Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Several siblings share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with special needs. The children whose essays are featured range in age from 4 to 18 with a variety of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, visual and hearing impairments, and Down syndrome.
Subject: Meningitis, Hearing Impairment
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Virginia M. Scott. (1987). Belonging. Washington, DC: Kendall Green.
Summary: The world of Gustie Blaine changes dramatically in the summer of her fifteenth year. That's when Gustie contracts meningitis, which results in the gradual loss of her hearing. Some peers, once thought of as her friends, eliminate her from their group, but new friendships help her overcome this disappointment. After a few months, Gustie begins to accept and adjust to her loss of hearing.
Subject: Physical Disabilities, Wheelchair
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Benton, Hope. (1996). Whoa, Nellie! Columbus, OH: Open Minds, Inc.
Summary: A story of a young girl, Kathryn, who happens to have a physical disability and uses a wheelchair, her friends, and their experiences at summer camp as they search for a favorite horse.
Subject: Physical Disabilities, Wheelchair
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Carlson, Nancy. (1990). Arnie and the New Kid. Canada: Penguin Books Canada, Ltd.
Summary: Everybody at school is a little bit afraid of the new kid Philip because he is different from them. However, Arnie is the only one who teases Philip. Arnie's teasing leads to an accident that keeps him off his feet like Philip. It is not long before Arnie discovers that you can be different and still be a lot alike. Philip and Arnie were soon the best of friends.
Subject: Physical Disabilities, Wheelchair
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Muldoon, Kathleen. (1990). Princess Pooh. New York: Putnam and Sons.
Summary: Patty is jealous of her sister's royal treatment as she sits in her throne or wheelchair. Patty Jean secretly calls her sister princess pooh because all she does is sit in her throne with wheels and tells everybody in the whole world what to do. Patty Jean decides to try out the throne with wheels and after some very unpleasant experiences finds out that life in a wheelchair can be no fun at all. She realizes that I wheelchair helps her sister go places and is not really a throne at all.
Subject: Physical Disabilities, Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Cleft Palate
Recommended Age Level: 5-10
Rosenberg, Maxine. (1983). My Friend Leslie. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd Books.
Summary: Presents a multi-handicapped Kindergarten child who is well accepted by her classmates. When people talk to Leslie, she leans close and when she reads her nose almost brushes the page. This book addresses many questions and feeling that are likely to arise when non-disabled children as well as adults meet Leslie for the first time.
Subject: Physical Disabilities, Autism
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Werlin, Nancy. (1994). Are You Alone on Purpose? Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Summary: This novel focuses on the lives of two Jewish families, one including an autistic boy and his academically gifted sister, the other featuring a bully who suffers a severe spine injury in a diving accident and is paralyzed from the waist down.
Subject: Scarlet Fever
Recommended Age Level: 8 and up
Williams, Margery. (1983). The Velveteen Rabbit. New York: Holt Rinehart & Winston.
Summary: The velveteen rabbit lives in the nursery closet with his only friend being the wise old skin horse, a very special toy who knows all about nursery magic. After the boy contracts scarlet fever the velveteen rabbit is taken away from him. The velveteen rabbit is dirty, worn out and about to be burned, he has almost given up hope of ever finding out about the magic called real.
Subject: Shingles, Chicken pox
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Silverstein, Alan. (1998). Chickenpox and Shingles. NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Summary: Chickenpox is a highly infectious disease, which produces a red rash and lots of itchiness. Chickenpox is caused by a herpes virus, which can spread quickly though schools and families. This book explores the history of chickenpox and shingles, discussing symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
Subject: Siblings, Family Relationship
Recommended Age Level: 8-12
Duncan, Debbie. (1995). When Molly was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children. Boston: Rayre Productions.
Summary: Anna' s little sister Molly has been very ill and has to have an operation. Anna is concerned that she caused her sisters illness and she worries about catching it. Anna takes part in Molly's rehabilitation process. This book addresses the concerns of the well child such as: anger at her parents preoccupation with ill Molly, sadness at being left behind with grandparents, and other issues that brothers and sisters may face when a sibling is ill.
Subject: Siblings, A.I.D.S, H.I.V
Recommended Age Level: 6 and up
Coles, Robert. (1994). Kids Speak about AIDS. IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
Summary: In writings and drawings, children with HIV infection and AIDS tell how it feels to be different from other kids, how they face rejection when people know they are sick, and how it feels to loose loved ones to AIDS. Brothers and sisters have worries of their own. They speak of the fear that their siblings will die, the strain of keeping the families secret, and sometimes, the lonely feeling that others do not notice them.
Subject: Siblings, Hearing Impairment
Recommend Age Range: 4-8
Levi, Dorothy. (1992). A Very Special Sister. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.
Summary: This is a picture book. Laura, who is deaf, is excited about becoming a big sister, but she worries that a new baby who can hear might get more love from their mother than she does. Text and illustrations also provide instructions for signing eight words.
Subject: Siblings, Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Learning Disabilities
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Meyer, Donald, Ed. (1997). Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Several siblings share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with special needs. The children whose essays are featured range in age from 4 to 18 with a variety of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, visual and hearing impairments, and Down syndrome.
Subject: Siblings, Chronic Illness, Family Relationships
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Peterkin, Allan. (1992). What About Me? When Brothers and Sisters get Sick. New York:
Magination Press.
Summary: Laura tries to cope with her brother being ill. This book deals with the many complicated feelings that the well child experiences such as: guilt about feeling that they caused the illness, fear that the sibling will die, anger over being left out, and anxiety about catching the illness. Includes suggestions for parents to help their well child cope with a chronically ill sibling. When a child becomes ill their siblings frequently experience conflicting emotions. This book will help the well child identify with Laura and can open the arena for discussion in a family.
Subject: Siblings, Hearing Impairment
Recommend Age Range: 4-8
Peterson, Jeanne Whitehouse. (1977). I Have A Sister, My Sister Is Deaf. New York: Harper & Row.
Summary: A young girl describes everyday occurrences in her home with her younger deaf sister; what her sister can and can not do; how they communicate; speech training; and how they play together.
Subject: Siblings, Cancer, Family Relationships
Recommended Age Level: 8 and up
Sims, Alicia. (1993). Am I Still a Sister? Slidell, LA: Big A & Co.
Summary: This is a book of letters that a young girl, Alicia, wrote to her brother, Austin. Austin died of brain cancer when he was very young. Alicia explores some questions that young children may have for a dead sibling—such as, “Am I still a sister?” Alicia explores the answers to these questions in her letters. As she grows older, she confronts her feelings of anger, jealousy, and pain over the attention that her brother received before he died. Alicia thinks his death was her fault because she sometimes wished that he would disappear forever. As she matures, she realizes that it was not her wish; rather if was a more powerful force that caused her brother to die. Austin was part of her and she is a sister.
Subject: Sign Language, Hearing Impairment
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Addabbo, Carole. (1998). Dina the Deaf Dinosaur. Hannacroix Creek Books.
Summary: Dina, a deaf dinosaur, runs away from home because her parents will not let her learn sign language although it would allow her to communicate ideas that are more complicated. In the forest, Dina meets Otto the owl, Camilla the chipmunk, and Moliere the mole. Fortunately, Otto learned some sign language years before when he lived below a deaf dove. Dina teaches them the sign language alphabet and a few words. They invited her to stay with them.
Subject: Sign Language
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Baker, Pamela. (1986). My First Book of Sign. Washington, DC: Kendall Green.
Summary: This alphabet book illustrates 150 signs for words young children use frequently. The illustrations feature a child making the sign, the object, action, or feeling that the sign represents, and the English word. The sign descriptions in the index explain the hand shapes, hand positions, and hand movements needed to make the signs.
Subject: Sign Language
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Chaplin, Susan. (1986). I Can Sign my ABC's. Washington, DC: Kendall Green.
Summary: Includes the written form of each letter of the English alphabet accompanied by a picture of a sign that translates to a word that starts with the particular letter. For example, the letter "A" is paired with the sign that means apple in American Sign Language. Pictures of the hand shapes of the manual alphabet are included for each letter as well.
Subject: Sign Language
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Greene, Laura. (1988). Discovering Sign Language. Washington, DC: Kendall Green.
Summary: Describes how people use sign language to communicate, discusses different sign language systems and the evolution of sign language in several different countries, provides information about deaf people, and explains hearing loss and the significance of the age when the loss occurs. Signs at the end of each chapter relate to the topics discussed in that chapter. Includes 19 pages of sign illustrations.
Subject: Sign Language
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Greene, Laura. (1990). Sign-Me-Fine: Experiencing American Sign Language. Washington, DC: Kendall Green.
Summary: An introductory book about American Sign Language (ASL), the visual gestural language used by most deaf people in the United States and Canada. The book contains background information about ASL as well as information about the parts and structure of the language. Practice dialogues and sign language games are included in the book for beginning signers. The last chapter of the book contains information about the role of music and poetry in the deaf community.
Subject: Spina Bifida, Visual Impairment, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Dwight, Laura. (1992). We Can Do It! New York: Checkerboard Press.
Summary: Meet five special children and see what they can do. Gina is a five-year-old and has spina bifida, but she can do lots of things. Jewel is a four-year-old with cerebral palsy and she can do lots of things.
Subject: Surgery, Birth Defects
Recommended Age Level: 7-9
Brink, Benjamin. (1996). David's Story: A book about Surgery. New York: Learner Publishing Group.
Summary: Through David's experience readers are introduced to the surgical process such as: anaesthetic, the operating room, and the recovery room. Illustrates what transpires when David has an operation to correct the problems with his face caused by birth defects.
Subject: Tonsillectomy
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Gordon, Melanie Apel. (2000). Let's talk about when you have to have your tonsils out. New York: PowerKids Press.
Summary: Discusses where and what the tonsils are, how they become infected, why some people have to have them removed, and what happens during a tonsillectomy.
Subject: Tonsillectomy, Hospitalization
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Hautzig, Deborah. (1985). A Visit to the Sesame Street Hospital. New York: Random House.
Summary: Grover, his mother, Ernie, and Bert visit the Sesame Street Hospital in preparation for Grover's upcoming tonsillectomy. The familiar characters transform an unfamiliar hospital into a place to be trusted. Many typical questions about a tonsillectomy are discussed.
Subject: Tonsillectomy
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Stein, Sara Bennett. (1984). A Hospital Story: An Open Family Book for Parents and Children Together. New York: Walker & Company.
Summary: This book includes a subtext for parents designed to help parents interpret their child's behavior. Examines the fear surrounding a little girls hospital stay for a tonsillectomy operation. A tonsillectomy operation is a common procedure in hospitals today; however, it can still be at threatening experience for a child.
Subject: Visual Impairment, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Dwight, Laura. (1992). We Can Do It! New York: Checkerboard Press.
Summary: Meet five special children and see what they can do. Gina is a five-year-old and has spina bifida, but she can do lots of things. Jewel is a four-year-old with cerebral palsy and she can do lots of things.
Subject: Visual Impairment, Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Hearing Impairment, Learning Disabilities, Siblings,
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Meyer, Donald, Ed. (1997). Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc.
Summary: Several siblings share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with special needs. The children whose essays are featured range in age from 4 to 18 with a variety of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, visual and hearing impairments, and Down syndrome.
Subject: Visual Impairment, Cleft Palate, Physical Disabilities, Hearing Impairment
Recommended Age Level: 5-10
Rosenberg, Maxine. (1983). My Friend Leslie. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd Books.
Summary: Presents a multi-handicapped Kindergarten child who is well accepted by her classmates. When people talk to Leslie, she leans close and when she reads her nose almost brushes the page. This book addresses many questions and feeling that are likely to arise when non-disabled children as well as adults meet Leslie for the first time.
Subject: Von Willebrand Disease, Hemophilia
Recommended Age Level: 3-8
Shapiro, Jane. (1994). Diane Dino's Dilemma. Michigan St. University: Armour Pharmaceutical Company.
Summary: Diane began to have nosebleeds that would not stop and her legs were covered with bruises. Mama took her to the doctor who suggested that Diane see a hematologist, a doctor who knows all about blood. The hematologist diagnosed Diane with Von Willebrand disease. She finds out that she can still do most of the things she loves to do, but sometimes she may have to get factors.
Subject: Wheelchair, Physical Disabilities
Recommended Age Level: 12 and up
Benton, Hope. (1996). Whoa, Nellie! Columbus, OH: Open Minds, Inc.
Summary: A story of a young girl, Kathryn, who happens to have a physical disability and uses a wheelchair, her friends, and their experiences at summer camp as they search for a favorite horse.
Subject: Wheelchair, Physical Disabilities
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Carlson, Nancy. (1990). Arnie and the New Kid. Canada: Penguin Books Canada, Ltd.
Summary: Everybody at school is a little bit afraid of the new kid Philip because he is different from them. However, Arnie is the only one who teases Philip. Arnie's teasing leads to an accident that keeps him off his feet like Philip. It is not long before Arnie discovers that you can be different and still be a lot alike. Philip and Arnie were soon the best of friends.
Subject: Wheelchair, Physical Disabilities
Recommended Age Level: 4-8
Muldoon, Kathleen. (1990). Princess Pooh. New York: Putnam and Sons.
Summary: Patty is jealous of her sister's royal treatment as she sits in her throne or wheelchair. Patty Jean secretly calls her sister princess pooh because all she does is sit in her throne with wheels and tells everybody in the whole world what to do. Patty Jean decides to try out the throne with wheels and after some very unpleasant experiences finds out that life in a wheelchair can be no fun at all. She realizes that a wheelchair helps her sister go places and is not really a throne at all.
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