Best children’s books about disabilities

If you are fostering a disabled child, there will be a lot to learn for how to accommodate their needs, depending on the nature of their disability (or disabilities) and age.

Whether or not you are fostering them alongside other non-disabled children (biological or foster care), you might want to find books that educate children about various disabilities, and to answer any questions they might have.

Moving on Up by Rosie Jones (for ages 8-11)

This book is a fun, illustrated guide to navigating friendships and awkward situations from comedian and children’s author Jones, who has cerebral palsy. She uses anecdotes from her youth to advise her readers on things like making friends, hosting parties and standing up to bullies.

I Am Not a Label by Cerrie Burnell (for ages 9+)

The CBeebies presenter has collated stories of inspirational disabled figures from across history and around the world, from composer Beethoven, to activist and author Helen Keller and singer Stevie Wonder, showing that people can be so much more than just their disability.

What Happened to You? by James Catchpole (for ages 5-7)

A story that will resonate with many disabled people, this picture book follows a young boy with one leg, whose peers often ask him about his disability. He just wants to get on with his day, and yet he can’t seem to catch a break from these questions.

Frankie’s World by Aoife Dooley (for ages 9-14)

In this graphic novel by an author with autism, Frankie tracks down her father, who left when she was a baby. With her best friend Sam, she hopes that this will help her learn about why she feels different from the other kids at school.