Children are naturally accepting of others, so it may be awhile before you find yourself fielding questions like, “Why is that boy different?” or “Why can’t she talk?” when interacting with special needs children. Even if your child does not have a special needs child or any special needs children in their school or social circle, it’s a good idea to explain to them, in their terms, why some children aren’t like them. When your children do encounter a special needs child, they’ll hopefully have at least some of the information they’ll need to be a good friend.
This book mirrors the life of an actual 12-year-old girl, the daughter of actress Holly Robinson Peete, whose twin brother has autism. Reviews of the book have stated that it not only is authentic in its storytelling, it promotes conversations.
This book is a sequel to the bestselling book Holes, which was later made into a film. While the story doesn’t focus on the character who has cerebral palsy, it does a good job of including her in the story without much fanfare. Definitely a book for older children, as it contains some scary elements towards the end.
While this book is written from the point of view of a sibling, it can be a helpful story for any child. The sister in the story must learn to communicate with her developmentally disabled younger brother. This book is appropriate for ages four through eight.
What are your favorite books about children with special needs? We’d love to hear recommendations for books that are for children, or those that are for adults.