Disability Representation in Children’s Literature Is Crucial:

The Cooperative Book Center reported in 2019 that only 3.4 percent of children's books feature disabled main characters, whereas 26 percent of the population is disabled. There is a disheartening lack of representation. This sends a negative message to children with disabilities or those who have friends or loved ones with disabilities. .A message that those with disabilities are not worth writing about, at least not in a way that sheds light on the fact that they want the same as everyone else, and like everyone else, they deserve representation.

In Children's Literature, Disability Representation is not a new concept. Hans Christian Andersen provides a glimpse into representation in 19th Century fairytales. In the characters’ social hierarchy, their disabilities determined their place in society - for example, The Mermaid (1837), The Brave Tin Soldier (1838), Little Tiny or Thumbelina (1835), and The Ugly Duckling (1843). All of these examples portray disabled characters as "other" and at the bottom of the social ladder. Although this was a negative representation of disability, it was not true in all cases.

A number of children's books portray disabled characters in a believable way.

Books for Children that Represent People with Disabilities Positively.

1:) A Storm of Strawberries

By Jo Cotterill

Darby has Down syndrome and is twelve years old. Music, chocolate, and her big sister Kaydee are some of her favorite things. Darby has a big weekend ahead of her. It's time for their annual chocolate hunt, and she can't get enough of it. She also enjoys spending time with her big sister. This year, Kaydee's friend Lissa is staying over for the weekend, and she seems to be stealing Kaydee's attention. To make matters worse, a tornado hits the strawberry farm. Suddenly, both the chocolate hunt and her sister seem to be slipping away from her.

2:) A Time To Dance

A young girl's struggle to regain her passion and find new peace is captured in lyrical verse by Padma Venkatraman, who captures the beauty and mystery of India and the ancient dance form of Bharatanatyam. .A stunning novel about spiritual awakening, the power of art, and the courage and resilience of the human spirit.

3:) All the Way to the Top

Jennifer participated in the Capitol Crawl when she was just eight years old. The deeply affecting image of Jennifer crawling up the steps of Capitol Hill went viral and helped pressure Congress into passing the Americans with Disabilities Act. All the Way to the Top is a powerfully illustrated biography of Jennifer's life and a celebration of youth activism. Children will learn that they can make a difference in the world.

4:) Roll with It

By Jamie Sumner

A girl like Ellie tells it like it is. Some people expect a kid in a wheelchair to be all sunshine and cuddles. Ellie has big dreams: she might be eating Stouffer's for dinner, but one day she'll be a professional baker. When she isn't writing fan letters to celebrity chefs, she practices recipes on her well-meaning, but overworked, mother.

5:) You Are Good Enough

Sofia Sanchez, an 11-year-old model and actress with Down syndrome, tells readers how important it is to embrace your differences, to be confident, and to be proud of who you are in her inclusive and empowering picture book. You can accomplish so much if you don't let anyone stop you! .You are enough just the way you are.

6:) The Chance to Fly

Nat Beacon loves many things, including her dog Warbucks, her best friend Chloe, and competing on her wheelchair racing team, the Zoomers. One thing she's absolutely OBSESSED with is musicals! There's not a cast album she hasn't memorized and sung along to. Despite this, she's never been in a musical or seen an actor who uses a wheelchair on stage. Would someone like Nat ever get cast?

07:) Out of My Mind

Melody, 11, is not like most people. She is unable to walk. She is not able to speak. She cannot write. This is all due to her cerebral palsy. She also has a photographic memory; she remembers every detail of everything she has ever done. Nobody knows she is the smartest kid in school. Almost everyone - her teachers, doctors, classmates - dismisses her as mentally challenged because she cannot explain herself. Melody, however, refuses to let her disability define her. .She wants everyone to know...somehow.

08:)Out of My Heart

In this stunning sequel to the acclaimed New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Out of My Mind, Melody faces her fears to follow her passion. .The huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind is a year older and a year braver.

09:) The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree

In this lyrical, bittersweet debut novel from Italian author Paola Peretti, ten-year-old Mafalda hides the fact that she is going blind from her family and friends.

10:). 10:) Show Me a Sign

Ann Clare Lezotte

Martha's Vineyard has always provided Mary Lambert with a sense of security and protection. Her great-great-grandfather was one of the first deaf islanders. Today, many people there - including Mary - are deaf, and most can communicate using sign language. She has never felt isolated. She is proud of her lineage.

Recent events, however, have brought winds of change. The death of Mary's brother left her family shattered. There is growing tension between English settlers and Wampanoags over land disputes. A cunning young scientist has arrived on the island to discover the cause of the island's prevalent deafness. Mary becomes a live specimen in a cruel experiment due to his maniacal desire to find answers. In this insightful and poignant novel that probes our perceptions of ability and disability, she struggles to save herself.

I’ve highlighted ten examples of disability representation in Children’s literature, there are others but still there are not enough, children need to see more of themselves in literature, disability representation in Children’s Literature needs to become the norm, not something out of the ordinary.There are many examples of disability representation in children's literature, but there are not enough. Children need to see more of themselves in literature, and disability representation in children's literature needs to become the norm, not the exception.

In order to encourage children to read, we need more books that accurately portray those with disabilities. As writers, we must keep that in mind. A non-disabled person can write about a disabled main character in my opinion but that will involve research, rest assured you can do the majority of that in the comfort of your homes, use the technology at hand to do your research, but make sure you are getting accurate information.

A non-disabled person can write about a disabled main character, but that will require research, and you can do most of that in the comfort of your home. Make sure you are getting accurate information, and use the technology at hand to do your research.

Copyright ©️ Michelle R Kidwell

October.10.2022

Revised Copyright

©️ Michelle R Kidwell

November.14.2024