Books with characters who have disabilities

[humblebumble]

Please could you recommend any books that have children who have disabilities who are part of the book but their disability (seen or unseen) is not the main feature of the book. My son's class (he's 7) is doing a study on "differences" and what makes a community and his younger brother has a rare medical condition and I wanted to help the teacher show the children in the class that differences can come in many different forms.

Thanks in advance.

Topsy and Tim Make A Friend by Jean Adamson. The new girl in T&T's class uses a wheelchair. May be too young for aged 7.

Ringo the Flamingo. Can't remember the author, but a flamingo is born with legs that don't work so he feels useless, until there is a forest fire and he has a talent that helps. Again, a picture book for young readers.

Warrior Scarlett by Rosemary Sutcliffe. Boy born with a withered arm, so unable to slay a wolf and gain full entry to his tribe.

What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge. Katy falls out of a tree and suffers paralysis.

Joey Pigza Swallowed The Key by (Jack?) Gantos. Joey has autism. Primary school book, but not sure of recommended reading age.

Not sure if they will be of any use or not!

Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler: Tyke's best friend Danny has a speech impediment and some sort of learning difficulty.

Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder - in the later ones then Laura's sister Mary is blind - By The Shores Of Silver Lake is the first one after she loses her sight. (Though having said that, although the earlier ones are ideal for 7 year olds, maybe the later ones not quite so much)

The Lost Prince by Frances Hodgson Burnett has a very strong character who can't use his legs (though I think he is called The Rat, which is maybe not totally positive !)

The Five of Us by Quentin Blake.

Hiccup from How to train Your Dragon loses his leg in an accident and then has a metal prosthetic made for him.

Ds tells me it's in the books too.

I don't remember Hiccup having a metal leg in the books it's the evil Alvin who has a hook, eyepatch etc. but Fishlegs is shortsighted with dragon allergies, if that helps?

All the demigods in Percy Jackson have dyslexia and ADHD: it's a plot point, but obviously that's not what the stories are all about.

Harry Potter's glasses are a sign of a very minor disability.

Bit old for him, but there is a boy with albinism in The Dark is Rising series (Susan Cooper).

Just remembered Lizzie Zipmouth by Jacqueline Wilson. Lizzie refuses to speak when her mum moves in with her new boyfriend/husband. The stepdad's mother eventually gets her to speak by sparking an interest in the mother's collection of dolls.

Oh just remembered Professor X from X-men should hit the spot for 7 year old boys (the big X-Men movies are mostly 12A but there are loads of Marvel cartoons and comics suitable for that age group).

There's an article here

www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/oct/16/disabled-characters-in-childrens-books-diversity

Though might be to old for 7.

I think Scope have a list.

Here you go

www.scope.org.uk/support/families/books/children

I can't open them on my phone as i have to down load the app. But the links are all listed in the above link

Thank you all so much

Ah, moln got there before I did - the 'in the picture' campaign! Definitely worth promoting

Now I've just remembered a children's book I read years ago about a blind boy called Jake, and his brother. I can't remember the name of the book, or the author, so no good to you - but does anyone else recognise it? (Not much to go on, I know, but I remember it being good).

Curious incident of the dog in the nighttime

Curious Incident does make the disability the main point of the story, though, which is so often what seems to happen.

Colin from The Secret Garden (though he recovers)
Lupus in Roman Mysteries is mute (tongue cut out) and Jonathan is asthmatic (more of a disability without today's medicines)

Freddie and the Fairy is my daughters favourite book, the main character has hearing loss but it's not obviously the feature of the story. Quite a young book though maybe aimed at 3-6 year olds?

Thank you for correcting my ds, LanceLottie. He's clearly paying more attention to the films rather than the books.

Not happy to hear about the evil character having the hook. I hate that.
Will discuss with ds later - thanks!

Oh, he may well be right and I may not have been paying enough attention by book 5 or so -- I ought to know by now not to argue with small children!

I think the point about Alvin is that just when Hiccup thinks he's definitely killed him this time, he reappears with another improbable replacement body part and keeps on evilling.

Probably a little old for him but Wonder by R J Palacio is about a boy with a craniofacial condition.

The inchworm (or Earthworm?) in James and the Giant Peach is blind.

Just Because is good:
www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Because-Rebecca-Elliott/dp/0745962351/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425756925&sr=1-1&keywords=just+because

Heidi - Granny is bedridden and blind, Clara is disabled (though more of a focus on her)
Charlie and the Chocolate factory - all grandparents are bedridden