LibGuides: Children's Books: Special Ed

Elementary Special Ed Books

ADDed touch
Matthew is a first grader who has trouble concentrating, following directions and controlling himself. When he goes to the doctor, he is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. Now Matthew works at his own pace and his family and friends know that he is special with an ADDed touch.
Alphabet War by Diane Burton Robb
Learning to read is a great struggle for Adam, but with expert help, hard work, and belief in himself, he wins "The Alphabet War." Includes information about dyslexia.
Be Good to Eddie Lee by Virginia Fleming
Although Christy considered him a pest, when Eddie Lee, a boy with Down's Syndrome, follows her into the woods, he shares several special discoveries with her.
Ben, King of the River by David Gifaldi
Chad experiences a range of emotions when he goes camping with his parents and his five-year-old mentally disabled brother Ben who has many developmental problems.
Best Worst Brother by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
Older sister Emma tries to be patient while teaching three-year-old Isaac, who has Down syndrome, how to communicate using sign language. Includes questions and answers about sign language.
Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop: an OCD Storybook.
The book tells a story of how O.C. Flea persuades many animals on the farm into engaging in obsessive thoughts and compulsions that interfere with their everyday life. The animals eventually come to realize that if they ignore O.C. Flea, nothing bad will actually happen.
Crow Boy by Taro Yashima
The intolerance of a small boy's classmates is overcome when a strange talent of the boy wins for him the admiration of the community.
Dad and Me in the Morning by Patricia Lakin
A deaf boy and his father share a special time as they watch the sun rise at the beach.
Dad, Jackie, and Me by Myron Uhlberg
In Brooklyn, New York, in 1947, a boy learns about discrimination and tolerance as he and his deaf father share their enthusiasm over baseball and the Dodgers' first baseman, Jackie Robinson.
Don't Call Me Special by Pat Thomas
This picture book explores questions and concerns about disability in a simple and reassuring way. Younger children can find out what a disability is, and learn how people deal with their disabilities to live happy and full lives.
Don't-Give-Up Kid by Jeanne Gehret
Alex, a child with dyslexia, learns about his and other learning problems and what is done to solve them.
Dustin's Big School Day by Alden R. Carter
Second-grader Dustin, who has Down syndrome, anticipates the arrival of two very special guests at his school one day.
Eddie Enough! by Debbie Zimmett
Third-grader Eddie Minetti is always getting in trouble at school until his AD/HD is diagnosed and treated.
Eukee the Jumpy Jumpy Elephant by Clifford L. Corman
Eukee the elephant can't stay still and follow directions, but a friendly doctor helps him conquer his problems.
Flimflam Man by Darleen Bailey Beard
In the summer of 1950, a con man comes to Wetumka, Oklahoma, and two young girls (one with a stutter) grow from the experience.
Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher
Rachel, having chosen to be mute following the sudden death of a classmate, shares responsibility with the other sixth-graders who decide not to report that the substitute teacher failed to show up.
Hard Life of Seymour E. Newton by Ann B. Herold
A third grader with learning difficulties is heartened by a spider he names Seymour, who rebuilds his web as necessary, and by finding out his father has a problem similar to his own.
Harry and Willy and Carrothead by Judith Caseley
Three boys overcome prejudicial ideas about appearances and become friends.
Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester
All his classmates make fun of Rodney because he can't pronounce his name, but it is Rodney's speech impediment that drives away the class bully.
Ian's Walk by Laurie Lears
A young girl realizes how much she cares for her autistic brother Ian when he gets lost at the park. When her autistic little brother, Ian, wanders off while on a walk to the park, Julie must try to see the world through his eyes in order to find him.
Keeping up with Roo by Sharlee Mullins Glenn
Gracie has always had a special bond with her Aunt Roo, who is mentally disabled, but that relationship starts to change when Gracie begins school.
Knockin' on Wood by Lynne Barasch
A picture book biography of Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates, an African American who lost his leg in a factory accident at the age of twelve and went on to become a world-famous tap dancer.
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin
A grandfather and his blind grandson, Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses, reminisce about the young boy's birth, his first horse, and an exciting horse race.
Mandy by Barbara D. Booth
Hearing-impaired Mandy risks going out into the scary night, during an impending storm, to look for her beloved grandmother's lost pin.
Mary Marony and the Snake by Suzy Kline
With the support of her mother and new classmates, Mary sees a speech therapist about her stuttering problem.
Melanie by Carol Carrick
When her grandfather goes in search of one who can heal her of her blindness and fails to return, Melanie follows and rescues him from a hideous troll.
My Brother Sammy Is Special by Becky Edwards
A boy describes some of the many feelings he has about his brother Sammy, who is autistic.
Nathan's Wish by Laurie Lears
A boy with cerebral palsy helps out at a raptor rehabilitation center and is inspired himself when an owl that cannot fly finds another purpose in life.
Sarah's Sleepover by Bobbie Rodriguez
When the lights go out while her cousins are spending the night, a young blind girl shows them what to do in the dark
Seal Surfer by Michael Foreman
Although he is on crutches, a boy goes to the beach with his grandfather, where they watch a seal being born, and over the following seasons, the boy and the seal develop a special bond.
See the Ocean by Estelle Condra
Driving through mountain fog to the beach, two brothers fight to see who will catch the first glimpse of the ocean, but it is their blind sister Nellie who senses it first.
Sing to the Stars by Mary Brigid Barrett
When Ephram becomes friends with a blind man in his neighborhood and finds out that Mr. Washington was a famous pianist who hasn't touched a piano for a long time, he resolves to get the man back on stage.
Susan Laughs by Jeanne Willis
Rhyming couplets describe a wide range of common emotions and activities experienced by a little girl who uses a wheelchair. In fact, despite the physical challenges, Susan is no different from any other child.
Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
At first, Trisha loves school, but her difficulty learning to read makes her feel dumb, until, in the fifth grade, a new teacher helps her understand and overcome her problem.
Trevor Trevor by Diane Twachtman-Cullen
Though Trevor doesn't seem to socially fit into the class he does become its hero.
Zoom! by Robert Munsch
When Lauretta tries out a 92-speed, silver and gold, dirt-bike wheelchair, she gets a speeding ticket but also helps out her brother.

Middle School Special Ed Books

A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin
The summer that Hattie turns twelve, she meets the childlike uncle she never knew and becomes friends with a girl who works at the carnival that comes to Hattie's small town.
Award: Newbery Honor, 2003
Adam's Alternative Sports Day by Jude Welton
Adam, a nine-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome, competes at his school's "alternative sports day," which includes puzzles, riddles, and a treasure hunt instead of races.
Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.
Bluish by Virginia Hamilton
Ten-year-old Dreenie feels both intrigued and frightened when she thinks about the girl nicknamed Bluish, whose leukemia is making her pale and causing her to use a wheelchair.
Bringing Nettie Back by Nancy Hope Wilson
Eleven-year-old Clara's life is enriched by her friendship with the vibrant Nettie, whose family is so different from her own, but then a serious brain condition threatens to change Nettie forever.
Bus People by Rachel Anderson
The lives of the passengers on Bertram's "fruit-cake bus" are shaped by the experiences and problems each has faced because of different disabilities.
By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura's sister, Mary, has gone blind from scarlet fever and Laura "sees" for her by describing their surroundings.
Crazy Lady! by Jane Leslie Conly
As he tries to come to terms with his mother's death, Vernon finds solace in his growing relationship with the neighborhood outcasts, an alcoholic and her retarded son.

Newbery Honor Book
Deaf Child Crossing by Marlee Matlin
Despite the fact that Megan is deaf and Cindy can hear, the two girls become friends, but when they go away to camp, their friendship is put to the test
Double-Digit Club by Marion Dane Bauer
Nine-year-old Sarah is excited about summer vacation, but she faces unexpected crises when she has to make a choice which affects her relationship with an elderly blind neighbor.
El Deafo by Cece Bell
"Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers!" Author writes of her experience, in a comic book style.

2015 Newbery Honor Book
Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher
Rachel, having chosen to be mute following the sudden death of a classmate, shares responsibility with the other sixth-graders who decide not to report that the substitute teacher failed to show up.
Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule by Harriette Gillem Robinet
Born with a withered leg and hand, Pascal, who is about twelve years old, joins other former slaves in a search for a farm and the freedom which it promises.
From Charlie's Point of View by Richard Scrimger
Best friends Bernadette and Charlie begin seventh grade and help unravel the mysterious case of the Stocking Bandit.
Gentle's Holler by Kerry Madden
In the early 1960s, twelve-year-old songwriter Livy Two Weems dreams of seeing the world beyond the holler where she lives in poverty with her parents and eight brothers and sisters, but understands that she must put family first.
Getting near to Baby by Audrey Couloumbis
Although thirteen-year-old Willa Jo and her Aunt Patty seem to be constantly at odds, staying with her and Uncle Hob helps Willa Jo and her younger sister come to terms with the death of their family's baby.
Gypsies Never Came by Stephen Roos
Sixth-grader Augie Knapp, who has a deformed hand, is convinced by Lydie Rose, the strange new girl in town, that the Gypsies are coming for him.
Heck Superhero by Martine Leavitt
Abandoned by his mentally ill mother, thirteen-year-old Heck tries to survive on his own as his mind bounces between the superhero character he imagines himself to be and the harsh reality of his life
I Got a D in Salami by Henry Winkler
Antics ensue after Hank throws his report card into a meat grinder.
I'm Somebody Too by Jeanne Gehret
Emily presents the other child's viewpoint in a family in which one child, her brother, has attention deficit disorder (ADD).
Jackson Whole Wyoming by Joan Clark
Fifth-grader Tyler has been chosen to present a going away present to Jackson, but Tyler is worried about being associated with Jackson. The other students think Jackson is strange--but he just has Asperger's syndrome.
Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos
Joey, who is still taking medication to keep him from getting too wired, goes to spend the summer with the hard-drinking father he has never known and tries to help the baseball team he coaches win the championship.
King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
Sham and the mute stable boy, Agba, travel from Morocco to France to England where, at last, Sham's majesty is recognized and he becomes the "Godolphin Arabian," ancestor of the most superior Thoroughbred horses.
Little Women Next Door by Sheila S. Klass
Recounts the efforts of Louisa May Alcott's family to establish a utopian community known as Fruitlands in Massachusetts in 1843, as seen through the eyes of the shy, stammaring eleven-year-old girl next door.
Niagara Falls, or Does It? by Henry Winkler
Fourth-graders Hank, Ashley, and Frankie are excitedly preparing for a magic show at the Rock 'N Bowl when Hank's creative alternative to an English essay lands him in detention and grounded the week of the show.
Prairie School by Avi; Bill Farnsworth (Illustrator)
In 1880, Noah's aunt teaches the reluctant nine-year-old how to read as they explore the Colorado prairie together, Noah pushing Aunt Dora in her wheelchair.
Silent Spillbills by Tor Seidler
Thirteen-year-old bird-lover Katerina, plagued by stuttering and lack of self-confidence, stands up to her cantankerous grandfather, to save the unique Connecticut wetland birds.
Sparks by Graham McNamee
When Todd is both happy and anxious about trying to fit in with the regular fifth grade class but feels confused about how to relate to his former friends in the Special Needs class, a school assignment on the exploited pygmy, Ota Benga, helps give him confidence and clarity.
Summer School! What Genius by Henry Winkler; Lin Oliver
Stuck in summer school while his friends enjoy a "Passport to Hawaii," nearly-eleven-year-old Hank needs to earn an A on an oral report about Einstein in order to participate in Magik 3's talent show act at the luau extravaganza.
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
Eleven-year-old Gilly has been stuck in more foster families than she can remember, and she's disliked them all. Sje eventually learns to love and respect her new foster family, and their blind neighbor, Mr. Randolph.
View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
Four students, with their own individual stories, develop a special bond and attract the attention of their teacher, a paraplegic, who chooses them to represent their sixth-grade class in the Academic Bowl competition.
Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must uncover the circumstances of his death before they can claim their inheritance.
Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong; Maurice Sendak
Lina and the other children must overcome many obstacles to bring the storks back to their little Dutch village. The whole town, especially old Janus, a man who has lost his legs, helps to find a wheel, so that the storks will come back.
Wintering Well by Lea Wait
Twelve-year-old Will Ames and his sister Cassie go to stay with their sister in nearby Wiscasset, Maine, after a disabling accident ruins Will's plans for a career in farming.

Secondary Special Ed Books

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman
In India, a girl who excels at Bharatanatyam dance refuses to give up after losing a leg in an accident.
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister
Cruise Control by Terry Trueman
A talented basketball player struggles to deal with the helplessness and anger that come with having a brother rendered completely dysfunctional by severe cerebral palsy and a father who deserted the family.
Finding Kansas by Aaron Likens
A man with Asperger's syndrome describes what it's like to live with the syndrome and advocates for other people with the condition to help find their "Kansas," or place where they feel comfortable and at home.
Life Happens Next by Terry Trueman
Shawn McDaniel, almost fifteen, cannot speak and has no control over his body due to severe cerebral palsy, but he forms a strong connection with his mother's cousin Debi, who has Down Syndrome, and her dog Rusty.
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Marcelo Sandoval, a seventeen-year-old boy on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, faces new challenges, including romance and injustice, when he goes to work for his father in the mailroom of a corporate law firm.
Not As Crazy As I Seem by George Harrar
As fifteen-year-old Devon begins mid-year at a new prestigious prep school, he is plagued by compulsions such as the need to sort things into groups of four.
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
A brilliant, impatient fifth-grader with cerebral palsy, considered by many to be mentally retarded, discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time.
Planet of Junior Brown by Virginia Hamilton
Already a leader in New York's underground world of homeless children, Buddy Clark takes on the responsibility of protecting the overweight, emotionally disturbed friend with whom he has been playing hooky from eighth grade all semester.
Reaching Dustin by Vicki Grove
Fifth-grader Carly's assignment to interview a reclusive, brooding classmate leads her to discover some of the events that have caused his antisocial and abusive family's negative impact on their Missouri farming community, and Carly's family in particular.
Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
Written by a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, this is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine.
Small Steps by Louis Sachar
Three years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is trying hard to keep his life on track, but when his old pal X-Ray shows up with a tempting plan to make some easy money scalping concert tickets, Armpit reluctantly goes along.
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
After spending her life with her mentally retarded mother and agoraphobic neighbor, twelve-year-old Heidi sets out from Reno, Nevada, to New York to find out who she is.
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman
Fourteen-year-old Shawn McDaniel, who suffers from severe cerebral palsy and cannot function, relates his perceptions of his life, his family, and his condition, especially as he believes his father is planning to kill him.
Tending to Grace by Kimberly Newton Fusco
When Cornelia's mother runs off with a boyfriend, leaving her with an eccentric aunt, Cornelia must finally confront the truth about herself and her mother
These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura gives her money to her parents to help pay for her sister's education at the college for the blind.
Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous by Suzanne Crowley
In the small town of Jumbo, Texas, thirteen-year-old Merilee, who has Asperger's Syndrome, tries to live a "Very Ordered Existence," but disruptions begin when a boy and his father arrive in town and the youngster makes himself a part of the family.
War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
A young disabled girl and her brother are evacuated from London to the English countryside during World War II, where they find life to be much sweeter away from their abusive mother.

DVD

Sympathy for Delicious
Call Number: Rolfing Media DVD PN1997.2 .S967x 2011a
A talented Music DJ becomes a newly paraplegic gets more than he bargained for when he seeks out the world of faith healing in hopes of walking again. He learns however that he has been given a Gift! The Gift to heal others but not himself. He abuses his gift for the sake of power, fame,and riches and his world come crashing down. Will he get the healing he needs by giving unselfishly?
WARNING: Many uses of profanity.
When I walk
Honest and real look at what goes through the mind and experiences of someone with a debilitating disease. Jason DaSilva does not sugar coat his journey with MS. It is about time someone showed the reality of what is experienced by so many of the disabled.
Who Cares About Kelsey?
Story of the transformation of a high school girl from a defiant and disruptive problem student to a motivated and self-confident young woman through her school's implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and a youth-directed planning process called RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural supports, Education, and Work). Includes nine short documentaries that illustrate a wide range of educational issues and evidence-based practices.
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
Struggling with Asperger's, Rose shares a bond with her beloved dog, but when the dog goes missing during a storm, Rose is forced to confront the limits of her comfort levels, even if it means leaving her routines in order to search for her pet.

Blue-ray

Sympathy for Delicious
Call Number: Deerfield Media Blu-ray PN 1997.2 .S967x 2011
A talented Music DJ becomes a newly paraplegic gets more than he bargained for when he seeks out the world of faith healing in hopes of walking again. He learns however that he has been given a Gift! The Gift to heal others but not himself. He abuses his gift for the sake of power, fame,and riches and his world come crashing down. Will he get the healing he needs by giving unselfishly?
WARNING: Many uses of profanity.

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Elementary Special Ed Books

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