 |
| A Very Special Critter |
| Mayer, Gina & Mercer. (1992). Golden Books. |
| Great story about a character who is different but is still one of the group. |
|
| Be Quiet, Marina! |
| DeBear, Kirsten. (2001). Star Bright Books. |
| Story about a girl with Down syndrome and a girl with cerebral palsy who learn to be friends in spite of their differences. Ages 4-8. |
|
| Big Brother Dustin |
| Carter, Alden R. (1997). Albert Whitman & Company. |
| Big brother Dustin, who has Down syndrome, is excited about the birth of his younger sister. Ages 4-8. |
|
| Brothers and Sisters. |
| Dwight, Laura. (2005). Star Bright Books. |
| This book shows different sibling groups in which at least one member has a physical disability. It shows that having a sibling with a disability is not so different from having a sibling without a disability. |
| Children 4 – 8 years of age. |
|
| Don’t Call Me Special |
| Thomas, Pat. (2002). Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. |
| A great little picture book that explores questions and concerns about children with all types of disabilities. It is a good resource when talking to a group of children about the different types of disabilities and how all children need to work and play together. Has a teacher/leader guide for discussion at the end of the book. Ages 4-8. |
|
| Dustin’s BIG School Day |
| Carter, Alden R. (1999). Albert Whitman & Company. |
| Dustin is excited to go to school and is waiting for some friends to show up at 2:00. The book shows Dustin during his school day, including resource time. Ages 4-8. |
|
| Friends at School |
| Bunnett, Rochelle. (1995). Star Bright Books. |
| A typical day at school with a classroom composed of many different children. This book doesn’t emphasize the disabilities of the children, but rather tells about what happens at school. Ages 4-8. |
|
| Hi, I’m Ben! |
| Bouwkamp, Julie A. (1995). Band of Angels Press. |
| Story told from Ben’s point of view, a child with Down syndrome. Written for the 4-8-year-olds to explain what Down syndrome is, according to Ben. |
|
| How Many Pizzas? |
| Hale, Natalie. (2002). Special Reads for Special Needs. |
| A book of numbers. |
|
| I Can, Can You? |
| Pitzer, Marjorie. (2004). Woodbine House. |
| A great book to read to toddlers so that your child can see other children with Down syndrome doing things that your child will be doing. Ages 1-6. |
|
| Leo the Late Bloomer |
| Kruas, Robert. (1971). Windmill Books. |
| A book about Leo, who does things in his own time, and not when his family thinks he should do things. |
|
| Let’s Talk About It: Extraordinary Friends |
| Rogers, Fred. (2000). Puffin Books. |
| Great book about challenging stereotypes. Celebrates 6 kids with disabilities. |
|
| Living With Down Syndrome |
| Bryan, Jenny. (1999). Steck Vaughan Company. |
| A short book explaining in simple terms what Down syndrome is. Different individuals with Down syndrome are spotlighted, as are their daily activities written from 6-10 year olds perspective. Would be great for the classroom, or explaining to older siblings what Down syndrome is. |
|
| Macaroni and Baloney |
| Hale, Natalie. (2002). |
| Special Reads for Special Needs. Step 3 for teaching reading. |
|
| My Friend Isabelle |
| Woloson, Eliza. (2003). Woodbine House. |
| Story about two friends without referring to the fact that Isabelle has Down syndrome. The book encourages the reader to think about why friendships are special and how our differences can make the world more interesting. Ages 4-8. |
|
| Oh Brother! Growing Up with A Special Needs Sibling |
| Hale, Natalie. (2004). Magination Press. |
| Story told by a sister who has a brother with a disability. Easy-to-read, a good read and tells Becca’s story, good and bad, about what she feels like having a brother with special needs. |
|
| Our Brother Has Down Syndrome. An Introduction for Children |
| Cairo, S. (1985). Firefly Books, Ltd. |
| A book of color photos and text to introduce and explain Down syndrome to young children, especially siblings. It is a personalized account of a young boy, Jai, as told by his two sisters. Ages 4-8. |
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| Peanut Butter Party |
| Hale, Natalie. (2002). |
| Special Reads for Special Needs. Step 2 for reading. |
|
| Radiance Descending |
| Fox, Paula. (1997). DK Publishing Inc. |
| A story about a 6-year-old boy, who doesn’t really care for his brother, who has Down syndrome. He tries to pretend that his brother isn’t a part of his life until a birthday party shows him what a difference his brother has made in other people’s lives. Sort of a hard book to read in that the brother is negative and some of his family members are also negative in talking about the child with Down syndrome. Ages 12-16. |
|
| So Many Colors: A Book of Colors |
| Hale, Natalie. (2002). |
| Special Reads for Special Needs. |
|
| Someone Special Just Like You |
| Brown, Tricia (1982) Henry Holt and Company. |
| Story told with pictures that show children with disabilities in everyday settings. Ages 4-8. |
|
| Spaghetti! |
| Hale, Natalie. (2002). Special Reads for Special Needs. |
| Series of books to guide children into making the association between a concept and a word. Other books include Macaroni and Baloney. Plastic-coated book includes flashcards. A great way to start children reading. Ages 2-10. |
|
| Special People, Special Ways |
| Maguire, Arlene. (2000). Future Horizons, Inc. |
| Rhyming stories about the differences that children with disabilities have and how important all children are to the world. Ages 4-8. |
|
| The Magic Violin: A Christmas Gift |
| Mc Spadden, Mary. (2001). Angel Pathways, Inc. |
| The story of a girl with Down syndrome who wants to play the violin whose family doesn’t think she can do so. How she plays a violin and what type of violin it is shows that there are different ways of doing things. Ages 8-12. |
|
| Veronica’s First Year |
| Rheingrover, Jean Sasso. (1999). Albert Whitman & Co. |
| This book details the first year of life of Veronica, a girl born with Down syndrome. It talks about having sad parents, but all that Veronica is able to do and achieve during her first year, ending the book with her first birthday. Ages 4-8. |
|
| We’ll Paint the Octopus Red |
| Stuve-Bodeen, Stephanie. (1998). Woodbine House. |
| Told by a young sister who is excited about having a new brother and all of the activities they will do once he is born. When her father comes home sad, with the news that her brother is born with Down syndrome, the girl asks the same questions about what activities they will be able to do. The father states that they will be able to do everything they had planned to do, just at a different time. Ages 4-8. |
|
| What’s Wrong With Timmy? |
| Shriver, Maria. (2001). Little Brown. |
| Story about an eight-year-old-girl who meets the son of her mother’s friend. Timmy looks different, acts different and talks different. The mother does a good job of explaining what a developmental disability is and how people should focus on what everyone can do, not what the can’t do. The book does a good job, although a bit wordy, when talking about what to do when the young girl’s friends notice a difference. Ages 8-10. |