by Jennifer Kirkman

Created on: November 04, 2009

There are a number of books on the market for you children to read about other kids that are special needs kids. I have chosen a few to suggest here in this article. They can be purchased at amazon.com, or your local bookstore.

Daniel's World: A Book About Children With Disabilities by Kathleen DeLoach is an ideal book to help your child understand kids with special needs. The character Daniel has many problems and has had several surgeries. What the message here is, to be loving to Daniel since he is special.

My Friend Isabelle is about two little girls that have a special friendship even though Isabelle is different since she has trouble talking normally because her problem is Down Syndrome. The author who wrote it is Eliza Woloson. This book has nice little illustrations throughout.

My Friend Has Down Syndrome by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos is a book all about Tammy, who is the one that has Down Syndrome and she is at a camp in the summertime, and the camp director tries to make other kids understand why Tammy is a bit different than the rest of the group.

Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book by Celester Shally is a book about a little boy's who befriends Matt, an autistic child. The idea of this book is loud and clear, which says that children who have a handicap shouldn't be treated so differently than other kids.

Everybody is Different by Fiona Bleach takes another look at autism in children. It is geared to the understanding of ages 9-12 year olds. This book by Ms. Bleach is to give others an understanding of what autism is all about and how to understand people with this problem.

Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability by Pat Thomas is a good one. It is a picture book that at the same time, helps other kids understand those children that have problems unlike themselves. The book even talks about how some kids have wheelchairs becauseof their problems etc. I highly recommend this one.

Susan Laughs by author Jeanne Willis is about a girl that has cerebral palsy. What the author points out is that though Susan has to be confined to a wheelchair, she is just as worthy and good as everyone else is. This is another book that I highly recommend.

Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair by Jamme Riggio Heelan is an excellent picture book to teach young kids about a boy that has cerebral palsy and stays in a wheelchair. The author talks about Taylor's condition, and how he lives his life because of his handicap both at home and also around school. It really teaches kids that don't have Taylor's problem, not to make fun of him. A child as young as 4, could develop some understanding of special kids from this book.

We Can Do it! by Laura Dwight is a book that any child should have to develop an understanding of handicaps in other kids. This book focuses on many child handicaps from cerebral palsy, autism, blindness, Spina Bifida and other special problems. The reason it was entitled as "We Can Do It!" is to show that kids with a handicap have special talents and abilities right along with those kids who don't. I think its a wonderful book to teach children.

So this is a good start in getting books to teach children about handicaps and differences in other kids. I wish you luck in educating your child on all aspects of diversity in this world and learning about differences.

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