Books for feelings and life
Books about disability and different bodies and minds
Books where a child with a disability is a person first. Look for authors with lived experience, and avoid stories that treat disability as a tragedy to be overcome.
Picks drawn from long-standing children's-librarian lists, ALSC notable and award records, and Common Sense Media age ratings, with each title and author checked against Open Library, Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Out of My Mind
Sharon M. Draper · Ages 10-13
Melody has cerebral palsy, cannot speak, and has a brilliant mind. A communication device changes things.
Watch for: Bullying and a painful school event.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Wonder
R. J. Palacio · Ages 8-12
August Pullman has a facial difference. Told from several points of view.
Watch for: Bullying.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Don't Call Me Special
Pat Thomas · Ages 4-8
A plain-spoken book about disability, with illustrations by Lesley Harker.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
We're All Wonders
R. J. Palacio · Ages 4-8
The picture-book companion to Wonder.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Susan Laughs
Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross · Ages 3-6
A girl does everything other children do. Her wheelchair shows only on the last page.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair
Jamee Riggio Heelan · Ages 4-8
A boy with cerebral palsy explains how he moves and plays.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
A Boy Called Bat
Elana K. Arnold · Ages 7-10
Bat, who has traits of autism, cares for a baby skunk. The first of a chapter-book series.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
Ghost
Jason Reynolds · Ages 10-14
A young runner with a traumatic past joins a track team. First in the Track series.
Watch for: Gun violence, trauma.
Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon
More lists
Books about autism and neurodiversity
Look for books by autistic authors or reviewed by them.
Books about deaf and hard of hearing kids
Look for stories by or reviewed by deaf people.
Books about anger for kids
Anger is one of the first big feelings children need words for.
Books about sadness and sad days
Children are often told to cheer up.
Books about fear, the dark and monsters
Fear of the dark, of monsters, and of being left is normal between ages 3 and 7.
Books about worry and anxiety
Worry can show up as stomachaches, clinging or perfectionism.
Books about shyness and quiet kids
Shy and quiet are not problems to fix.
Books about loneliness and finding a friend
Loneliness is different from being alone.