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Bibliotherapy
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Disability
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Figure 52
Roll with it Book Cover
Note.Source: [Roll with it Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 202
Almost Invisibile Book Cover
Note.Source: [Almost Invisible Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 206
Finding Perfect Book Cover
Note. Source: [Finding Perfect Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 210
Thunder and Noise Book Cover
Note. Source: [Thunder and Noise Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 214
Push Book Cover
Note. Source: [Push Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 53
Time to Roll Book Cover
Note.Source: [Time to Roll Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 203
Bouncing Back Book Cover
Note. Source: [Bouncing Back Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 207
Butterfly Mind Book Cover
Note. Source: [Butterfly Mind Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 211
Big Hit Book Cover
Note. Source: [Big Hit Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 215
Optimists Book Cover
Note. Source: [Optimists Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 200
Mason Buttle Book Cover
Note.Source: [Mason Buttle Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 204
The Distance Between Book Cover
Note. Source: [The Distance Between Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 208
Sam Miracle Book Cover
Note. Source: [Sam Miracle Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 212
Number Thoughts Book Cover
Note. Source: [Number Thoughts Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 216
This is a lie Book Cover
Note. Source: [This is a lie Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 201
For a Whale Book Cover
Note.Source: [For a Whale Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 205
Filippo and me Book Cover
Note. Source: [Filippo and me Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 209
Leah's Voice Book Cover
Note. Source: [Leah's Voice Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 213
Having a Disability Book Cover
Note. Source: [Having a Disability Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 217
Lightning Thief Book Cover
Note. Source: [Lightning Thief Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 218
List of Cages Book Cover
Note. Source: [List of Cages Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 219
It's my Life Book Cover
Note. Source: [It's my Life Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"If she wants a future with him, she'll have to make peace with her past. Jenna's never let her cerebral palsy get her down. But when she discovers that her condition was actually caused by an injury at birth, she's furious with her parents, who withheld the truth. And as they push her to get yet another difficult procedure, Jenna feels her control over her life starting to slip. Enter Julian, Jenna's childhood crush. He's just moved back to town, and he's struggling in school, so Jenna reaches out to him—anonymously— to help. Soon, their conversations are about so much more than class. She's falling for him all over again, hard and fast. But would Julian still be interested in her if he knew who she really was? And can she find a way to take back her own narrative before she pushes away everyone she loves?" (Ramey, 2020).
- Ages 8-12
- Main Character has Cerebal Palsey
Figure 220
It's my Life Book Cover
Note. Source: [It's my Life Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"When Adam Blake lands the best elective ever in his senior year, serving as an aide to the school psychologist, he thinks he’s got it made. Sure, it means a lot of sitting around, which isn’t easy for a guy with ADHD, but he can’t complain, since he gets to spend the period texting all his friends. Then the doctor asks him to track down the troubled freshman who keeps dodging her, and Adam discovers that the boy is Julian—the foster brother he hasn’t seen in five years. Adam is ecstatic to be reunited. At first, Julian seems like the boy he once knew. He’s still kindhearted. He still writes stories and loves picture books meant for little kids. But as they spend more time together, Adam realizes that Julian is keeping secrets, like where he hides during the middle of the day, and what’s really going on inside his house. Adam is determined to help him, but his involvement could cost both boys their lives" (Roe, 2017).
- Ages 12+
- Talks about Disability and Foster Care
- Activity Idea) Have your client write a story or draw a picture for Julian.
Figure 221
List of Cages Book Cover
Note. Source: [List of Cages Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 222
Lightning Thief Book Cover
Note. Source: [Lightning Thief Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena - Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods" (Riordan, 2005).
- Ages 10+
- Main character and multiple side character have ADHD and Dyslexia.
- This book should be read after long consideration as it can show an unrealistic point of view.
- Talks about Disability and Parental Abandonment.
- First book in the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" Series
- Content warning list is long. Click here to view.
"A YA thriller described as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time meets John le Carré, about a teen math prodigy with an extreme anxiety disorder who finds himself caught in a web of lies and conspiracies after an assassination attempt on his mother.Seventeen-year-old Peter Blankman is a math genius. He also suffers from devastating panic attacks. Pete gets through each day with the help of his mother—a famous scientist—and his beloved twin sister, Bel.But when his mom is nearly assassinated in front of his eyes and Bel disappears, Pete finds himself on the run. Dragged into a world where state and family secrets intertwine, Pete must use his extraordinary analytical skills to find his missing sister and track down the people who attacked his mother. But his greatest battle will be with the enemy inside: the constant terror that threatens to overwhelm him" (Pollock, 2018).
- Ages 14-18
- Talks about Panic Attacks and Bullying.
Figure 223
This is a lie Book Cover
Note. Source: [This is a lie Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 224
Optimists Book Cover
Note. Source: [Optimists Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"Sixteen-year-old Petula De Wilde is anything but wild. A family tragedy has made her shut herself off from the world. Once a crafting fiend with a happy life, Petula now sees danger in everything, from airplanes to ground beef.The worst part of her week is her comically lame mandatory art therapy class. She has nothing in common with this small band of teenage misfits, except that they all carry their own burden of guilt.When Jacob joins their ranks, he seems so normal and confident. Petula wants nothing to do with him, or his prosthetic arm. But when they’re forced to collaborate on a unique school project, she slowly opens up, and he inspires her to face her fears.Until a hidden truth threatens to derail everything" (Nielson, 2017).
- Ages 14+
- Talks about loss of sister, Anxiety and missing limb.
- Sexual references, implied sex scenes.
- Alcohol use and addiction.
"Precious Jones, an illiterate sixteen-year-old, has up until now been invisible: invisible to the father who rapes her and the mother who batters her and to the authorities who dismiss her as just one more of Harlem's casualties. But when Precious, pregnant with a second child by her father, meets a determined and highly radical teacher, we follow her on a journey of education and enlightenment as Precious learns not only how to write about her life, but how to make it her own for the first time" (Sapphire, 1996).
- Age 15+
- Talks about Disability and Sexual Abuse.
- Black Main Character
- Activity Idea) As you read this book have your client write in a journal
- First book in the "Precious" Series.
Figure 225
Push Book Cover
Note. Source: [Push Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"Many children who have a disability feel left out. How can you help address this issue? An inclusive and accessible picture book from the Questions and Feelings About ... series uses child-friendly text and examples to explore that very question. It includes a helpful section with advice, practical tips, and activities for caregivers and teachers" (Spilsbury, 2019).
- Ages 8-12
- Multiple different ethnicities and disabilities.Â
Figure 226
Having a Disability Book Cover
Note. Source: [Having a Disability Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 227
Number Thoughts Book Cover
Note. Source: [Number Thoughts Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"A determined boy learns to manage his OCD. Malik's obsessive-compulsive disorder means his brain wants him to do everything on the count of four. When he’s invited to a minigolf birthday party, Malik is excited. But he worries about his Number Thoughts. If he has to take four tries to get the ball in the hole, he’ll never win―and everyone might make fun of him. Can Malik say "no" to his Number Thoughts?" (Rompella, 2022).
- Ages 4-8
- Talks about OCD
"Ben loves baseball. He loves the lines of diamond-shaped field and the dome of the pitcher's mound. What Ben doesn't like is reading. Ben has dyslexia, which means letters and sounds get jumbled up in his brain, and then the words don't make sense. But when Ben starts looking at reading like he looks at baseball, he realizes that if he keeps trying, he can overcome any obstacle that comes his way. In this empowering story by California Governor Gavin Newsom, inspired by his own childhood diagnosis of dyslexia, readers will learn that kids with the determination to try (and try again) can do big things.*This book is set in a font specifically designed to be easier for people with dyslexia to read" (Newsom, & Shamir, 2021).
- Ages 4-8
- Talks about Dyslexia
- Side character has Black background.
Figure 228
Big Hit Book Cover
Note. Source: [Big Hit Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 229
Thunder and Noise Book Cover
Note. Source: [Thunder and Noise Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"When the world gets too loud and chaotic, a young boy’s grandfather helps him listen with wonder instead. Kids laughing, sneakers squeaking, balls bouncing—for Thunder, the sounds of the school day often brew into overwhelming noise storms. But when Thunder’s mosom asks him what he hears on an urban nature walk, Thunder starts to understand how sounds like bird wings flapping and rushing water can help him feel calm and connected" (Ausloos & Ausloos, 2021).
- Ages 4-7
- Cree Background
- Talks about Noise Sensitivity
- Activity Idea) If possible take your client on a walk outside.
"Leah's Voice is a story that touches on the difficulties children encounter when they meet a child with autism or special needs. Siblings may find it hard to explain to their friends, or feel disappointed when others aren't understanding. This book tells the story of two sisters facing these challenges. Through her kindness and devotion, one sister teaches by example the importance of including everyone and showing acceptance" (Demonia, 2012).
- Ages 4-7
- Talks about Austism Spectrum Disorder
Figure 230
Leah's Voice Book Cover
Note. Source: [Leah's Voice Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 231
Sam Miracle Book Cover
Note. Source: [Sam Miracle Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"A new fantasy-adventure trilogy about a misfit twelve-year-old with a dangerous destiny to fulfill, a mystical time walker who is sent to protect him, and a maniacal villain with a deadly vendetta that began two hundred years ago in the heart of the Old West.Sam Miracle’s life is made up of dreams that come to him when he’s wide awake. They take him to another place and time, where he’s a courageous, legendary hero instead of a foster kid with two bad arms that can barely move. Sometimes these dreams feel so real, they seem like forgotten memories. And sometimes they make him believe that his arms might come alive again.But Sam is about to discover that the world he knows and the world he imagines are separated by one thing: time. And that separation is only an illusion. The laws of time can be bent and shifted by people with special magic that allows them to travel through the past, present, and future. One of these “time walkers” is out to protect Sam so that he can accept his greatest destiny, and another is out to kill him so that a prophecy will never be fulfilled. However, it’s an adventurous girl named Glory and two peculiar snakes who show Sam the way through the dark paths of yesterday to help him make sure there will be a tomorrow for every last person on earth" (Wilson, 2016).
- Ages 8-12
- Talks about Foster care and Disability
- This book should be read after long consideration as it can show an unrealistic point of view.
- First Book in the "Outlaws of Time" Series.
"Jamie Lee just wants to be normal but his ADHD isn't making it easy. If only he could control his butterfly mind then he'd have friends, be able to keep out of trouble, live with his mum and not be sent to stay with his dad. Elin Watts just wants to be perfect. If she could be the best student and daughter possible, then maybe her dad would leave his new family and come back to Glasgow to live with Elin and her mum, happily ever after. When Jamie and Elin's families blend, the polar opposites of chaotic Jamie and ordered Elin collide. As their lives spiral out of control, Jamie and Elin discover that they're actually more alike than they'd admit. Maybe there's no such thing as normal, or perfect. And perhaps, just like families, happy-ever-afters come in all shapes and sizes" (Williamson, 2019).
- Ages 10+
- Scotland Background
- Talks about ADHD and Divorce.
Figure 232
Butterfly Mind Book Cover
Note. Source: [Butterfly Mind Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 233
Finding Perfect Book Cover
Note. Source: [Finding Perfect Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"To Molly Nathans, perfect is:
•The number four
•The tip of a newly sharpened number two pencil
•A crisp, white pad of paper
•Her neatly aligned glass animal figurines
What’s not perfect is Molly’s mother leaving the family to take a faraway job with the promise to return in one year. Molly knows that promises are often broken, so she hatches a plan to bring her mother home: Win the Lakeville Middle School Slam Poetry Contest. The winner is honored at a fancy banquet with table cloths. Molly’s sure her mother would never miss that. Right…? But as time goes on, writing and reciting slam poetry become harder. Actually, everything becomes harder as new habits appear, and counting, cleaning, and organizing are not enough to keep Molly’s world from spinning out of control" (Swartz, 2016).
- Ages 8-12
- Talks about OCD and Parental Abandonment.
"Mafalda is thirteen and has been blind since she was ten. Her best friend is the cheerfully rule-breaking Filippo, and she is accompanied everywhere by Ottimo Turcaret, her devoted cat. Mafalda is always looking on the bright side, thinking of things she can do both now and in the future despite her loss of sight. But other things are worrying her too: her father who has lost his job and is now in the depths of depression, refusing to leave his bed; and the horrible girl in school, Debbie, who seems very interested in Filippo . . . So now Mafalda has to start thinking what Filippo really means to her . . .Then two new adults come into her life: Elsa, a homeless young woman, and Nino, the elderly upstairs neighbour with an awful temper and a great passion for Charles Dickens. Little by little, Mafalda learns their stories, and how their lives had also been shaped by brave and difficult choices" (Peretti, 2022).
- Ages 8-12
- Main Character is Blind, Stargardt Disease.
- Talks about Disability, Homelessness, Financial Problems, and Bullying.
- Second book in "The Cherry Tree" Series.
Figure 234
Filippo and me Book Cover
Note. Source: [Filippo and me Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 235
The Distance Between Book Cover
Note. Source: [The Distance Between Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"Mafalda is a nine-year-old girl who knows one thing: some time in the next six months her sight will fail completely. Can Mafalda find a way through a seemingly dark future and still go to school, play soccer and look after her beloved cat? With the help of her family, and her friends, Mafalda needs to discover the things that will be important to her when her sight has failed" (Peretti, 2018).
- Ages 8-12
- Main Character is Blind, Stargardt Disease.
- First book in "The Cherry Tree" Series.
"Jewel is on the run from an abusive home situation and furtively living at school. After Maya discovers her classmate’s secret, should she tell? Or can she help Jewel on her own? Thirteen-year-old Jewel has been holding her life together ever since her older sister, Charmaine, suddenly left home with no forwarding address. She tried to find Charmaine once, but that only brought her family to the attention of the police. Now Jewel keeps her head down at school, looks after her special-needs brother as well as she can, and tries to steer clear of her parents and their shady friends. When her father’s friend comes into her bedroom one night, Jewel finally understands why Charmaine had to leave home. Soon she is on the run herself. When her food runs out, Jewel chances upon a new place to live ― the cupboard of the art room at school. It turns out to be surprisingly easy to live under the radar when you have perfected the art of being almost invisible. That is, until Jewel’s classmates, Maya and Lily, discover her washing her hair in the girls’ washroom at school and making breakfast in the lunchroom. They take her on as their project, finding her places to sleep, fixing her hair and wardrobe ― even as they can’t quite understand her terror, or why she is so afraid of seeking adult help. But the girls help keep Jewel and her secret safe ― until they no longer can" (Garvie, 2018).
- Ages 11+
- Talks about Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Disability.
- Disabled Brother.
Figure 236
Almost Invisible Book Cover
Note. Source: [Almost Invisible Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"Back in his old basketball league, before the car accident, thirteen-year-old Carlos Cooper owned the court, sprinting and jumping and lighting up the scoreboard as his opponents (and teammates) watched in amazement. But now, Carlos feels completely out of his league on his new wheelchair basketball team, the Rollin' Rats. After all, how can he make a layup when he's still struggling to learn how to dribble?But when the city's crooked mayor threatens to tear down the Rollin' Rats' gym, Carlos realizes that he can't stay on the sidelines forever. Because without a gym, the team can't practice, and if they can't practice, they can kiss their state tournament dreams goodbye. If Carlos is going to learn what it truly means to be part of a team and help his new friends save their season, he'll have to either go all-in . . . or get out" (Ostler, 2019).
- Ages 8-12
- Main character is in a wheelchair
- Talks about a car accident
Figure 237
Bouncing Back Book Cover
Note. Source: [Bouncing Back Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 238
For a Whale Book Cover
Note.Source: [For a Whale Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"In the spirit of modern-day classics like Fish in a Tree and Counting by 7s comes the Schneider Family Book Award-winning story of a deaf girl's connection to a whale whose song can't be heard by his species, and the journey she takes to help him. From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. If you've ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be" (Kelly, 2019).
- Ages 8-12
- Main character is Deaf.
"Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason’s learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason’s best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family’s orchard. An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can’t understand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day.Both Mason and his new friend, tiny Calvin Chumsky, are relentlessly bullied by the other boys in their neighborhood, so they create an underground club space for themselves. When Calvin goes missing, Mason finds himself in trouble again. He’s desperate to figure out what happened to Calvin, and eventually, Benny.But will anyone believe him?" (Connor, 2018).
- Ages 8-12
- Talks about Disability, Loss and Bullying.
Figure 240
Mason Buttle Book Cover
Note.Source: [Mason Buttle Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
"Ellie is so not the pageant type. They’re Coralee’s thing, and Ellie is happy to let her talented friend shine in the spotlight. But what’s she supposed to do when Coralee asks her to enter a beauty pageant, and their other best friend, Bert, volunteers to be their manager? Then again, how else is she going to get through this summer with her dad, who barely knows her, while her mom is off on her honeymoon with Ellie’s amazing gym teacher? Ellie decides she has nothing to lose.
There’s only one the director of the pageant seems determined to put Ellie and her wheelchair front and center. So it’s up to Ellie to figure out a way to do it on her own terms and make sure her friendships don’t fall apart along the way. Through it all, from thrift store deep dives to disastrous dance routines, she begins to form her own definition of beauty and what it means to really be seen" (Sumner, 2023).
- Ages 10-13
- Wheelchair user
- Main Character has Cerebal Palsy
- Talks about Bodily Differences
- Sequel to Roll with it
- Activity Idea) Create a dance routine with your Client.
Note. Source: [Roll with it Book Cover, n.d]. Retrieved from GoodReads.
Figure 63
Roll with it Book Cover
"Ellie’s a girl who tells it like it is. That surprises some people, who see a kid in a wheelchair and think she’s going to be all sunshine and cuddles. The thing is, Ellie has big dreams: She might be eating Stouffer’s for dinner, but one day she’s going to be a professional baker. If she’s not writing fan letters to her favorite celebrity chefs, she’s practicing recipes on her well-meaning, if overworked, mother.
But when Ellie and her mom move so they can help take care of her ailing grandpa, Ellie has to start all over again in a new town at a new school. Except she’s not just the new kid—she’s the new kid in the wheelchair who lives in the trailer park on the wrong side of town. It all feels like one challenge too many, until Ellie starts to make her first-ever friends. Now she just has to convince her mom that this town might just be the best thing that ever happened to them" (Sumner, 2019).
-Ages 10-13
- Wheelchair User
- Main character has Cerebral Palsy
- Talk about Bodily Difference and Disability
- Activity Idea) If possible bake or cook something with your client.
- Prequel to the book "Time to Roll"
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