Friday, July 24, 2020

Celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act - 7.24.2020




Sunday will be the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act.  It protects those with disabilities from discrimination by state, local, and national governments.  Like all laws, it didn't come easy and many people had to fight for it to become a reality.


Earlier this summer I covered two books that celebrate some landmark events for people with disabilities.  You can find the post here.



All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything
All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything
written by Annette Bay Pimentel
illustrated by Nabi H. Ali

Be sure to find this picture book to learn more about 
how the Americans With Disabilities Act came to be.



A Sporting Chance: How Paralympics Founder Ludwig Guttmann Saved Lives with Sports
A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games
written by Lori Alexander
illustrated by Allan Drummond

This middle grade nonfiction book explains 
the beginnings of the Paralympic Games.


As the parent of a child with a physical disability, it is so important for readers to see themselves within the pages of stories.  It has meant a lot to her to see kids who have challenges they are working through.  What is interesting is how she sees able-readers react to these stories.  A word that she, and others in the disabled community despise, is the word inspiring.  Often after reading books that have a disabled character, a reader may say that character is so inspiring.  To the disabled community, this is an ableist view.  No one calls an abled person inspiring for doing what they always do in a day.  So why is it when a disabled person does this, with or without a challenge, it becomes inspiring.  I find myself thinking about that more - is the inspiration of the character because they are doing something amazing or because they are doing something the able body reader does as well?  Something to think about as you read these stories!

Today I have a roundup of books that feature characters with a disability.  When we talk about representation matters, please remember that includes having a wide range of books that feature a disabled character.  In today's roundup, I have fiction picture books and middle grade.  Another great place to find a list of books is the Schneider Family Book Award page.  This Award is given to a book that features an excellent portrayal of the disability experience.

Picture Books - Disability in KidLit titles

Can I Play Too?
Can I Play Too?
written by Samantha Cotterill

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You
Just Ask
written by Sonia Sotomayor
illustrated by Rafael López

Unstoppable Me
Unstoppable Me
written by Susan Verde
illustrated by Andrew Joyner

A Friend for Henry
A Friend for Henry
written by Jenn Bailey
illustrated by Mika Song

Benji, the Bad Day, and Me
Benji, the Bad Day, and Me
written by Sally J. Pla
illustrated by Ken Min


Middle Grade - Disability in KidLit titles

Lila and Hadley
Lila and Hadley
by Kody Keplinger

Wink
Wink
by Rob Harrell

The Truth According to Blue
The Truth According to Blue
by Eve Yohalem

Tornado Brain
Tornado Brain 
by Cat Patrick

Bouncing Back
Bouncing Back
by Scott Ostler

What Stars Are Made of
What Stars Are Made Of
by Sarah Allen

Charlie & Frog (A Castle-on-the-Hudson Mystery)
Charlie and Frog
by Karen Kane

Planet Earth Is Blue
Planet Earth is Blue
by Nicole Panteleakos

Roll with It
Roll With It
by Jamie Sumner

Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess
Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess
by Shari Green

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
by Dusti Bowling

How to Disappear Completely
How to Disappear Completely
by Ali Standish

Focused
Focused
by Alyson Gerber

The Spinner of Dreams
Spinner of Dreams
by K.A. Reynolds

Song for a Whale
Song of a Whale 
by Lynne Kelly

The War That Saved My Life (The War That Saved My Life, #1)
The War That Saved My Life
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

After Zero
After Zero
by Christina Collins

The Brave
The Brave
by James Bird


Would you like to read All the Way to the Top by Annette Bay Pimentel or a A Sporting Chance by Lori Alexander?  The authors are hosting a giveaway.  Enter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

8 comments:

  1. Great suggestions!

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  2. I have never given the term "inspiring" much thought prior to reading your post. Your explanation makes so much sense. Thank you for opening my eyes. I have many of the books on your list in my classroom library. Fingers crossed that maybe I will get another one to add to the collection.

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  3. Nice roundup. Thank you.

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  4. This is a very helpful round-up. We (Unity Braxton MS Library) are always looking for ways to include all of our students. Thank you!

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  5. So need more books like this in my library. I need to write this day down so I can remember it for the years to come.

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  6. Indeed I would! Very behind with my reading but these all look great. Thanks for the recs, Michele!

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  7. What a great list! There definitely aren't enough books with characters with disabilities. The book I reviewed today, Over the Moon by Natalie Lloyd, has a protagonist (Mallie) with a disability, and she specifically says she hates when people think of her as "inspiring." Thanks for the great post!

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