We'll want a list of books we can pass in Dexter's sisters' directions... books to help them see they are not the only ones with a brother who struggles to communicate and move independently.
We'll need a list of books we might be able to have read at Dexter's pre-school... books to help his peers better understand his cerebral palsy and vision impairment.
And, occasionally, we'll need books for ourselves... books for research and books to remind us we are not alone in this tough new adventure.
So, we've tripped through one website and another, collecting a list of books... books about people with special needs... books with brave, stubborn, strong, resilient, cheeky, loving and confident characters, who also have a disability.
We've put them into categories, though some of them cross over a few categories, just like Dexter.
We sorted the books as: cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, vision impairments, hearing impairments, autism/Aspergers, wheelchairs, limb differences and 'various'.
This post contains the books relating to characters with either vision or hearing impairments. To go to the books with the other books, click on the links:
limb differences
Down syndrome
cerebral palsy
autism and Aspergers
wheelchairs
various (muscular dystrophy, facial deformity, ADHD)
Feel free to let us know of other great books out there.
Unlike her brothers and sisters, Anthea cannot see, so when they all go to the beach one day, their mother tells them to take care of her.
While they are all playing on the sand, a thick fog rolls in from the ocean. Suddenly it's up to Anthea to get everyone home safely.
Written by the legendary Margaret Mahy and with artwork by master illustrator Gavin Bishop, this is a beautifully told story that will give readers young and old a new perspective on blindness. Mahy and Bishop have both donated their royalties for this project to the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind.
Jacob is in a hurry—a really big hurry—to get to the store to buy a special toy. There's only one left, and if he doesn't get to it soon, he'll never forgive his mom and dad for making him late. Strangers often stop Jacob's parents on the street to ask about him. See, Jacob is unusual: He has an eye patch. Jacob knows people like to ask questions, but do they have to ask right now?
Luckily, Jacob gets to the store in time, and he meets a new friend who has something different, too. In the end, Jacob's journey makes him more aware of other people's feelings.
In this story of friendship, loyalty, and trust, Sarah and her guide dog, Perry, go about their busy day. Perry helps Sarah go shopping, to the post office, and take the train to school. Sarah, a blind musician and teacher, entertains the children and tells them about the time she and Perry walked from Boston to New York to show the world what a blind person can accomplish with the help of a guide dog like Perry.
This true story of an amazing black Labrador retriever and his owner will inspire young readers to follow their own dreams and give them the courage to achieve anything.
Lucy wants to make a picture for her grandpa, but she doesn't want to use the brightly coloured paints with the rest of the children. Lucy's grandpa is blind, so Lucy makes him a very special picture with twigs, feather, velvet and sand - a picture he can feel with his fingers. This heart-warming story about a little girl's imagination and the love between grandchild and grandparent is perfect for sharing with young children.
Mole had never seen the sunrise. "
I'd love to see it," he said.
When his good friends, Vole, Rabbit, Squirrel and Sparrow take him down to the lake to show him the sunrise, their vivid descriptions help him to see it in his mind and he is able to imagine the rising sun and experience its beauty for himself.
The kids at school want to know why Becca is wearing glasses and a patch. Instead of telling them she has amblyopia, Becca leads her friends on imaginative adventures to explain her new fashion accessory. Mitch Vane's illustrations capture the spunky exuberance of this resourceful heroine.
Doubles are good for lots of things—double scoops of ice cream, double features at the movies. But double vision is NOT a good kind of double. In fact, it can make kindergarten kind of hard. Ginny sees double chairs at reading circle and double words in her books. She knows that only half of what she sees is real, but which half? The solution to her problem is wondrously simple: an eye patch! Ginny becomes the pirate of kindergarten. With the help of her pirate patch, Ginny can read, run, and even snip her scissors with double the speed! Vibrant illustrations from Lynne Avril capture the realities of what Ginny sees both before and after.
A young woman losing her vision rides the subway with her dog in search of emotional healing.
Freddie finds a fairy, tangled in a tree. Freddie is desperate for a pet, so when he rescues Bessie-Belle and she offers to grant his wishes, he knows just what to ask for. The only problem is that Bessie-Belle can't hear very well, and Freddie tends to mumble, and Freddie is given a net. So they keep trying. Luckily, the Fairy Queen is on hand to explain.
Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson
A young deaf child who loves to run and jump and play is affectionately described by her older sister. This book can give young children an understanding of the fact that deaf children share all the interests of children with normal hearing.
Orla is a boy in a bubble. He can't hear the sounds of the earth. He doesn't answer when his mother and father call his name. The magical Moonbird teaches Orla how to speak with his hands and listen with his eyes—but will his parents understand him? As children are drawn into this fanciful tale about deafness, they will be caught up in the luminous, gem-like illustrations.
Moses and his school friends are deaf, but like most children, they have a lot to say. They communicate in American Sigh Language, using visual signs and facial expressions. This is called signing. And even though they can't hear, they can enjoy many activities through their other senses. Today, Moses and his classmates are going to a concert. Their teacher, Mr. Samuels, has two surprises in store for them, to make this particular concert a special event.
and John Gets Ready For School
Illustrated picture book to build awareness of cochlear implants and hearing aids
Dexter's Learning to See
Dexter's Braille Books
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