Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.
As a disabled kid, I rarely saw myself in books. Almost every book that I read featured a nondisabled main character going on adventures. When a disabled character did show up, they were usually there to make the protagonist learn something and look good. But several decades later, there are more books for kids and teens featuring disabled characters than ever before. That’s one of the reasons I love the Schneider Family Book Awards.
Dr. Katherine Schneider and her family endowed this American Library Association Award in 2003. The Schneider Family Book Awards were created to “honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.” They have categories for children, middle grade, and teens, highlighting literature for young people of all ages.
Over the years, the Schneider Family Books Awards have become an invaluable resource for children’s disability literature. Librarians, teachers, and book enthusiasts use the awards to find new-to-them books to share with the young people in their lives. Even though I’m constantly on the lookout for titles that feature disability, there’s always a title I’ve never heard of on their awards list.
Maybe you’re new to the awards, so to get you started, here is a little round of some of the titles who have won or been named an honor book by the Schneider Family Book Awards.
As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds
Genie and his older brother Ernie go to visit their grandparents in Virginia. Once there, they realize that their grandfather is blind. Both boys begin to learn more about their grandparents, themselves, and the people around them. There’s twists and turns, forbidden doorways, and a mysterious girl who Ernie finds himself drawn to, despite Genie’s protests.
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Louder Than Hunger by John Schu
When Jake’s mother and grandmother insist that he go to inpatient care for an eating disorder, Jake goes but refuses to participate. He insists he doesn’t have a problem. But there’s always that voice that tells him that food is the enemy and that he doesn’t deserve food. How could anyone love a boy who eats so much? As Jake works through the voice’s lies, we get to know Jake, his worries, his dreams, and everything in between.
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare Lezotte
Mary lives in Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard in 1805. While Mary can’t hear, she’s not alone. Whether you can hear or not, everyone signs in Chilmark. But when a scientist arrives on the island and kidnaps Mary, she quickly learns that people on the mainland think she’s quite different. They act as if there’s something wrong with her. But Mary knows there’s nothing wrong with her, and as the plot unfolds, she holds that truth close to her heart.
Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester
Veró and her family moved from Peru to the U.S. in part to help her get better care for her hip dysplasia. While Veró is incredibly grateful, she does wish for more freedom. Her parents always want her to be so careful. So when Veró sees a call for mermaid performers at the local tourist attraction, Mermaid Cove, she sneaks off to try out for one of the roles.
A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott
When Hudson Talbott was a boy, he didn’t understand why drawing came so easy, but words seemed to slither through his brain. This picture book gives readers a snapshot of what it’s like to live with dyslexia. The illustrations are stunning and creatively communicate what it’s like to feel smothered by words you can’t read.
What Happened to You? by James Catchpole, Illustrated by Karen George
James grew up as a boy with one leg. To him, it was normal, but all the other kids just wanted to know what happened to him. This picture book captures that exhaustion and exasperation young James felt when facing all of these questions. Who cares what happened to his leg, he thinks. He just wants to play like all of the other kids.
Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor and Rafael López
This picture book features 13 fictional children with different disabilities. Among them are a child with diabetes and another with asthma. With the introduction of each child, readers are encouraged to “just ask” if they’re curious about someone. These stories normalize disabilities, presenting them as just another way to exist in the world. Just Ask also educates children that not everyone is comfortable with questions or explaining their differences. It’s an excellent conversation starter that adults can use to have conversations with the children in their lives.
If you’re looking for even more disability literature, check out Where to Start Reading About Disability and Disability Books for Teens and Kids.
English (US) · 