Recognising Inclusion

In this week's blog, I am going to let myself go a little off-script. I'm taking a brief interlude from looking at different ways of including disability in children's books and instead want to talk about a very relevant book award.

I'm currently on the panel of the 'Inclusive Children's Book Award', which is administered by nasen, the National Association of Special Educational Needs. This is the only UK award aiming to recognise children's books which feature positive images or messages about disability. It's a fascinating award to be involved in and also a great way to make sure I haven't missed any gems during the previous year.

The closing date for this past year was 31 December, so this month we met at nasen HQ in Tamworth to have an initial browse through the rich pickings that had arrived from publishers. Well, I say 'rich pickings' but actually it was more a case of quality over quantity. Just 20 eligible entries! Given the fact that there are around 10,000 children's books published each year, surely I can be forgiven for feeling more than a touch disenchanted? Especially when projects such as the In the Picture initiative worked so hard to raise the profile of this need?

There is clearly so much more work to be done. I hope with your help and all the activity and enthusiasm we are generating in this area, perhaps next year will be different! 

And in the meantime, I thought this an opportune moment to sing the praises of a few previous 'class acts' discovered by the award. They are exactly what this blog is all about - wonderful children's books, well written and with great appeal to their target audience, and which just happen to include a disabled character. 

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd and published by David Fickling Books

This is an ingenious and highly entertaining read, in which a boy's unusual way of viewing the world proves the key to solving an intriguing mystery. On a day out in London, Ted's cousin Salim cheerfully boards a pod of the London Eye before inexplicably failing to emerge at the end of the flight. Ted and his sister Kat are determined to uncover the truth behind his disappearance.  Ted is a highly likeable and fully-dimensional character, who describes himself as having a 'funny brain' (assumed to indicate Asperger's Syndrome).

It's Raining! It's Pouring! We're Exploring! By Polly Peters and Jess Stockham and published by Child's Play

Child's Play are the masters of early years books which reflect our diverse society. Their books feature hearing aids, walking aids, glasses, eye patches - you name it. So it is no wonder that they are so often featured in the shortlists of this award.  In this title, one of my favourites, a rainy day means three children have to create an adventure indoors instead. The story is all about imaginative play, and contains no textual reference to disability, but scattered through the pages are inclusive images such a child using an asthma inhaler, another wearing glasses, a protective helmet and a range of subtle signs that one of the parents uses mobility aids. 

Best Friends by Mark Chambers and published by Tango Books

This is a visually stunning celebration of friendship and imaginative play. Two friends (one of whom uses a wheelchair) climb mountains, run races and even fly to the moon! In each image we see a genuine sense of equality between the two characters, and there are lovely touches such as his wheelchair packed neatly away at the back of the spaceship as its owner pilots the craft!

Looking After Louis by Lesley Ely and published by Frances Lincoln

This title is rather different from those cited so far, as it is explicitly 'about' disability. It highlights the challenges of making classroom life fully inclusive, but does so in a way which ensures that this is a book which is relevant to anyone and everyone. The pupils in this particular school learn that sometimes the usual rules and activities have to be adapted to ensure that everyone can be fully included. It's a book that promotes acceptance and sensitivity in a beautiful and non-sentimental way.  

This year's winner will be announced on 24 May 2011 and you can find out more about the awards here