Bookmark: disability and books

Looking for information on disability and children's books? Bookmark is full of advice and book recommendations for families, teachers, librarians, authors and publishers.

For more information about Bookmark, contact BookTrust's disability consultant Alexandra Strick.

Bookmark Book of the Month: September

Stretch Your Confidence

Author: Beth Cox and Natalie Costa Illustrator: Vicky Barker

With a lightness of touch, this book encourages children to record their feelings, as they consider how they interact with others. A perfect way to help any child develop confidence and support good mental health through fun activities.

Blogs and articles on disability and books

Making stories available for everyone: The book award for children with little or no sight 22/07/2019

Find out how Anne Fine used her time as Waterstones Children's Laureate to improve acce...
Times really ARE changing: How YA books are becoming more inclusive 13/07/2019

A few years ago, Megan Quibell was frustrated at a lack of inclusive books for young pe...

Find more Bookmark blogs

Autism: recommended children's books

Check out these books

We believe that books are a great way to raise awareness and improve understanding of different experiences. This booklist aims to provide a range of children's and teens' books that feature characters who are on the autistic spectrum or have Asperger’s.

In this section

Bookmark advice for:

Illustration of a deaf mother with her deaf child

Families, teachers and librarians

Advice on how to find inclusive books and why positive images of disability matter.

Take a look

and

Illustration of a disabled child playing with their dog

Writers, illustrators and publishers

Top tips on including positive images of disability in books, and what else the publishing industry can do to help.

Take a look

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Free books for children with additional needs

Bookstart extra packs

Our Bookstart programme gives free books to children under five with additional needs, whether your child is deaf (Bookshine), blind/partially sighted (Booktouch) or has a condition affecting their fine motor skills (Bookstart Star).

Get books and resources for special schools

Find out more about Spark

Spark is a programme for special schools based in England, designed to inspire a love of stories and books in children with additional needs.

Resources for special educational needs

Special School Library Pack Guide 2018/19

This pack provides you with a selection of top-quality titles to support your students in reading for enjoyment, disc...
Creating a spark with Professional Crocodile

This Spark resource uses Professional Crocodile by Giovanna Zoboli and Mariachiara Di Giorgio as a springboard for a ...