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: May

Major and Mynah

Author: Karen Owen

When random items are being stolen from around the neighbourhood, nine year-old Callie and her best friend Grace set out to catch the thief. The arrival of a stray bird on the scene adds an extra tier of mystery and magic, acquiring Callie’s family a new pet and her detective team a rather unusual sidekick.

Blogs and articles on disability and books

Selective Mutism - What I learnt while writing my new book Call Me Lion 09/06/2022

Children’s Author, Camilla Chester, discusses the research process for her book, Call M...
'I write the stories I wanted to read when I was younger': Author Karen Owen on writing about hearing loss 01/06/2022

Author of the fabulous Major and Mynah, Karen Owen talks about why she writes and about...

Find more Bookmark blogs

'There is still a stigma around dyslexia'

Emily Rowland illustration of boy reading at home

Parent and author Malcolm Duffy explores the topic

Malcolm Duffy talks about his oldest daughter's diagnosis of dyslexia in secondary school, and why the condition is at the forefront of the prize-winning author's third novel, Read Between the Lines.

Mental Health

Explore our carefully-chosen booklists, blogs, and resources to promote mental health and wellbeing in children and adults.

Click here

Woman and pre-school boy reading together

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 2021-22 welcome guide

This guide is designed to support the books with a variety of ideas and advice to help you make the most of each title.
Special School Library Pack Posters 2021-22

Special School Library Pack posters 2020-21 for your classroom or library.