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: January

Up and Down Mum

Author: Summer Macon

Everyone has good days and bad days, but in some cases, it is far more extreme. This powerful and moving portrayal of a parent with Bipolar Disorder is laced with hope and reassurance. An inspired picture book, created in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust.

Blogs and articles on disability and books

Samantha Baines on challenging hearing loss stereotypes in her book Harriet Versus the Galaxy 06/11/2019

Comedian and author Samantha Baines has written a super-fun adventure for children, wit...
Writing fiction about ADHD: 'I want children to see that it doesn’t have to be a negative thing' 02/10/2019

October is ADHD Awareness Month. Here, author Victoria Williamson talks to Alex Strick ...

Find more Bookmark blogs

Books with positive images of disability

See the 12 best of the year

Here are children's books useful for discussing disability and inclusive issues with young readers.

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 2019-20 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.
Creating a spark with Professional Crocodile

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