Give the Gift of Reading this Holiday Season
By Dr. Janie Avant
It’s that time of year! The perfect time to “gift” a love of reading. Books open our minds and hearts to an ever-changing world of thoughts and ideas. Here at The Nora Project we love books, and we love to share our favorite finds! Read on to learn more about books that will touch on many of the topics and themes that drive TNP and will make perfect gifts for friends and family alike.
Being an includer is key to TNP’s mission! Includers recognize and believe that everyone is important, everyone belongs in community, and everyone should be supported and celebrated. Here are two picture books for younger children that showcase inclusion beautifully.
ID 1: The We Move Together book cover is mostly orange and pictures four people’s legs with their mobility aids like a cane, a power wheelchair, and a service dog. ID 2: The The New Kid Welcome book cover shows a group of kids on a playground excluding another child.
We Move Together by Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, and Eduardo Trejos is an engaging picture book for young readers. Simple text is paired with vibrant, inclusive drawings that capture a variety of activities. Each page shares a story in words and pictures, which can lead to discussions about disability, accessibility, and activism. A free learning guide is available, making this a truly comprehensive resource. Buy it here!
Being an includer is something we talk about a lot at TNP. The New Kid Welcome/Welcome the New Kid by Suzanne Slade is a clever flip-it story book that tells a story from two perspectives - highlighting the do’s and don’ts of how to include someone who is new to your school. Diverse characters, including characters with disabilities, are pictured, but the focus is not on how to include only those with disabilities. Rather, each child is recognized as worthy of being a part of the community, and concrete steps are given to get children started on being an includer. Buy it here!
TNP feels strongly that learning from those with lived experience is vital to the growth and development of aspiring allies. This growth needs to start young, and these books aimed at upper elementary/middle school readers fit the bill!
ID 1: The Can You See Me? book cover shows a girl standing with her hand on her hip, The background and her t-shirt are both blue and white zebra striped. ID 2: The Do You Know Me? book cover shows a girl sitting with a dog, cat, hamster, and bird all around and on her. ID 3: The The Chance to Fly book cover shows a teenage girl singing on a stage as she sits in a wheelchair.
Can You See Me? and Do You Know Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott follow the adventures of Tally, a young girl with autism, as she navigates the often challenging world of middle school. The story line alternates with diary entries written by Tally, giving the reader an opportunity to see things through Tally’s eyes and emotions. Libby Scott has used her own experiences as an autistic person to craft a heartfelt set of novels that are sure to expand the reader’s concepts of friendship, disability, and the fact that there is no such thing as “normal” - a key TNP concept! Buy Can You See Me? and Do You Know Me?
The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker brings the reader into the world of theater as experienced by a middle school student who uses a wheelchair. Readers follow 13-year-old Nat Beacon as she moves to a new town, forming new friendships and reveling in her experiences as a cast member of a kids’ production of Wicked. The author, Ali Stroker, a Tony Award-winning actress, who was the first wheelchair user to appear on Broadway, brings her own experiences and knowledge of the theater world to life in this novel, making this novel absolutely engrossing! Buy it here!
It is important for all readers to be able to make connections to their reading. These books for young adult readers will draw them in and expand their mindset as they hear from and about disabled activists, artists, and more. Each story can be the catalyst for deep discussions and growth for every reader
ID 1: The I am Not a Label book cover shows illustrated portraits of seven disabled thinkers, artists, activists, and athletes. ID 2: The Rolling Warrior book cover shows a young Judy Heumann sitting in her wheelchair and holding a picket sign that reads ‘Rights Now!’ Beside her is text that reads ‘The incredible, sometimes awkward, true story of a rebel girl on wheels who helped spark a revolution.’
I am Not a Label by Cerrie Burnell is an anthology of 34 short biographies about individuals with disabilities and their impact on society. The stories range across the spectrum of artists, activists, athletes, and more, spanning decades. Some biographies may be familiar to readers (Helen Keller and Stephen Hawking, for example). Others may come as a surprise (Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, and Demi Lovato are included in this collection). More names and stories may be brand new. Dive in and learn about disability advocacy and innovation that continues to touch the lives of us all. Buy it here!
Rolling Warrior, the young adult version of Judy Heumann’s compelling memoir, Being Heumann, brings the reader “behind the scenes” of one of the most important civil rights protests in disability history in the U.S. Learn about the entrenched ableism that led to this landmark movement through the voice and experience of Judy Heumann. From her early years of education, through her college experiences and her battle to be allowed to teach in New York City, to her development as a major player and leader in the fight for civil rights for all those with disabilities, this novel is a must-read for those wanting to learn about this critical time in American history. Buy it here!
Team TNP is always expanding our library! Please let us know what you think about the books we have chosen to highlight, and tag us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) with book recommendations for our ever-growing list of stories to read and discuss.
About the Author: Dr. Janie Avant is a retired teacher with 40 years of experience working with children with a wide range of disabilities. She continues to work as an early intervention specialist with children birth to age 3 with disabilities, and is the Inclusive Education Specialist for The Nora Project.
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