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We understand the importance of reading and the positive impact it can have on the development and well-being of all children, especially those with special needs. Our goal is to make a wide selection of books available to these children and their parents, so that they can enjoy the benefits of reading together.
Cory Stories: A Kid’s Book About Living With ADHD
Book For: ADHD
Ages: 6-11 Yrs
Publisher: Magination Press
Cory tells readers about himself in this picture book with black-and-white illustrations. Cory says that sometimes kids make fun of him and he isn’t sure why. “Sometimes my whole body falls off the chair!” But readers also learn that Cory has persevered, concentrating in karate class, making friends at bowling club, and helping other kids with math. The important parting message: “Nobody needs to be good at everything. But I found out that I am good at a lot of things.”
I Can’t Sit Still! Living With ADHD
Book For: ADHD
Ages: 5-9 Yrs
Publisher: B.E.S. Publishing
In this picture book’s first-person account, Lucas learns thatADHD is the reason he shouts out the answer to math problems in class and has a hard time following the rules in kickball. His doctor gives him medicine and strategies that help him improve. “It provides a clear explanation of common symptoms and interventions in kid-friendly terms,” says an expert from the Child Mind Institute. You’ll also appreciate the parent’s guide at the end of the book.
Why Can’t Jimmy Sit Still?
Book For: ADHD
Ages: 4-8 Yrs
Publisher: New Horizon Press
Seven-year-old Jimmy shouts out answers at school, gets carried away at recess, and is distracted when he’s doing homework. He doesn’t understand why he can’t settle down until his parents take him to the doctor and he finds out he has ADHD. This book is written by a psychologist who discusses common symptoms in an age-appropriate way and makes it clear that ADHD isn’t a child’s fault.
Don’t Feed the WorryBug
Book For: Anxiety
Ages: 3-8 Yrs
Publisher: Monsters in My Head
In this whimsical rhyming book, Wince, the monster of worries, learns that the more he worries, the more the pesky WorryBug grows. Eventually the WorryBug grows so big that it can’t be ignored, and Wince knows he needs to do something. The book does a good job of illustrating how anxiety can become overwhelming and teaches kids how they can take charge of their anxiety.
The Fix-It Friends: Have No Fear!
Book For: Anxiety
Ages: 7-10 Yrs
Publisher: Imprint
Seven-year-old Veronica wants to help her classmate Maya conquer her fear of bugs, which is preventing her from playing at recess. Veronica comes up with a step-by-step plan that starts with drawing a spider. “Showing gradual exposure to anxieties is a great approach,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute.
Hector’s Favorite Place
Book For: Anxiety
Ages: 4-8 Yrs
Publisher: Imprint
A cute hedgehog turns down ice-skating and playing in the snow with his animal friends because of his worries. “What if he had forgotten how to skate? He could fall and hurt himself.” When Hector receives a fun invitation to the Winter Forest Party, he hesitates for a while, and then realizes that he has to be brave. “It’s an adorable story,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute. “I like that Hector does a little more, and then a little more, and so on.”
How Big Are Your Worries Little Bear?
Ages: Anxiety
Ages: 6-10 Yrs
Publisher: Educate2Empower Publishing
Anxious about school, soccer practice, and monsters under his bed, baby bear worried day and night, despite his family telling him to stop worrying. But when his mom began encouraging him to talk about and even draw out his worries, the feelings began to subside. “I like that the book emphasizes the importance of sharing your thoughts and feelings,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute. Another plus: The book suggests questions that you can ask your child as you’re reading together.
Pilar’s Worries
Book For: Anxiety
Ages: 4-8 Yrs
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
In this new picture book, Pilar lives and breathes ballet — she even does pliés while brushing her teeth. But auditioning for the winter ballet performance makes her feel scared, and she almost doesn’t go. By using smart coping techniques, like positive thinking and talking with her friends, she’s able to overcome her fears. Bravo!
What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety
Book For: Anxiety
Ages: 6-12 Yrs
Publisher: Magination Press
Designed for kids and parents to read together, this nine-chapter behavior therapy workbook covers topics like “How Do Worries Get Started?” and “Keeping Worries Away.” Suggestions include relaxation exercises and setting up a designated “Worry Time.” Several pages encourage kids to draw or write about their worries. The brilliant final page requests that kids draw a picture of themselves without worries.
Armond Goes to a Party: A Book About Asperger’s and Friendship
Book For: Autism
Ages: 4-8 Yrs
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Co-written by a boy with Asperger’s, this picture book “gives a simple understanding of why children with Asperger’s struggle to attend parties, and talks about the importance of learning flexibility,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute. Readers may relate to Armond’s fear of balloons popping and not being able to think of anything to say. In the end, Armond admits to his mom that the party was hard, but he’s glad he went.Designed for kids and parents to read together, this nine-chapter behavior therapy workbook covers topics like “How Do Worries Get Started?” and “Keeping Worries Away.” Suggestions include relaxation exercises and setting up a designated “Worry Time.” Several pages encourage kids to draw or write about their worries. The brilliant final page requests that kids draw a picture of themselves without worries.
A Boy Called Bat
Book For: Autism
Ages: 6-10 Yrs
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
On the surface, it’s a sweet boy-wants-pet story. Bixby’s (aka Bat’s) mom is a veterinarian, and she brings home a baby skunk that he desperately wants to keep. But readers with autism may relate to chatter about itchy and uncomfortable clothes, sticking with routines, and only having friends who are grown-ups. “It does a wonderful job of describing the day-to-day experience of high-functioning children with ASD,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute.
A Whole New Ballgame: A Rip and Red Book
Book For: Autism
Ages: 6-10 Yrs
Publisher: Square Fish
In the first book of a series, best friends Rip and Red have just started fifth grade. Red has autism, and Rip doesn’t. Their common passion: basketball. Many chapters like “Hoops Madness” and “Bulldozed and Blitzed” focus on their adventures on the school’s b-ball team. “It’s not a book that’s obviously about autism,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute. “It’s a fun, lighthearted story with characters that will seem very relatable to tweens.”
Am I a Bully?
Book For: Bullying
Ages: 6-9 Yrs
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Toby makes his friends laugh when he teases a classmate over his weird clothes. He’s just trying to be funny and he isn’t beating anyone up, so he can’t be a bully — can he? This independently published paperback helps children recognize when teasing crosses the line into bullying.
Chrysanthemum
Book For: Bullying
Ages: 4-8 Yrs
Publisher: Mulberry Books
This sweet story prepares kids for how short-lived teasing can be. On the first day of school, Victoria picks on Chrysanthemum because she has the same name as a flower, and Chrysanthemum wilts under the ridicule. Then the students learn that a teacher has a similar name, and all of a sudden Chrysanthemum is cool.
Tease Monster: A Book About Teasing vs. Bullying
Book For: Bullying
Ages: 5-10 Yrs
Publisher: Boys Town Press
Particularly good for an anxious or literal child, this rhyming book helps distinguish between teasing and bullying. “There are two types of teasing: the nice and the mean,” Cook writes. “You think that everyone’s against you, but it’s not like it seems.” Readers will learn strategies for responding to both good-natured teasing and bullying.
Warp Speed
Book For: Bullying
Ages: 8-12 Yrs
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
In a fast-paced chapter book that will appeal to reluctant readers, Marley thinks seventh grade will be boring until he draws attention from the school bully. Digger pushes Marley down in the hallway, and the drama unfolds. “It’s a very relatable story for kids who feel like outsiders,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute. Bonus: If your child is a fan of Star Wars, there are loads of references.
Wonder
Book For: Bullying
Ages: 8+ Yrs
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
In this popular chapter book that spurred the “Choose Kind” movement in classrooms, a boy with a facial deformity switches to a mainstream school for the fifth grade and is bullied. “But he has a strong network of family and friends to help him overcome bullying,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute. “Ultimately, the readers will see how differences should be celebrated.”
Can I Catch It Like a Cold? Coping With a Parent’s Depression
Book For: Depression
Ages: 7-12 Yrs
Publisher: Tundra Books
Alex’s dad doesn’t work anymore and just wants to sleep all the time. When Alex finds out why — that he’s suffering from depression — he confides in his friend Anna. She tells him that her mom has depression too, and she sees a therapist to help her feel better. “I like that it promotes the benefits of therapy for the entire family,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute.
My Family Divided: One Girl’s Journey of Home, Loss, and Hope
Book For: Depression
Ages: 12+ Yrs
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
An actress on TV shows such as Orange Is the New Black, Guerrero shares the heartbreaking story of her Colombian parents being deported when she was 14. She also reveals how she battled depression, and had suicidal thoughts in her early 20s. “I wanted so badly to prove that I could take care of myself. That I didn’t need anyone. That I was grown-up,” she writes. “By the time I admitted to myself that I did still need others, I had pushed away the people I loved.”
Back to Front and Upside Down!
Book For: Dyslexia
Ages: 4-8 Yrs
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
This sweet picture book follows Stan, a puppy, and his animal classmates. Stan’s letters come out “back to front and upside down, and some didn’t look like letters at all,” but he’s afraid to ask his teacher for help because he thinks the other kids will laugh at him. When he finally does, he learns that with help — and lots of practice — he can succeed. “The book sends the positive message that things will get better with a bit of hard work,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute.
Fish in a Tree
Book For: Dyslexia
Ages: 8-12 Yrs
Publisher: Puffin Books
This inspirational chapter book captures the challenges students withdyslexia face daily, not just in reading but in self-esteem. The main character, Ally, has been able to hide her inability to read in every school — until now. “The arc of the story changes when Ally makes friends and finally finds a teacher who recognizes her struggles and how smart she is,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute.