Gordon. Michael. Jumpin'
Johhny Get Back to Work! (J 616.8589 Go)
Comic-book like illustrations accompany a text in which Johnny describes how
he felt before he understood that he had ADHD and how he eventually received
help and made improvements in his life.
Kraus, Jeanne. Cory
Stories: A Kid's Book About Living with ADHD. (J 616.8589 Kr)
Cory tells how life in elementary school was frustrating until he learned
about ADHD and how to live with it. Appealing comic-strip-like illustrations
accompany the text.
Lasker, Joe. He's
My Brother. (Ej La)
A young boy describes the experiences of his slow learning younger brother
at school and at home. Appropriate for children who have a learning disability,
sensory integration dysfunction, autism, ADD, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome, PDD,
OCD, MR and other disabilities that might be considered an invisible handicap.
Moss, Deborah. Shelley
the Hyperactive Turtle. (J 616.8589 Mo)
After his mother takes him to the doctor, Shelley the turtle begins to understand
why he feels so jumpy and wiggly inside that he can't stay still.
Nemiroff, Marc A. Help
Is on the Way: A Child's Book About ADD. (J 616.8589)
Explains the effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and how it
can be handled.
Rotner, Shelley. The
A.D.D. Book for Kids. (J 616.8589 Ro)
Text and photographs explain what it is like to live with A.D.D., or attention-deficit
disorder. Although the photographs that illustrate the text are of older children,
the text is appropriate for younger children.
Shapiro, Lawrence E. Sometimes
I Drive My Mom Crazy, But I know She's Crazy About Me: A Self-esteem Book
for ADHD Children. (J 616. 8589 Sh)
A child describes how he learns to understand and live well with ADHD with
the help of his parents, teachers, doctors, and friends. Includes behavioral
charts and bibliographic references.
Gantos, Jack. Joey
Pigza Loses Control. (J Ga)
Joey, who is still taking medication to keep him from getting too wired, goes
to spend the summer with the hard-drinking father he has never known and tries
to help the baseball team he coaches win the championship. The second in the
Joey Pigza trilogy.
Gantos, Jack. Joey
Pigza Swallowed the Key. (J Ga)
To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble
paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription meds
wear off. The first of three Joey Pigza novels.
Gantos, Jack. What
Would Joey Do? (J Ga)
Joey tries to keep his life from degenerating into total chaos when his mother
sends him to be home-schooled with a hostile blind girl, his divorced parents
cannot stop fighting, and his grandmother is dying of emphysema. The third
book in the Joey Pigza trilogy.
Harrar, George. Parents
Wanted. (ELL J Ha)
Twelve-year-old Andrew, who has ADD, is adopted by new parents after years
of other foster homes and desperately hopes that he will not mess up the situation.
Shreve, Susan. Trout
and Me. (ELL J Sh)
Ben's troubles at school get progressively worse when he starts hanging around
Trout, a new boy in his fifth grade class, who is also labeled as learning
disabled.
Smith, Mark. Pay
Attention, Slosh! (J 616.8589)
Eight-year-old Josh hates being unable to concentrate or control himself,
but with the help of his parents, his teacher, and a doctor, he learns to
deal with his condition, known as ADHD or attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder. Reads like a first chapter book-generally appropriate for second
and third graders.
Zimmett, Debbie. Eddie
Enough! (J Zi)
Third-grader Eddie Minetti is always getting in trouble at school until his
AD/HD is diagnosed and treated.
Burns, Laura J. The
Case of the Nana-Napper. (ELL YS Wri)
Agatha believes that her Nana has been kidnapped and enlists Orville to help
find out what has happened to her. The second in the Wright and Wong Series.
Eden, Alexandra. Holy
Smoke: A Bones and the Duchess Mystery. (J Ed)
Bones Fatzinger, a former police officer, teams up again with Verity Buscador,
a clever twelve-year-old with Asperger's syndrome, to investigate a mysterious
church fire. The second in the "Bones and the Duchess" mysteries.
Patneaude, David. Colder
Than Ice. (J Pa)
Josh Showalter, an insecure and overweight sixth-grader, hopes for a new start
when he transfers to a school in northern Idaho, but he and his new friends
are soon the target of a cold-hearted bully.
Gray, Carol. My
Social Stories Book. (J 616.85882 My)
Takes autistic children step by step through such activities as using the
toilet, brushing their teeth, and wearing a safety belt in the car.
Amenta, Charles A. Russell
is Extra Special: A Book about Autism for Children. (J 616.85882 Am)
Describes the daily life, likes and dislikes, and habits of Russell Amenta,
who is a happy boy despite being severely autistic.
Day, Alexandra. The
Flight of a Dove. (J 616.85882)
Four-year-old Betsy, an autistic child, begins to improve after she sees a
dove, one of the animals at her preschool, fly into the air. Based on a true
story. Using the books beautiful illustrations, adults may want to retell
this story in their own words rather than read the heavy-handed text.
Edwards, Becky. My
Brother Sammy. (Ej Ed)
A boy describes some of the many feelings he has about his brother Sammy,
who is autistic as he learns to appreciate his brother's way of seeing the
world.
Ely, Lesley. Looking
After Louis. (Ej El)
When a new boy with autism joins their classroom, the children try to understand
his world and to include him in theirs.
Emigh, Karen. Who
Took My Shoe? (ELL Ej Em)
An autistic boy named Brett struggles with the questions "who",
"what", "when", "where", "why" and
"how" when he loses his shoe.
Katz, Illana. Joey
and Sam. (J 618.9289 Ka)
Although it is sometimes hard to have a younger brother like Sam who is autistic,
Joey is proud when Sam's special class performs at a school assembly.
Lasker, Joe. He's
My Brother. (Ej La)
A young boy describes the experiences of his slow learning younger brother
at school and at home. Appropriate for children who have a learning disability,
sensory integration dysfunction, autism, ADD, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome, PDD,
OCD, MR and other disabilities that might be considered an invisible handicap.
Lears, Laurie. Ian's
Walk. (J 618.9289 Le)
A young girl realizes how much she cares for her autistic brother Ian when
he gets lost at the park.
Sullivan, Connor. I
Love My Brother!: A Preschooler's View of Living with a Brother Who has Autism
(J 616.85882 Su)
Four-and-a-half year old Connor Sullivan tells about being the older brother
of two-and-a-half year old Sean, who has autism.
Thompson, Mary. Andy
and His Yellow Frisbee. (J 618.9289 Th)
The new girl at school tries to befriend Andy, an autistic boy who spends
every recess by himself, spinning a yellow frisbee under the watchful eye
of his older sister.
Yamanaka, Lois-Ann. The
Heart's Language. (Ej Ya)
A young boy and his parents learn the language of love.
Choldenko, Gennifer. Al
Capone Does My Shirts. (J Ch)
A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards'
families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new
environment in addition to life with his autistic sister.
Rees, Celia. The
Truth Out There. (J Re)
Thirteen-year-old Josh begins digging into the mystery of his Uncle Patrick,
an autistic boy who died at Josh's age while investigating the crash of a
flying saucer, and a terrible family secret is uncovered.
Rodowsky, Colby. Clay.
(J Ro)
After their parents divorce, eleven-year-old Elsie and her younger brother
Tommy, who is mentally "different," must deal with a terrible secret
that causes them and their mother to move from place to place and stay in
hiding.
Hamilton, DeWitt. Sad
Days, Glad Days: A Story about Depression. (J 362.25 Ha)
Amanda Martha tries to understand her mother's depression, which sometimes
makes her sleep all day, feel sad, or cry.
Helmer, Diana Star. Let's
Talk about Being Sad. (J 152.4 He)
Briefly discusses what makes people feel sad or depressed and some ways to
handle these feelings.
Helmer, Diana Star. Let's
Talk About When Your Mom or Dad Is Unhappy. (J 155.4124 He)
Explains the difference between being sad and being clinically depressed and
discusses ways a child can deal with having a parent who is sad or depressed.
Houk, Randy. Rico's
Hawk : A Green Chimneys Tale. (J 362.25 Ho)
When Rico becomes depressed, his mother takes him to stay at a farm where
he gradually gets better as he helps rehabilitate an injured hawk.
Bang, Molly. Tiger's
Fall. (J Ba)
After eleven-year-old Lupe is partially paralyzed in an accident in her Mexican
village, other handicapped people help her realize that her life can still
have purpose.
Wilson, Jacqueline. The
Illustrated Mum. (J Wi)
Ten-year-old Dolphin is determined to stay with her family, no matter what,
but when her sister goes to live with her newly-discovered father, sending
their mother further into manic-depression, Dolphin's life takes a turn for
the better.
Berkus, Clara Widess. Charlsie's
Chuckle. (J 362.1968 Be)
Charlsie, a young boy with Down's syndrome, has an infectious chuckle that
helps the members of the Town Council stop arguing long enough to solve some
serious problems.
Cairo, Shelley. Our
Brother Has Down's Syndrome: An Introduction for Children. (J 362.1968
Ca)
Twin sisters tell about their younger brother who has Down's Syndrome, describing
what he likes, what he is learning to do, and some of his special needs. Text
is accompanied by photographs of the family.
Carter, Alden R. Big
Brother Dustin. (J 306.875 Ca)
A boy with Down Syndrome helps his parents and grandparents get ready for
the birth of his baby sister and chooses the perfect name for her.
Carter, Alden R. Dustin's
Big School Day. (Ej Ca)
Second-grader Dustin, who has Down syndrome, anticipates the arrival of two
very special guests at his school one day.
Fleming, Virginia. Be
Good to Eddie Lee. (Ej Fl)
Although Christy considered him a pest, when Eddie Lee, a boy with Down's
Syndrome, follows her into the woods, he shares several special discoveries
with her.
Girnis, Margaret. ABC
for You and Me. (Ej 411 Gi)
Photographs show children with Down syndrome in activities with objects corresponding
to the letters of the alphabet.
Girnis, Margaret. 1
2 3 for You and Me. (Ej 510 Gi)
Photographs show children with Down syndrome in activities with objects corresponding
to numbers one through twenty.
Gregory, Nan. How
Smudge Came. (Ej Gr)
Cindy, who has Down's Syndrome, lives in a group home; it's a comfortable
place, but there's no privacy and no place for her puppy.
Gordon, Melanie Apel. Let's
Talk About Down Syndrome. (J 616.8588 Go)
Describes what causes Down syndrome and how it affects those children who
have it, stressing how they can be helped to lead happy lives.
Rheingrover, Jean Sasso. Veronica's
First Year. (J 362.1968 Rh)
Nine-year-old Nathan helps welcome his baby sister, who has Down's syndrome,
into the family.
Rickert, Janet Elizabeth. Russ
and the Almost Perfect Day. (Ej Ri)
Russ, a student with Down syndrome, is having a perfect day until he realizes
that the five-dollar bill he has found probably belongs to a classmate.
Rickert, Janet Elizabeth. Russ
and the Apple Tree Surprise. (Ej Ri)
After Russ, a five-year-old with Down syndrome, picks a basket of apples and
helps his mother and grandmother make a pie, his grandfather invites him into
the backyard for a surprise.
Rickert, Janet Elizabeth. Russ
and the Firehouse. (Ej 628.925 Ri)
Russ, a five-year-old with Down syndrome, visits his uncle's firehouse and
gets to help with the daily chores.
Stuve-Bodeen, Stephanie. The
Best Worst Brother. (J 306.875 St)
Emma describes both her frustrations and her patient attempts to teach sign
language to her three-year-old brother Isaac who has Down syndrome and has
not yet learned to talk.
Stuve-Bodeen, Stephanie. We'll
Paint the Octopus Red. (J 306.875 St)
Emma and her father discuss what they will do when the new baby arrives, but
they adjust their expectations when he is born with Down syndrome.
Woloson, Eliza. My
Friend Isabelle. (Ej Wo)
A young boy named Charlie describes the activities he shares with his friend
Isabelle, a girl with Down Syndrome.
Christopher, Matt. Fighting
Tackle. (J Ch)
When he becomes stronger but slower, Terry must deal with being moved from
defensive safety to offensive tackle on his football team and with the fact
that his younger brother, who was born with Down's Syndrome, is becoming a
faster runner.
Fox, Paula. Radiance
Descending. (J Fo)
When he sees all the attention which his parents and people in the neighborhood
give to Jacob, eleven-year-old Paul struggles with his feelings toward this
younger brother who has Down syndrome.
Laird, Elizabeth. Loving
Ben. (J La)
Anna's teen years bring maturity and fulfillment as she experiences the birth
and death of a loved and loving hydrocephalic brother, changing ideas about
character in both boyfriends and girlfriends, and working with a child with
Down's syndrome.
Testa, Maria. "Thumbs
Up, Rico!" (J First Chapter Books Te)
In three separate stories, a boy with Down syndrome makes a new friend, helps
his sister with a difficult decision, and finally draws a picture he likes.
Wood, June Rae. The
Man Who Loved Clowns. (ELL J Wo)
Thirteen-year-old Delrita, whose unhappy life has caused her to hide from
the world, loves her uncle Punky but sometimes feels ashamed of his behavior
because he has Down's syndrome.
Gordon, Melanie Apel. Let's
Talk about Dyslexia. (J 616.8553 Go)
Discusses a learning disability of approximately one in every ten people,
including Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and how to cope with it.
Moynihan, Lauren E. Taking
Dyslexia to School. (J 616.8553 Mo)
Elementary school student copes with dyslexia, aided by parents and teachers.
Robb, Diane Burton. The
Alphabet War: A Story about Dyslexia. (J 616.8553 Ro)
Learning to read is a great struggle for Adam, but with expert help, hard
work, and belief in himself, he wins "The Alphabet War." Includes
information about dyslexia.
Banks, Jacqueline Turner. Egg-drop
Blues. (Y Ba)
Twelve-year-old Judge Jenkins has a low science grade because of his dyslexia,
so he convinces his twin brother Jury to work with him in a science competition
in order to earn extra credit.
Betancourt, Jeanne. My
Name Is Brain Brian. (J Be)
Although he is helped by his new sixth grade teacher after being diagnosed
as dyslexic, Brian still has some problems with school and with people he
thought were his friends.
Carris, Joan Davenport. Aunt
Morbelia and the Screaming Skulls. (J Ca)
The peaceful life of a boy with dyslexia is interrupted when his great-aunt,
who has a morbid fascination with ghosts and death omens, moves in.
Dahl, Roald. The
Vicar of Nibbleswicke. (J Da)
The vicar's speech impediment leads to holy hysteria in an otherwise quiet
country parish.
DeClements, Barthe. 6th
Grade Can Really Kill You. (J De)
Helen fears that lack of improvement in her reading may leave her stuck in
the sixth grade forever, until a good teacher recognizes her reading problem.
Janover, Caroline. How
Many Days Until Tomorrow? (J Ja)
Josh, who has dyslexia, spends the summer on an island off the coast of Maine
and finds that he has much to prove to his gruff grandfather and his older
brother.
Martin, Ann M. Yours
Turly, Shirley. (J Ma)
Shirley, a fourth-grader with dyslexia, struggles with her feelings of inferiority
as she compares herself to her intellectually gifted older brother and newly
adopted Vietnamese sister.
Rorby, Ginny. Dolphin
Sky. (J Ro)
Twelve-year-old Buddy, whose dyslexia makes things difficult for her both
at home and at school, hopes to rescue the dolphins that are being held captive
and mistreated at a swamp farm near her home in the Everglades.
Schlieper, Anne. The
Best Fight. (J First Chapter Books Sc)
Fifth-grader Jamie, who goes to a special class because he has difficulty
reading, thinks he's dumb until the school principal helps him realize that
he also has many talents.
Laird, Elizabeth. Loving
Ben. (J La)
Anna's teen years bring maturity and fulfillment as she experiences the birth
and death of a loved and loving hydrocephalic brother, changing ideas about
character in both boyfriends and girlfriends, and working with a child with
Down's syndrome.
Campbell, Bebe Moore. Sometimes
My Mommy Gets Angry. (Ej Ca)
A little girl copes with her mother's mental illness, with the help of her
grandmother and friends.
MacLachlan, Patricia. Mama
One, Mama Two. (Ej Ma)
A young child lives with a foster family until her own mother is well enough
to care for her.
Clark, Clara Gillow. Hattie
on Her Way. (J Cl)
In the late 1800s, eleven-year-old Hattie, still grieving over the death of
her mother and lonely for her absent father, moves in with her grandmother
in the city of Kingston, New York, to be educated and learn about polite society,
and, while there, discovers the fate of her missing grandfather.
Franklin, Kristine L. Dove
Song. (J Fr)
When eleven-year-old Bobbie Lynn's father is reported missing in action in
Vietnam, she and her thirteen-year-old brother must learn to cope with their
own despair, as well as their mother's breakdown.
Hanson, Regina. The
Face at the Window. (J Ha)
When Dora goes to take a mango from Miss Nella's tree, she is frightened by
the woman's strange behavior.
Leavitt, Martine. Heck,
Superhero. (J Le)
Abandoned by his mentally ill mother, thirteen-year-old Heck tries to survive
on his own as his mind bounces between the superhero character he imagines
himself to be and the harsh reality of his life.
Shaw, Susan. Black-eyed
Suzie. (BKM J Sh)
Suzie's stay in a mental hospital helps her tear down the walls of a devastating
psychological prison she calls "the box."
Weeks, Sarah. So
B. It: A Novel. (J We)
After spending her life with her mentally retarded mother and agora phobic
neighbor, twelve-year-old Heidi sets out from Reno, Nevada, to New York to
find out who she is.
McNey, Martha. Leslie's
Story: A Book about a Girl with Mental Retardation. (J 362.3 Ma)
Describes the home and school life of twelve-year-old Leslie, a girl with
mental retardation, and discusses mental retardation in general.
Weeks, Sarah. So
B. It: A Novel. (J We)
After spending her life with her mentally retarded mother and agora phobic
neighbor, twelve-year-old Heidi sets out from Reno, Nevada, to New York to
find out who she is.
Niner, Holly L. Mr.
Worry: A Story about OCD. (J 616.85227 Ni)
Eight-year-old Kevin is frustrated by his need to check things and repeat
actions over and over until a counselor diagnoses obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD) and teaches him ways to manage this condition. Includes a note for parents
and teachers explaining OCD.
Dedieu, Thierry. The
Boy Who Ate Words. (Ej De)
A boy searches for a language that will allow him to communicate.
Kent, Susan. Let's
Talk about Stuttering. (J 616.8554 Ke)
Discusses stuttering, the embarrassment it may cause, and the possibility
of self-esteem for those with this condition.
Lears, Laurie. Ben
Has Something to Say: A Story about Stuttering. (J 616.8554 Le)
In order to help a neglected dog which he sees at a junkyard, Ben, who stutters,
begins to confront his fear of speaking.
Lester, Helen. Hooway
for Wodney Wat. (Ej Le)
All his classmates make fun of Rodney because he can't pronounce his name,
but it is Rodney's speech impediment that drives away the class bully.
Seuss, Dr. Gerald
McBoing Boing. (Ej Ge)
Stories about a small boy who can only produce sounds such as "boing."
Based on the award-winning video of the same title by Dr. Seuss.
Small, David. Ruby
Mae Has Something to Say. (Ej Sm)
Tongue-tied Ruby Mae Foote fulfills her dream of speaking for world peace
at the United Nations when her nephew Billy Bob invents a device to solve
her speech problem.
Hulme, Joy N. Through
the Open Door. (J Hu)
Nine-year-old Dora, who has been kept out of school because of her speech
impediment, dreams of learning to speak normally as her family joins a group
of other Mormons journeying from Utah to New Mexico in 1910.
Patterson, Nancy Ruth. The
Shiniest Rock of All. (J Pa)
Fourth grader Robert Morris Reynolds, who cannot say his name properly because
he has trouble pronouncing his Rs, works hard with a speech therapist to overcome
his problem.
Buehrens, Adam. Hi,
I'm Adam: A Child's Book about Tourette Syndrome. (J 616.83 Bu)
Niner, Holly L. I
can't stop!: A Story about Tourette Syndrome. (J 616.83 Ni)
A boy is diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and learns about constructive ways
he can manage his condition. Includes nonfiction information from a physician.
Buehrens, Adam. Adam
and the Magic Marble. (J Bu)
Two boys with Tourette syndrome find a magic marble that can cure their disorder
but decide that their friend with cerebral palsy needs the marble more than
they do.
Byalick, Marcia. Quit
It. (J By)
Diagnosed with a neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable tics, such
as coughing and head jerking, sixth-grader Carrie must cope with the embarrassment
and strain of various reactions from family, friends, and strangers.
Contact
Us Monroe County Public Library, Monroe County, Indiana ° (812)349-3100
Updated:
January 24, 2010
° http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/childrens/booklists/disabilities_cognitive.html
