Books About Disabilities Than Encourage Understanding, Acceptance, Compassion, and Friendship
Books for Elementary School:
These books, on a variety of disabilities, can be shared with young people to help us appreciate were more the same than different.
Latest Additions: (01/23/07)
Our Friend Mikayla
Written and Illustrated by Mikaylas Third-Grade Classmates
All elementary
Written by third-grade students with a grant from the Bubel-Aiken Foundation. An honest portrayal of the childrens first reactions to Mikayla, their barriers to acceptance, and finally the true friendship they formed with her.
Amazingly Alphie! Understanding and Accepting Different Ways of Being
by Roz Espin
Ages 4-8
Uses the analogy of a computer that is wired differently to help children understand and appreciate that being different is ok.
All About My Brother by Sarah Peralta
Ages 4-9
Written by a nine year old sibling of a boy with autism. Tone is very supportive and positive.
My Friend with Autism: A Coloring Book for Peers and Siblings
By Beverly Bishop
Ages 9-12
Created as a coloring book with an educational twist, the book is for anyone who comes in contact with a child with autism. Teachers may find it valuable in its capacity to help integrate children with autism into the student group.
Keishas Doors (An Autism Story, Book 1) by Marvie Ellis
Ages 4-8
A big sister describes her life with her little sister who has autism. Pages contain English text and Spanish at the bottom.
Captain Tommy by Abby Messner
Grades 1-4
A tale of acceptance as a young boy learns through a classmate with autism, the value of accepting individual differences.
Trevor, Trevor by Diane Twachtman-Cullen
Grades 1-5
It is not Trevors strengths which his classmates notice, but his differences. The efforts of a caring teacher help bring about change.
Original List
"A Very Special Critter" by Gina and Mercer Mayer
All elementary
Little Critter is a little afraid when he learns his class will be getting
a new student who is in a wheelchair. However, he learns that the new
student is more like everyone else than different.
Lets Talk About It: Extraordinary Friends by Fred Rogers
K- 3
In his characteristically wise and gentle way, Mister Rogers challenges
the stereotypes that often plague children with special needs, and celebrates
six children who are extraordinary friends.
Dont Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability by Pat Thomas
All elementary
This picture book explores questions and concerns about disability in
a simple and reassuring way. Children can find out what a disability is, and
learn how people deal with their disabilities to live happy and full lives.
"Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism" by Laurie Lears
All elementary
A young girl realizes how much she cares about her brother with autism
when he gets lost in the park. Includes an information page about autism.
"What's Wrong with Timmy?" by Maria Shriver
All elementary
Kate meets Timmy, a child with special needs, and the seeds of
friendship are planted. Addresses Kates initial anxieties.
"Howie Helps Himself" by Joan Fassler
All elementary
This story follows Howie through his good days and frustrating ones as
he dreams of being able to move his wheelchair all by himself.
Can You Hear a Rainbow? by Jamee Riggio Heelen
All elementary
A boy with deafness tells how he uses sign language, hearing aids, and
his other senses to communicate with those around him. We learn that some
things, like rainbows and friends, dont need to be heard to be enjoyed.
Be Good to Eddie Lee by Virginia Fleming
Grades 2 5 and up
Eddie Lee, a boy with Down Syndrome, faces the negative attitudes
and stereotypes of a neighborhood boy until Christy learns an important
lesson about the value of every human being.
"Lee, the Rabbit with Epilepsy" by Carol Schwartz
All elementary
Lee is diagnosed as having epilepsy, but medicine to control her seizures
reduces her worries and she learns she can still lead a normal life.
"We'll Paint the Octopus Red" by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
All elementary
Emma and her father dream of all they will do when the new baby
arrives. When the baby is discovered to have Down Syndrome, her father
helps her understand there will still be many fun things they can do together.
"Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair"
by Jamee Riggio Heelan
All elementary
Narrated by Taylor, he explains how getting a wheelchair makes a big
difference in helping him get around, do things by himself, and even play
basketball with his twin brother, Tyler.
"Andy & His Yellow Frisbee" by Mary Thompson
All elementary
The new girl at school tries to befriend Andy, a boy with autism,
who spends every recess by himself spinning his frisbee. Includes an
information page about autism.
Fanny by Stephen Cosgrove
Grades K-3
Fanny, a fluffy grey cat with three legs gets around just fine, but is shunned
by the other animals. A new friendship with a puppy shows the other animals
that Fanny has a lot to offer.
The Handmade Alphabet by Laura Rankin
All ages
Realistically portrayed hands of different ages, sexes, and colors
demonstrate the alphabet used in the American Sign.
The Hickory Chair by Lisa Rowe Fraustino
All elementary
A picture book good for discussions. A moving, realistic fiction story
about a boy with blindness that tells of his warm relationship with his
grandmother and the gift she left him after her death.
Buddy: The First Seeing Eye Dog by Eva Moore
All elementary
Tells the story of Morris Frank, a person with blindness who receives
the first dog trained to help people with blindness.
Ethan and Phoebe: A Childs Book About Autism by Deborah Moore
Offers an explanation of autism from a big sisters point of view. A
great tool for explaining autism to children. Available through the Greater
Philadelphia Chapter Autism Society of America at
www.asaphilly.org/merchandise.htm or 215-362-0998 / 215-884-0844
See the Ocean by Estelle Condra
Ages 4-8
Nellie enjoys her familys annual trips to the ocean and develops
a deep appreciation of it. Its not revealed to the end the way
she is able to see the ocean.
A Special Friend (Clifford) by Liz Mills
Preschool - K
When Clifford, Cleo, and T-Bone first meet K.C., they discover that he
only has three legs. They arent sure what to say, or how to play with him,
but K.C. shows them that hes not that different after all.
"Friends at School" by Rochelle Burnett
Primary - ages 2-6
Shows kids working together at school as an illustration of the true
meaning of inclusion.
Someone Special, Just Like You by Tricia Brown
Preschool K
This pictorial shows our common need for affection, community,
skills, and a chance to explore the world.
"My Friend Isabelle" by Eliza Woloson
Ages 2-6
A story of friendship, acceptance and inclusion told with simplicity.
Special People Special Ways by Arlene Maguire
Ages 4-8
With rhyming text, this book carries a message of acceptance and
Inclusion.
Childrens Stories with Horses!
Knots On a Counting Rope by John Archambault
Ages 4-8
A grandfather and his grandson with blindness, Boy-Strength-of-
Blue Horses, recount his birth and an exciting horse race.
The Storm by Marc Harshman
Ages 4-8
Jonathan, who uses a wheelchair, faces a tornado alone and saves
the lives of the horses on the family farm.
Harrys Pony by Barbara Porte
Grades 1 3
Harry wins a pony, but realizes it would be better off at a riding
facility for individuals with disabilities.
Books for Middle and High School
Extraordinary People with Disabilities by Deborah Kent
Young adult
This is a collection of biographies containing 3 to 4 page essays about
48 famous people with disabilities, including Beethoven, Helen Keller,
Tom Cruise, and Heather Whitestone Miss America 1995.
Views From Our Shoes: Growing Up With a Brother or Sister With
Special Needs: by Donald Meyer, Ed.
Grades 3-10
45 siblings, ages 4 to 18, share their experiences and discuss a variety
of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, etc.
Blue Bottle Mystery: An Aspergers Adventure
by Kathy Hoopman
Ages 9-12
Ben finds an unusual old bottle buried in the schoolyard which takes him
on a journey toward coping with Aspergers Syndrome.
How Many Days Until Tomorrow? by Caroline Janover
Ages 9-12
Twelve-year-old Josh, who has dyslexia, spends the summer at his
grandparents house. His adventures on the island teach him skills that
he doesnt realize he has learned until an emergency arises.
The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
Ages 9-12
14-year-old Sara gains new insights into herself, her friends, and her
family when her brother, who has mental disabilities, gets lost.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Ages 9-12
Mary comes to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors, and
discovers her cousin, who uses a wheelchair, and the mysteries of
a locked garden.
Fighting Tackle by Matt Christopher
Grades 4-7
Terry, a football player, encourages his little brother who has Down
syndrome, to practice running for the Special Olympics. However,
tension develops as his brother improves amidst his own struggles.
Annies World by Nancy Smiler Levinson
16-year-old Annie, who has been deaf since she was seven, must adjust
to being mainstreamed into a public high school when her family moves.
Bus Girl by Gretchen Josephson
Young Adult
A collection of poems, often humorous, from a woman born with
Down syndrome. With passages beginning from early adulthood, we
see her development as she matures from parental dependence to
independence.
Dont Stop the Music by Robert Perske
Young Adult
A journalist befriends two young people with cerebral palsy,
and they work together to solve a mystery.
Zipper, the Kid with ADHD by Caroline Janover
Grades 4-6
Zach (Zipper), a 5th grader with AD/HD, has trouble concentrating
and controlling his impulses until a retired jazz musician who believes
in him gives him the motivation to try to do better.
The Girls Guide to AD/HD by Beth Walker
Grades 6-12
A book written especially for teenage girls about AD/HD. Written
in a funny, honest style.
The Survival Guide for Teenagers with Learning Differences
by Rhoda Cummings and Gary Fisher
Clear, comprehensive, and matter-of-fact, this guide helps young people
with learning differences succeed in school and prepare for life as adults.
Deenie by Judy Blume
Ages12 and up
A thirteen-year-old girl seemingly destined for a modeling career finds
she has a deformation of the spine called scoliosis.
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Ages 11-14
12-year-old Paul, who lives in the shadow of his football hero brother,
Erik, fights for the right to play soccer despite his near blindness and
slowly begins to remember the incident that damaged his eyesight.
Minds Eye by Paul Fleischman
Ages 12 and up
A novel in play form in which sixteen-year-old Courtney, paralyzed in
an accident, learns about the power of the mind from an elderly blind
woman who takes her on an imaginary journey.
Haze by Kathy Hoopman
Ages 12 and up
Seb, a teen with Asperger Syndrome, is a loner. Brilliant with numbers
and facts, but hopeless with people. Things change when he becomes
friend with Kristie, and before he knows it, life gets complicated.
The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
Ages 12 and up
Four students develop a special bond and attract the attention of their
paraplegic teacher, who chooses them to represent their 6th-grade class
in the Academic Bowl competition.
Can You Feel the Thunder? by Lynn McElfresh
Ages 12 and up
13-year-old Mic Parsons struggles with mixed feelings about his fifteen-
year-old sister who is deaf and blind. At the same time, he makes his way
through the turmoils of junior high.
Tru Confessions by Janet Tashjian
Grades 6-9
Computer-literate, twelve-year-old Tru keeps an electronic diary
where she documents her desire to cure her twin brother who has
physical disabilities, and her plan to create a television show.
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman
Grades 8 and up
Fourteen-year-old Shawn McDaniel, who has cerebral palsy, relates
his perceptions of his life, his family, and his condition, especially
as he believes his father is planning to kill him.
Willy-Nilly by Cynthia Voigt
Ages 12 and up
A car accident causes 15-year-old Izzy to lose one leg and face
the need to start building a new life as an amputee.
Homeroom Exercise by Jana Striegel
Ages 9-11
When eleven-year-old Regan begins to have symptoms of juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis, she must face the possibility that her dream
of being a professional dancer may never come true.
The Window by Jeanette Ingold
Young Adult
When she comes to live with relatives on a Texas farm, 15-year-
old Mandy encounters the grandmother she never knew and begins
to come to terms with her blindness caused by the automobile
accident that killed her mother.
Safe at Second by Scott Johnson
Ages 12 and up
Paulie Lockwoods best friend, Todd Bannister, is destined for the
major leagues until a line drive to the head causes him to lose
an eye and they both must find a new future for themselves.
Teen and Young Adult Stories with HORSES!
Willow King by Chris Platt
Grades 4-7
A colt born with crooked legs is saved by 13-year-old Kate, who
feels connected to the colt because of her own physical challenges.
Youre Somebody Special on a Horse by Fern G. Brown
Ages 9-12
A high school freshman learns about herself when she
volunteers time helping a young boy with a disability learn
to horseback ride.
Matties Whisper by Alice Delacroix
Grades 5-8
A young girl overcomes her own physical limitations through
taking care of an injured horse.
Hope Rising: Stories from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams
by Kim Meeder
Young adult / Adult
A 16-year-old girl, nonverbal since the loss of her parents, speaks her
first words to an abused and emaciated horse, and other stories.
Books for Elementary School:
These books, on a variety of disabilities, can be shared with young people to help us appreciate were more the same than different.
Latest Additions: (01/23/07)
Our Friend Mikayla
Written and Illustrated by Mikaylas Third-Grade Classmates
All elementary
Written by third-grade students with a grant from the Bubel-Aiken Foundation. An honest portrayal of the childrens first reactions to Mikayla, their barriers to acceptance, and finally the true friendship they formed with her.
Amazingly Alphie! Understanding and Accepting Different Ways of Being
by Roz Espin
Ages 4-8
Uses the analogy of a computer that is wired differently to help children understand and appreciate that being different is ok.
All About My Brother by Sarah Peralta
Ages 4-9
Written by a nine year old sibling of a boy with autism. Tone is very supportive and positive.
My Friend with Autism: A Coloring Book for Peers and Siblings
By Beverly Bishop
Ages 9-12
Created as a coloring book with an educational twist, the book is for anyone who comes in contact with a child with autism. Teachers may find it valuable in its capacity to help integrate children with autism into the student group.
Keishas Doors (An Autism Story, Book 1) by Marvie Ellis
Ages 4-8
A big sister describes her life with her little sister who has autism. Pages contain English text and Spanish at the bottom.
Captain Tommy by Abby Messner
Grades 1-4
A tale of acceptance as a young boy learns through a classmate with autism, the value of accepting individual differences.
Trevor, Trevor by Diane Twachtman-Cullen
Grades 1-5
It is not Trevors strengths which his classmates notice, but his differences. The efforts of a caring teacher help bring about change.
Original List
"A Very Special Critter" by Gina and Mercer Mayer
All elementary
Little Critter is a little afraid when he learns his class will be getting
a new student who is in a wheelchair. However, he learns that the new
student is more like everyone else than different.
Lets Talk About It: Extraordinary Friends by Fred Rogers
K- 3
In his characteristically wise and gentle way, Mister Rogers challenges
the stereotypes that often plague children with special needs, and celebrates
six children who are extraordinary friends.
Dont Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability by Pat Thomas
All elementary
This picture book explores questions and concerns about disability in
a simple and reassuring way. Children can find out what a disability is, and
learn how people deal with their disabilities to live happy and full lives.
"Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism" by Laurie Lears
All elementary
A young girl realizes how much she cares about her brother with autism
when he gets lost in the park. Includes an information page about autism.
"What's Wrong with Timmy?" by Maria Shriver
All elementary
Kate meets Timmy, a child with special needs, and the seeds of
friendship are planted. Addresses Kates initial anxieties.
"Howie Helps Himself" by Joan Fassler
All elementary
This story follows Howie through his good days and frustrating ones as
he dreams of being able to move his wheelchair all by himself.
Can You Hear a Rainbow? by Jamee Riggio Heelen
All elementary
A boy with deafness tells how he uses sign language, hearing aids, and
his other senses to communicate with those around him. We learn that some
things, like rainbows and friends, dont need to be heard to be enjoyed.
Be Good to Eddie Lee by Virginia Fleming
Grades 2 5 and up
Eddie Lee, a boy with Down Syndrome, faces the negative attitudes
and stereotypes of a neighborhood boy until Christy learns an important
lesson about the value of every human being.
"Lee, the Rabbit with Epilepsy" by Carol Schwartz
All elementary
Lee is diagnosed as having epilepsy, but medicine to control her seizures
reduces her worries and she learns she can still lead a normal life.
"We'll Paint the Octopus Red" by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
All elementary
Emma and her father dream of all they will do when the new baby
arrives. When the baby is discovered to have Down Syndrome, her father
helps her understand there will still be many fun things they can do together.
"Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair"
by Jamee Riggio Heelan
All elementary
Narrated by Taylor, he explains how getting a wheelchair makes a big
difference in helping him get around, do things by himself, and even play
basketball with his twin brother, Tyler.
"Andy & His Yellow Frisbee" by Mary Thompson
All elementary
The new girl at school tries to befriend Andy, a boy with autism,
who spends every recess by himself spinning his frisbee. Includes an
information page about autism.
Fanny by Stephen Cosgrove
Grades K-3
Fanny, a fluffy grey cat with three legs gets around just fine, but is shunned
by the other animals. A new friendship with a puppy shows the other animals
that Fanny has a lot to offer.
The Handmade Alphabet by Laura Rankin
All ages
Realistically portrayed hands of different ages, sexes, and colors
demonstrate the alphabet used in the American Sign.
The Hickory Chair by Lisa Rowe Fraustino
All elementary
A picture book good for discussions. A moving, realistic fiction story
about a boy with blindness that tells of his warm relationship with his
grandmother and the gift she left him after her death.
Buddy: The First Seeing Eye Dog by Eva Moore
All elementary
Tells the story of Morris Frank, a person with blindness who receives
the first dog trained to help people with blindness.
Ethan and Phoebe: A Childs Book About Autism by Deborah Moore
Offers an explanation of autism from a big sisters point of view. A
great tool for explaining autism to children. Available through the Greater
Philadelphia Chapter Autism Society of America at
www.asaphilly.org/merchandise.htm or 215-362-0998 / 215-884-0844
See the Ocean by Estelle Condra
Ages 4-8
Nellie enjoys her familys annual trips to the ocean and develops
a deep appreciation of it. Its not revealed to the end the way
she is able to see the ocean.
A Special Friend (Clifford) by Liz Mills
Preschool - K
When Clifford, Cleo, and T-Bone first meet K.C., they discover that he
only has three legs. They arent sure what to say, or how to play with him,
but K.C. shows them that hes not that different after all.
"Friends at School" by Rochelle Burnett
Primary - ages 2-6
Shows kids working together at school as an illustration of the true
meaning of inclusion.
Someone Special, Just Like You by Tricia Brown
Preschool K
This pictorial shows our common need for affection, community,
skills, and a chance to explore the world.
"My Friend Isabelle" by Eliza Woloson
Ages 2-6
A story of friendship, acceptance and inclusion told with simplicity.
Special People Special Ways by Arlene Maguire
Ages 4-8
With rhyming text, this book carries a message of acceptance and
Inclusion.
Childrens Stories with Horses!
Knots On a Counting Rope by John Archambault
Ages 4-8
A grandfather and his grandson with blindness, Boy-Strength-of-
Blue Horses, recount his birth and an exciting horse race.
The Storm by Marc Harshman
Ages 4-8
Jonathan, who uses a wheelchair, faces a tornado alone and saves
the lives of the horses on the family farm.
Harrys Pony by Barbara Porte
Grades 1 3
Harry wins a pony, but realizes it would be better off at a riding
facility for individuals with disabilities.
Books for Middle and High School
Extraordinary People with Disabilities by Deborah Kent
Young adult
This is a collection of biographies containing 3 to 4 page essays about
48 famous people with disabilities, including Beethoven, Helen Keller,
Tom Cruise, and Heather Whitestone Miss America 1995.
Views From Our Shoes: Growing Up With a Brother or Sister With
Special Needs: by Donald Meyer, Ed.
Grades 3-10
45 siblings, ages 4 to 18, share their experiences and discuss a variety
of special needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, etc.
Blue Bottle Mystery: An Aspergers Adventure
by Kathy Hoopman
Ages 9-12
Ben finds an unusual old bottle buried in the schoolyard which takes him
on a journey toward coping with Aspergers Syndrome.
How Many Days Until Tomorrow? by Caroline Janover
Ages 9-12
Twelve-year-old Josh, who has dyslexia, spends the summer at his
grandparents house. His adventures on the island teach him skills that
he doesnt realize he has learned until an emergency arises.
The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
Ages 9-12
14-year-old Sara gains new insights into herself, her friends, and her
family when her brother, who has mental disabilities, gets lost.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Ages 9-12
Mary comes to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors, and
discovers her cousin, who uses a wheelchair, and the mysteries of
a locked garden.
Fighting Tackle by Matt Christopher
Grades 4-7
Terry, a football player, encourages his little brother who has Down
syndrome, to practice running for the Special Olympics. However,
tension develops as his brother improves amidst his own struggles.
Annies World by Nancy Smiler Levinson
16-year-old Annie, who has been deaf since she was seven, must adjust
to being mainstreamed into a public high school when her family moves.
Bus Girl by Gretchen Josephson
Young Adult
A collection of poems, often humorous, from a woman born with
Down syndrome. With passages beginning from early adulthood, we
see her development as she matures from parental dependence to
independence.
Dont Stop the Music by Robert Perske
Young Adult
A journalist befriends two young people with cerebral palsy,
and they work together to solve a mystery.
Zipper, the Kid with ADHD by Caroline Janover
Grades 4-6
Zach (Zipper), a 5th grader with AD/HD, has trouble concentrating
and controlling his impulses until a retired jazz musician who believes
in him gives him the motivation to try to do better.
The Girls Guide to AD/HD by Beth Walker
Grades 6-12
A book written especially for teenage girls about AD/HD. Written
in a funny, honest style.
The Survival Guide for Teenagers with Learning Differences
by Rhoda Cummings and Gary Fisher
Clear, comprehensive, and matter-of-fact, this guide helps young people
with learning differences succeed in school and prepare for life as adults.
Deenie by Judy Blume
Ages12 and up
A thirteen-year-old girl seemingly destined for a modeling career finds
she has a deformation of the spine called scoliosis.
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Ages 11-14
12-year-old Paul, who lives in the shadow of his football hero brother,
Erik, fights for the right to play soccer despite his near blindness and
slowly begins to remember the incident that damaged his eyesight.
Minds Eye by Paul Fleischman
Ages 12 and up
A novel in play form in which sixteen-year-old Courtney, paralyzed in
an accident, learns about the power of the mind from an elderly blind
woman who takes her on an imaginary journey.
Haze by Kathy Hoopman
Ages 12 and up
Seb, a teen with Asperger Syndrome, is a loner. Brilliant with numbers
and facts, but hopeless with people. Things change when he becomes
friend with Kristie, and before he knows it, life gets complicated.
The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
Ages 12 and up
Four students develop a special bond and attract the attention of their
paraplegic teacher, who chooses them to represent their 6th-grade class
in the Academic Bowl competition.
Can You Feel the Thunder? by Lynn McElfresh
Ages 12 and up
13-year-old Mic Parsons struggles with mixed feelings about his fifteen-
year-old sister who is deaf and blind. At the same time, he makes his way
through the turmoils of junior high.
Tru Confessions by Janet Tashjian
Grades 6-9
Computer-literate, twelve-year-old Tru keeps an electronic diary
where she documents her desire to cure her twin brother who has
physical disabilities, and her plan to create a television show.
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman
Grades 8 and up
Fourteen-year-old Shawn McDaniel, who has cerebral palsy, relates
his perceptions of his life, his family, and his condition, especially
as he believes his father is planning to kill him.
Willy-Nilly by Cynthia Voigt
Ages 12 and up
A car accident causes 15-year-old Izzy to lose one leg and face
the need to start building a new life as an amputee.
Homeroom Exercise by Jana Striegel
Ages 9-11
When eleven-year-old Regan begins to have symptoms of juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis, she must face the possibility that her dream
of being a professional dancer may never come true.
The Window by Jeanette Ingold
Young Adult
When she comes to live with relatives on a Texas farm, 15-year-
old Mandy encounters the grandmother she never knew and begins
to come to terms with her blindness caused by the automobile
accident that killed her mother.
Safe at Second by Scott Johnson
Ages 12 and up
Paulie Lockwoods best friend, Todd Bannister, is destined for the
major leagues until a line drive to the head causes him to lose
an eye and they both must find a new future for themselves.
Teen and Young Adult Stories with HORSES!
Willow King by Chris Platt
Grades 4-7
A colt born with crooked legs is saved by 13-year-old Kate, who
feels connected to the colt because of her own physical challenges.
Youre Somebody Special on a Horse by Fern G. Brown
Ages 9-12
A high school freshman learns about herself when she
volunteers time helping a young boy with a disability learn
to horseback ride.
Matties Whisper by Alice Delacroix
Grades 5-8
A young girl overcomes her own physical limitations through
taking care of an injured horse.
Hope Rising: Stories from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams
by Kim Meeder
Young adult / Adult
A 16-year-old girl, nonverbal since the loss of her parents, speaks her
first words to an abused and emaciated horse, and other stories.
