4MyChild: Help and Hope for Life

December 4, 2006

Children’s Fiction and Cerebral Palsy: Kids Books with Cerebral Palsy in Storyline

Books are always great choice for any kid, and now there more and more books to choose from that are fun, and interesting, to read and feature children living with cerebral palsy. You can pick up most of these books at your local library, if they are not available make a request, most libraries are happy to fulfill requests for books from their patrons. These books can also be found in big online bookstores like Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

Below find a list of books that any can enjoy, living with or without cerebral palsy. If you know of others books you would like to recommend, please feel free to post in the comments sections and share with other families. We would love to here from you.

The Barn at Gun Lake
by Johnnie Tuitel, Eduardo Pilande (Illustrator), Eduardo Pilande (Illustrator), Dan Sharp (Illustrator), Sharon Lamson

Gr 4-6 – Johnnie was born with cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. He does not find his disability to be a handicap, just a challenge to overcome in order to be accepted by the kids in his new town. To join the Gun Lake Gang, he needs to complete an initiation. He must go to the old barn by the lake and bring back something to prove he was there. He stumbles onto a CD-pirating ring while in the barn and the gang decides to find out who is running it. In the second book, Johnnie and his friends solve the mysterious explosion of a race car. Many clues point to the mechanic, and the Gun Lake Gang takes the case on to clear his name. The kids in the gang are realistic. Some of them accept Johnnie, some question his disability, and one boy is uncomfortable with the situation but tries, with reluctance, to accept what Johnnie has to offer. The characters are well defined and the mysteries are puzzling enough to keep readers involved.

Small Steps
by Louis Sachar

Two years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is home in Austin, Texas, trying to turn his life around. But it’s hard when you have a record, and everyone expects the worst from you. The only person who believes in him is Ginny, his 10-year old disabled neighbor. Together, they are learning to take small steps. And he seems to be on the right path, until X-Ray, a buddy from Camp Green Lake, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme. This leads to a chance encounter with teen POP sensation, Kaira DeLeon, and suddenly his life spins out of control, with only one thing for certain. He’ll never be the same again.

Rolling along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair
by Jamee Riggio Heelan, Nicola Simmonds (Illustrator)

Taylor and Tyler are twins. Though alike in many ways, Taylor was born with cerebral palsy and Tyler was not. When Taylor learned how to use a wheelchair it changed his life. Now he can keep up with his friends at school and even play basketball. His mobility allows him to be more independent, which he likes. This story can be beneficial for youngsters who are adjusting to a wheelchair so they can develop a sense of pride and accomplishment in their mobility. It’s also useful for siblings, friends, relatives, and classmates of a child who uses a wheelchair.

Imagine Me on a Sit-Ski!
by George Moran

Billy, who uses a wheelchair, never imagined himself able to ski, so he’s very excited when he discovers that he and his disabled classmates are going to have a chance to learn. He describes his experiences at Snow Valley, where disabled people are able to use adaptive equipment and are helped by specially trained instructors. Some of Billy’s classmates use such devices as crutches on skis; Billy uses a sit-ski. His detailed narrative describes how the equipment works as well as his adventures on the slopes. The accompanying watercolor illustrations are lively and colorful and will be helpful for introducing readers to specialized ski equipment. A book that will inspire as well as promote understanding and awareness.

On Being Sarah
by Elizabeth Helfman
Gr 5-8 – Sarah, 12, is confined to a wheelchair, with limited movement and no speech, the result of cerebral palsy. Her story involves her struggle and growth in regard to self-image; her relationships with family, peers, and neighbors; her adjustment at school; and the beginnings of a romance. Her thoughts are set in italics, reminding readers that she is nonverbal. Charles Bliss’s system of pictoral/symbol communication is worked in throughout the story, as Sarah uses this system. Helfman supplies keen realism and compassionate descriptions of the girl’s response to physical and emotional frustration, and her heroine is both introspective and outwardly determined.

Be Quiet Marina!
by Kirsten de Bear, Kirsten DeBear

Moira and Marina are special children. They’re students at the Bank Street Family Center preschool. Using black and white photos, the story follows Moria and Marina at preschool and the ups and downs of their relationship as friends. Marina is a very outgoing child who enjoys lots of activity and noise. Moira is a quiet child who enjoys playing alone. Even though they are friends, their different personalities and needs cause conflict at preschool. The photos and text relate how Moira and Marina solve their differences by communicating with one another, a task for all preschoolers. Through the use of language, each is able to confront her problems and solve them. This story is a gentle reminder that everyone has special needs, but we must all communicate effectively to understand and relate to one another. The fact that the girls seem to solve their own problem will inspire other youngsters to do the same. Viewing special needs children as just children in everyday situations, in their own words, should inspire understanding.