November | 2020 | Son Stories by Jessica Moxham

This is the second post in a series. The first, 10 Brilliant Books for Young Children with Disabled Character s is here.

I continue to spend a lot of time trying to find books (and comics) which have disabled characters and these are seven of the best for primary school age kids. They cover a range of characters and impairments. I’d say they’d suit roughly ages 5-8. These are a bit too long or complicated for Molly (age 4) but have been good for Max (now 8) and some are still interesting for Ben (age 10). Let me know if you know of any other books with disabled characters that you love!

I have put online shop links by each one.

Buy I Am Not A Label by Cerrie Burnell, Lauren Baldo from Bookshop.org here

Buy A Kids Book About Disabilities by Kristine Napper here

Buy Stephen Hawking by Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Matt Hunt here

Buy Don’t Call Me Special by Pat Thomas, Lesley Harker here

Buy Not So Different by Shane Burcaw, Matt Carr here

Buy The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by Julia Filey Mosca, Daniel Rieley here

Buy Department of Ability comic by White, Scrivens, Jones here

The Cracks That Let the Light In: What I Learned From My Disabled Son is about the last ten years of my life, becoming a parent and then working out how to be Ben’s mother.

People often assume that having a disabled child is awful, a pity party. It isn’t. Some things about being Ben’s mother have been difficult, and my learning curve has been steep, but our lives aren’t miserable. In fact Ben is thriving and my children and I try, much like any family, to live the fullest and happiest lives we can. My book is about how being Ben’s mother has changed me for the better. It’s about family love and hope.

‘An honest and unflinching account of Jessica’s journey as the mother of a child born with complex needs. Essential reading… and a source of solace for those who may find themselves on a similar path’ Leah Hazard, author of Hard Pushed: A Midwife’s Story

I am so pleased to be working with Octopus imprint Endeavour. The book will be published on 4 March 2021 and you can pre-order it (links below). I would be delighted if you did!