Inclusive Children Books That Team UnLimbited Loves

“Once children see themselves represented in books, their existence is validated, and they feel that they are part of the world.” - Eric Velasquez, author.

Everyone loves a great story and here at Team UnLimbited we’re big fans of books that celebrate diversity and inclusivity!

Children’s literature is super important, and kids need to see themselves in the books they read growing up.

If you want to build a more diverse bookshelf for your children, here are some of our favourite books that represent children in the limb difference community.

The Chops Book Series by Matthew Jenkins

Our very own Matthew is the author and illustrator of the Chops books, a series of stories based on the adventures of his daughter, who was born in 2007 without a hand.

You might know her already… she’s Isabella! The same Isabella who’s part of our display in the Science Museum.

We asked Matthew what inspired him and here is what he said:

“When Chops (real name Isabella) was born there wasn’t a single book anywhere we could find that featured a character with a missing limb. There were books that referenced disability in one way or another. However, there wasn’t a standard picture book that was essentially like all the other picture books with a character and a story that reflected the look of someone like Isabella.”

“Chops was about going first, doing something that would make a difference. It wasn’t about having the best story or the best illustrations – I think that’s clear from the original version of the book. Thankfully, my drawing ability and storytelling has improved a little over the years. It was about providing kids out in the world with a character that they could look at and say, “that’s me!”

“Since Chops came along the world has evolved its view on disability and difference. There are loads of amazing books available from all kinds of authors and illustrators. Chops was about putting the inclusion topic on the table and making something available that didn’t reference disability in any way.”

“It’s a straight up story about a girl and her brother getting into mischief where the main character just happens to be missing her left hand. Kids with a limb difference can be reminded that they are different almost every day, and these days there are plenty of other amazing books out there that present the positive messages relating to difference and disability. I like to think it’s nice for a young person (girl or boy) to pick up a book and read a story that has a character just like them; someone to dress up as on World Book Day alongside all the other cool characters people embody when the go to school that day. Chops is that character.”

You can buy the Chops books on Amazon and follow them on Facebook .

I am Sheriauna by Sherylee Honeyghan

I am Sheriauna is about a fun, vibrant little girl who loves to dance. Sheriauna also has an upper limb difference.

The book was written by Sherylee Honeyghan, the mother of Sheriauna in real life. We asked Sherylee what inspired her to write her book, here’s what she said:

“As a young child with a disability, Sheriauna experienced a lot of curiosity regarding her limb loss which was at times invasive and very overwhelming for her as a 4-year-old. She felt a lot of emotions and frustration when children and even adults would stare, point, whisper, and ask questions openly.”

“As a mother, I wanted to help Sheriauna as well as help to educate others about limb loss and living with an amputation. I honestly asked myself how I could bring awareness to her lived experience and assist parents with starting a conversation about differences, while at the same time allowing my daughter to be seen and understood. So, I wrote this book with the hope of our message reaching as many people as I can.”

The Bionic Bunch Vol. 1: Mayhem at the Toronto Fair by Trace Wilson

The Bionic Bunch is the perfect book for kids who love superheroes. The book follows the story of an amputee boy, Finn Pain who joined the rest of the Bionic Bunch to protect Toronto with their super-powered prosthetic devices.

We asked Trace why she wrote the book. Here is what she said:

“I wrote my books to help kids with disabilities learn to love the differences that make them unique! I was born without a right hand and wanted to help children overcome some of the same obstacles I faced when I was younger.”

 Having a diverse bookshelf is really important for shaping the way children see the world. There are some fantastic books out there.

What diverse and inclusive books do you have on your children’s bookshelf?

Let us know by dropping us a message on our social channels; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.