List of children's books featuring characters with limb differences

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In the United States each year, roughly 1 in 1,900 people are born with a limb difference, [1] and an additional 185,000 individuals experience a limb amputation. [2] Children's literature with representation of characters with upper limb differences help empower children to accept their own, as well as others', differences. [3]

Contents

Series of books for children featuring characters with limb differences

Includes series of three or more books (two book series and standalone series are included on the next list). Series are listed by publication date. Bold text indicates author or illustrator with a limb difference.

Title (Series)Author/IllustratorCharacter(s) with limb difference(s)Year 1st PublishedBook type
Aven Green [4] Dusti Bowling/Gina PerryProtagonist is a girl with no arms.2021-PresentChapter book
The Wolf in Underpants [5] Wilfrid Lupano/Mayana ItoïzProtagonist has a friend that is a bird with one small wing. Featured prominently in the second ("The Wolf in Underpants: At Full Speed") and third ("The Wolf in Underpants Breaks Free") books in the series.2019-PresentGraphic novel
Mia Mayhem [6] Kara West/Leeza HernandezProtagonist's friend has prosthetic legs. This friend is in some books of this series.2018-PresentChapter book
5 Worlds [7] Mark Siegel, Alexis Siegel /Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, Boya SunOne protagonist is a robot who loses his right arm in an accident and then receives a new mechanical arm. Another protagonist begins losing his right hand due to a mysterious illness.2017-2022Picture book
Just Jessica [8] Jessica Smith/Hasīna ShafadProtagonist is a girl without a right hand.2022Picture book
Dinosaur Farm: A story about a kid with a limb difference that is NOT about the limb difference [9] Kristen SilvaThe author has written versions of this story with various protagonists, including: a boy missing fingers on his left hand, a girl with a prosthetic left leg, and a boy with a prosthetic right leg.2019Picture book
Avery Takes the Stage [10] Kristen SilvaVarious versions of this book. Sophia: prosthetic left leg. Ava: congenital left-hand limb difference. Clara: missing part of her right arm (congenital amputee). Kyra: missing part of her right arm (congenital amputee).2018-2019Picture book
The Chronicles of Claudette [11] Kara West/Leeza HernandezProtagonist's father has above knee and left arm amputations from fight with dragon.2012-2018Chapter book

Other books for children featuring characters with limb differences

Books are listed by publication date. Bold text indicates author or illustrator with a limb difference.

Title (Series)Author/IllustratorCharacter(s) with limb difference(s)Year 1st PublishedBook type
The abilities in me: Limb Difference [12] Gemma Keir/Yevheniia LisovayaProtagonist is a girl missing fingers on her right hand as well as her right leg below her knee.2022Picture book
Baking Up a Storm [13] Jessica Parham/Srimalie BassaniProtagonist is a boy without a left hand.2022Picture book
Come Over to My House [14] Eliza Hull, Sally Rippin/Daniel Gray-BarnettExamples of lots of different disabilities and how people live by showing kids playing at each other's houses. One family includes a dad with a missing forearm and his various prosthetics. There is also a parent with dwarfism who uses a reaching claw to assist.2022Picture book
Goldie's Tasty Tacos [15] Nicole Julia/Jeff CrowtherProtagonist is a girl goat who does not have a left hand.2022Chapter book
I am Sheriauna: We are Able [16] Sherylee Honeyghan/Ana PatankarProtagonist is Sheriauna Haase, a girl with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2022Picture book
My Friend Jackson [17] Sharon WassonProtagonist is a boy with congenital limb differences.2022Picture book
Perfectly Precious Peggy: A True Story about Challenges, Acceptance, and Friendship [18] Dale Lee Loomis/Maria MughalProtagonist is a female goat missing her front right leg.2022Picture book
Why Me, Mama? [19] Katherine Lockwood/Evgeniya ErokhinaTwo of the characters have a limb difference. Every character in the story represents a different disability.2022Picture book
ABC Let's Celebrate You and Me [20] Sugar Snap StudioFeatures several characters with limb differences, including a boy with a prosthetic right leg, a boy with a prosthetic left leg, a boy with two short fingers on his left hand, and a girl without a left hand.2021Picture book
The Bare Naked Book [21] Kathy Stinson/Meilssa ChoDepiction of many people, including some with limb differences.2021Picture book
What makes you Super?: Let's talk about Amniotic Band Syndrome [22] Fernanda Neves/Leonardo ZampronioProtagonist is a girl missing her index and middle fingers on her right hand, from Amniotic Band Syndrome.2021Picture book
When You See a Child Who's Different [23] Abbey Luckett Benjamin/Michael GarrigaDepiction of children with various limb differences.2021Picture book
Bodies are Cool [24] Tyler FederBook shows a variety of different bodies (including ones with varied limb differences).2021Picture book
Good to Be Me [25] Jessica Parham/Srimalie BassaniDepiction of many kids, including some with limb differences.2021Picture book
Kodi [26] Jared CullumOne of the main characters is an amputee from a fishing accident.2021Graphic novel
Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship [27] Jessica Kensky/Patrick DownesProtagonist is a girl who is a double-leg below-knee (acquired) amputee.2021Picture book (based on true story)
Roxy and Maliboo: It's Okay to Be Different [28] Hillary Sussman/Blake MarseeProtagonist is a dog missing her right back leg because she was ill.2021Picture book
Roxy and Tully: Words Matter [29] Hillary Sussman/Blake MarseeProtagonist is a dog missing her right back leg because she was ill.2021Picture book
Splash [30] Claire Cashmore/Sharon DaveyProtagonist is Claire Cashmore (Paralympian) as a child. She does not have a left hand.2021Picture book (based on true story)
Timo the Adventurer [31] Jonathan Garnier/Yohan SacréProtagonist loses his arm (due to magic) near the end of the book.2021Graphic novel
What Happened to You? [32] James Catchpole/Karen GeorgeProtagonist is a boy missing his right leg and is asked by other kids "what happened" to him.2021Picture book
Alf's Power [33] Mina Minozzi/Miruna PrunacheProtagonist is a boy without his lower left arm.2020Picture book
Brooklyn's Lucky Fin [34] Jenna ReganProtagonist is a girl with what she calls a "lucky fin," referring to her right hand specifically.2020Picture book
Evie's Missing Something [35] Khadija JohnsonProtagonist is a girl missing the lower part of her left arm.2020Picture book
We Are Little Feminists On-the-Go [36] Brook Sitgraves Turner/Archaa ShrivastavDepicts many children, including some with various limb differences.2020Board book
5 Fingers and 10 Toes: Jo-Jo Goes to School [37] Dawn Civitello/Francisco VillaProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2019Picture book
Awesomely Emma: A Charley and Emma Story [38] Amy Webb/Merrilee LiddiardOne of the two protagonists is a girl with a congenital upper and lower limb differences.2019Picture book
The Bionic Kid: Bionic Beginnings [39] Zachary Pamboukas, Christo Pamboukas, Niko PamboukasProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his right side.2019Comic
The Bionic Kid, Issue 2 [39] Zachary Pamboukas, Christo Pamboukas, Niko PamboukasProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his right side.2019Comic
Hands (My Body, Your Body) [40] John WoodBook displays a variety of hands, some displaying hands with varied lengths of fingers or number of fingers.2019Picture book
Rae's First Day: The First Story in the Capable Series [41] Danny Jordan/Agustina PercianteProtagonist is a girl with radial dysplasia (on her right side).2019Comic
Sophia Takes the Stage [42] Kristen SilvaProtagonist is a girl with a prosthetic left leg.2019Picture book
When Charley Met Emma [43] Amy Webb/Merrilee LiddiardOne of the two protagonists is a girl with a congenital upper and lower limb differences.2019Picture book
5 Fingers and 10 Toes [44] Dawn Civitello/Francisco VillaProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2019Picture book
Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus [45] Dusti BowlingProtagonist is a girl who is a congenital double-arm amputee.2019Chapter book
Ava Takes the Stage [46] Kristen SilvaProtagonist is a girl with a congenital left-hand limb difference.2018Picture book
Barefoot Books: Children of the World [47] Tessa Strickland, Kate DePalma/David DeanDepiction of many children, including those with limb differences.2018Picture book
Clara Takes the Stage [48] Kristen SilvaProtagonist is a girl missing part of her right arm (congenital amputee).2018Picture book
Kyra Takes the Stage [49] Kristen SilvaProtagonist is a girl missing part of her right arm (congenital amputee).2018Picture book
Look What Kate Can Do: One Hand Works as Well as Two [50] Katie Leatherwood, Paul LeatherwoodProtagonist is a girl with symbrachydactyly on her left hand.2018Picture book
Reindeer in Here [51] Adam Reed/Xindi YanProtagonist is a reindeer with shortened left antler.2018Picture book
I am Sheriauna [52] Sherylee Honeyghan/Ana PatankarProtagonist is Sheriauna Haase, a girl with a congenital upper limb difference on her left side.2017Picture book
I Have a Doll Just Like You! [53] Julie Ann Zitterkopf Larson/Jacqueline KerrOne of the protagonists is a boy with a congenital amputation of his left arm.2017Picture book
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus [54] Dusti BowlingProtagonist is a girl who is a congenital double-arm amputee.2017Chapter book
Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youths to Become Stars [55] Gregory Zuckerman, Elijah Zuckerman, Gabriel ZuckermanIncludes the story of a professional baseball pitcher Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand.2017Non-fiction
Uniquely Brave [56] Trace Wilson/Ana SebastianProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2017Picture book
Different is Awesome [57] Ryan Haack/Wes MolebashProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2015Picture book
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah [58] Laurie Ann Thompson, Sean QuallsProtagonist is a boy with a congenital lower limb different on right-hand side.2015Picture book (non-fiction)
My Little Leg [59] Robyn LambertProtagonist is a girl with a prosthetic leg.2015Picture book
My Little Leg Grows Bigger [60] Robyn LambertProtagonist is a girl with a prosthetic leg.2015Picture book
Nimona [61] ND StevensonOne protagonist is a man with an amputated right arm.2015Graphic novel
Uniquely Me [62] Trace Wilson/Ana SebastianProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2015Picture book
Just Like Us: A Coloring Book Celebrating Children with Limb Differences [63] Jennifer Latham RobinsonDepiction of many kids with varying limb differences.2014Coloring book
Harry and Willy and Carrothead [64] Judith CaseleyOne of the protagonists (Harry) is a congenital left hand amputee.1991Picture book

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References

  1. ↑ "Facts about Upper and Lower Limb Reduction Defects". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
  2. ↑ "Limb Loss Statistics". www.amputee-coalition.org. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
  3. ↑ Meyer, A.; Genareo, V. (July 2021). ""Does Your Arm Hurt?" A Content Analysis of Upper Limb Differences in Children's Books". Michigan Reading Journal. 53: 30–37.
  4. ↑ "Aven Green". Union Square & Co.
  5. ↑ "The Wolf in Underpants". Lerner Publishing Group.
  6. ↑ Mia Mayhem. Simon & Schuster.
  7. ↑ "5 Worlds". Penguin Random House.
  8. ↑ "Just Jessica". The Dreamwork Collective.
  9. ↑ "Dinosaur Farm". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  10. ↑ "Avery Takes the Stage". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  11. ↑ "The Chronicles of Claudette". Simon & Schuster.
  12. ↑ "The Abilities in Me". Abilities in Me.
  13. ↑ "Baking Up a Storm". Mascot Books.
  14. ↑ "Come Over to My House". Hardie Grant Publishing.
  15. ↑ "Goldie's Tasty Tacos". Able Fables Book Co.
  16. ↑ "I Am Sheriauna". iamsherauna.ca.
  17. ↑ "My Friend Jackson". Inspiring Publishers.
  18. ↑ "Perfectly Precious Peggy: A True Story about Challenges, Acceptance, and Friendship". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  19. ↑ "Why Me, Mama?". Grande Formato Publicidade.
  20. ↑ "ABC Let's Celebrate You and Me". Sugar Snap Studio.
  21. ↑ "The Bare Naked Book". Annick Press.
  22. ↑ "What makes you Super?: Let's talk about Amniotic Band Syndrome". Fernanda Neves.
  23. ↑ "When You See a Child Who's Different". Benjamin Books.
  24. ↑ "Bodies are Cool". Penguin.
  25. ↑ "Good to Be Me". Mascot Books.
  26. ↑ "Kodi (Book 1)". Penguin Random House.
  27. ↑ "Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship". Penguin Random House.
  28. ↑ "Roxy and Maliboo: It's Okay to Be Different". Palmetto Publishing.
  29. ↑ "Roxy and Tully: Words Matter". Palmetto Publishing.
  30. ↑ "Splash". Harper Collins Publishers.
  31. ↑ "Timo the Adventurer". Harper Collins Publishers.
  32. ↑ "What Happened To You". Faber & Faber.
  33. ↑ "Alf's Power". Nielson BookData.
  34. ↑ "Brooklyn's Lucky Fin". Palmetto Publishing.
  35. ↑ "Evie's Missing Something". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  36. ↑ "We Are Little Feminists On-The-Go". Little Feminist.
  37. ↑ "5 Fingers and 10 Toes: Jo-Jo Goes to School". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  38. ↑ "Awesomely Emma: A Charley and Emma Story". Beaming Books.
  39. 1 2 "The Bionic Kid: Bionic Beginnings". Bionic Kids, LLC.
  40. ↑ "Hands (My Body, Your Body)". Book Life.
  41. ↑ "Rae's First Day". The Capables.
  42. ↑ "Hands (My Body, Your Body)". Independently Published.
  43. ↑ "When Charley Met Emma". Beaming Books.
  44. ↑ "5 Fingers and 10 Toes". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  45. ↑ "Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus". Union Square & Co.
  46. ↑ "Ava Takes the Stage". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  47. ↑ "Barefoot Books: Children of the World". Barefoot Books.
  48. ↑ "Clara Takes the Stage". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  49. ↑ "Kyra Takes the Stage". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  50. ↑ "Look What Kate Can Do: One Hand Works as Well as Two". Mascot Books.
  51. ↑ "Reindeer in Her". Simon & Schuster.
  52. ↑ "I am Sheriauna". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  53. ↑ "I have a Doll Just Like You". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  54. ↑ "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus". Union Square & Co.
  55. ↑ "Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youths to Become Stars". Puffin Books.
  56. ↑ "Uniquely Brave". Mascot Books.
  57. ↑ "Different is Awesome". Mascot Books.
  58. ↑ "Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah". Penguin Random House Canada.
  59. ↑ "My Little Leg". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  60. ↑ "My Little Leg Grows Bigger". Kindle Direct Publishing.
  61. ↑ "Nimona". HarperCollins.
  62. ↑ "Uniquely Me". Mascot Books.
  63. ↑ "Just Like Us: A Coloring Book Celebrating Children with Limb Differences". Independently Published.
  64. ↑ "Harry and Willy and Carrothead". Green Willow Books.
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