This month, we’re diving into a theme that’s too big to fit into just a few books — so we didn’t even try. Some topics are just that expansive, and this one opened the floodgates in the best way. From picture books to adult nonfiction, we’ve included extra titles across age levels to reflect the richness and complexity of this theme.
Whether you’re looking for bold picture books, thought-provoking graphic novels, or layered adult reads, you’ll find something that sparks conversation and curiosity
As always, our selections attempt to highlight BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices and are designed to encourage curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking. Our goal is to make meaningful, inclusive stories accessible for all kinds of readers.
Discussion guides will be available July 1st, with questions, extension ideas, and activity prompts for each title.
Without further ado, here are the June Rabbit Hole Reads selections
Board Book Picks
We Are Little Feminists: On-the-Go & How We Eat & How We Play by Shuli de la Fuente-Lau
These board books celebrate disabled kids in everyday moments—zipping through town in wheelchairs, exploring textures, and sharing meals with adaptive tools. Bright photos and inclusive language make these joyful affirmations of belonging.
Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder
A joyful, body-positive picture book that celebrates all kinds of bodies—freckled, scarred, hairy, wrinkled, limb-different, and more. With bright, inclusive illustrations and a rhythmic refrain, it’s a vibrant affirmation that every body is worthy and wonderful.
What I Like About Me! A Book Celebrating Differences by Allia Zobel Nolan, illustrated by Miki Sakamoto
With playful rhymes and a mirror at the end, this cheerful board book invites kids to celebrate everything that makes them unique—braces, glasses, wheelchairs, big feet, wild hair, and more. A joyful affirmation that being different is what makes us special.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: American Sign Language by Annie Kubler
This sweet board book pairs the classic lullaby with simple ASL signs, introducing babies and toddlers to sign language through rhythm and movement. Featuring diverse, expressive illustrations, it’s a gentle and inclusive way to build early communication.
Picture Book Picks
We Move Together by Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, and Eduardo Trejos
A vibrant, inclusive story about interdependence, community, and disability justice. Features diverse characters, mobility aids, and collective action.
King for a Day by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Christiane Krömer
Set during Pakistan’s Basant kite festival, this story follows Malik, a boy who uses a wheelchair, as he skilfully flies his kite to victory. A quiet celebration of confidence, kindness, and inclusion—Malik’s disability is present but never the focus.
I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood, illustrated by Julianna Swaney
A lyrical story about a girl with cerebral palsy who dreams of dancing on stage—and makes it happen against the odds.
A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove
Told through the eyes of a Black autistic boy, this powerful picture book honors nonspeaking communication and the richness of neurodivergent family life. Written by an autistic mother about her own sons, it’s a celebration of love beyond spoken language.
My Friend Isabelle by Eliza Woloson, illustrated by Bryan Gough
Told from a young boy’s perspective, this gentle story celebrates his friendship with Isabelle, who has Down syndrome. A simple, heartfelt reminder that our differences are what make friendships—and the world—richer.
Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus, illustrated by Polly Dunbar
A lyrical celebration of Deaf culture. A hesitant polar bear finds support from a Deaf rabbit who guides him down a snowy slope. This playful, inclusive tale introduces sign language and communication accessibility with warmth and imagination.
Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Rafael López
An uplifting, inclusive picture book where kids introduce themselves and their disabilities—with pride—from diabetes to ADHD.
My City Speaks by Darren Lebeuf, illustrated by Ashley Barron
A poetic sensory journey through a city from the point of view of a blind child. Lush imagery and layered text bring the scene to life beyond sight.
Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw
In this candid and humorous picture book, Shane Burcaw, who has spinal muscular atrophy, answers common questions kids have about living with a disability. Through engaging photography and witty captions, he demonstrates that people with disabilities are more alike than different. A great empathy-building read.
Graphic Novels Picks
El Deafo by Cece Bell (Ages 8+)
A humorous and heartfelt memoir of growing up Deaf and finding your voice. With humor, honesty, and bunny-eared illustrations, Cece Bell shares her experience using a bulky hearing aid in school and learning to embrace what makes her different.
Allstoria | Bookshop
Sensory: Life on the Spectrum edited by Bex Ollerton (Ages 12+)
An anthology of short comics by autistic creators, each sharing personal stories about sensory processing, identity, and everyday life. A powerful and artistic window into the diversity of autistic experiences.
Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton, illustrated by Aśka (Ages 12+)
Maisie, a 14-year-old bisexual girl with a prosthetic leg, attends her first fan convention to meet her idol—an amputee actor. When the appearance is canceled, she bonds with Ollie, a nonbinary volunteer. This graphic novel is a joyful celebration of queer identity, fandom, and casual disability rep.
Metaphase by Chip Reece (Ages 8+)
This family-friendly graphic novel follows Ollie, a boy with Down syndrome who dreams of being a superhero like his dad. With heart, humor, and powerful artwork, it’s an uplifting exploration of identity and belonging.
My Brain Is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders by Monzusu (Ages 12+)
A manga anthology of true stories from children and teens with ADHD, autism, and learning differences. These honest, compassionate snapshots offer visibility and understanding for neurodivergent readers.
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, illustrated by Wendy Xu (Ages 12+)
A cozy queer fantasy about Nova, a hard-of-hearing teen witch, and Tam, a nonbinary werewolf. Reunited during a magical mystery, they explore love, identity, and belonging. Features casual LGBTQ+ and disability rep in a soft, affirming world.
Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz (Ages 8+)
When Jamila teams up with brilliant but socially awkward Shirley to dodge summer camp, they become unlikely detectives. Shirley shows signs of neurodivergence in this middle-grade graphic novel about friendship, boundaries, and being yourself.
Middle Grade Picks
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Written by an autistic author, this heartfelt novel follows Addie, an autistic girl who campaigns to create a memorial for women accused of witchcraft in her Scottish village. With rich characters and emotional depth, it offers authentic neurodivergent representation and themes of activism, acceptance, and finding one’s voice.
The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family by Sarah Kapit
Twelve-year-old Lara starts a detective agency to solve family mysteries but struggles to work with her sister, Caroline. This novel offers neurodivergent representation and explores family, identity, and teamwork.
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
Set in 1805 on Martha’s Vineyard, this historical novel follows Mary Lambert, an Deaf girl in a community where sign language is widely used. When a scientist arrives seeking to study the island’s Deaf population, Mary becomes a target for exploitative research. Her journey explores themes of identity, resilience, and intersection with Indigenous histories.
Roll With It by Jamie Sumner
Twelve‑year‑old Ellie, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, pours her passion into baking—even as her protective mom, wheelchair‑unfriendly spaces, and a new town test her independence. With humor, heart, and honest moments, this novel celebrates Ellie’s spirit without making disability her whole identity.
A Blind Guide to Stinkville by Beth Vrabel
Twelve‑year‑old Alice, who is legally blind and has albinism, moves to a small town and enters an essay contest to prove her independence. Along the way, she discovers friendship and learns more about herself and her community.
Young Adult (YA) Picks
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
Content Warnings: Adoption, foster care, some family conflict
This emotionally rich YA novel follows three siblings separated by adoption who reunite as teenagers. One sibling, Grace, has Down syndrome, and her story highlights themes of family, acceptance, and understanding neurodiversity. A beautiful exploration of identity and belonging.
Unsinkable: From Russian Orphan to Paralympic Swimming World Champion by Jessica Long with Hannah Long
Content Warnings: Amputation, medical trauma, adoption, identity struggles
Born with fibular hemimelia in Siberia and adopted by an American family, Jessica Long became a decorated Paralympian. Her memoir recounts surgeries, rigorous training, and the search for identity as a disabled athlete and adoptee—an inspiring story of resilience and ambition.
Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino
Content Warnings: Bullying, ableism, microaggressions, social anxiety
Lilah, a Deaf teen with hearing aids, feels caught between two worlds. Returning as a counselor to Camp Gray Wolf, for Deaf and blind youth, she reconnects with Deaf culture and ASL. A thoughtful, immersive portrait of Deaf identity, belonging, and community.
Allstoria | Bookshop
Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults) edited by Alice Wong
Content Warnings: Bullying, suicidal ideation, institutionalization, incontinence, disability stigma
This powerful nonfiction anthology features 17 first-person stories by disabled, chronically ill, d/Deaf, and neurodivergent writers. Adapted for YA readers, it shines a light on diverse aspects of disability culture—ableism, identity, pride, and independence.
Hellwatch by Larime Taylor
Content Warnings: Violence, horror themes, monsters
Ester Vasquez, a teen with arthrogryposis who uses a wheelchair, hunts demons in a gritty urban fantasy world. With help from her Samoan caregiver Sammy, she confronts both real-world and supernatural threats. Created by Larime Taylor, a disabled artist who draws with their mouth, this novel offers dark humor, horror, and authentic disability depiction.
Adult Picks
Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body by Rebekah Taussig
Content Warnings: Ableism, chronic pain, internalized ableism
A series of sharp, funny, and deeply personal essays from a paralyzed writer and educator, this memoir challenges stereotypes and explores love, work, access, and identity with wit and depth.
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the 21st Century edited by Alice Wong
Content Warnings: Varies by essay — includes ableism, trauma, institutionalization
A groundbreaking collection of essays by disabled people of all backgrounds. These personal stories illuminate the richness of disability experiences, activism, art, joy, and resilience.
Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Jones
Content Warnings: Ableism, medical trauma, graphic descriptions of pain
A lyrical and philosophical memoir exploring what it means to live beautifully with a disabled body. Traveling the world, Cooper Jones challenges assumptions about beauty, agency, and what it means to be seen.
Deaf Sentence by David Lodge
Content Warnings: Aging, family illness, communication frustration
A retired linguistics professor grapples with progressive hearing loss, leading to miscommunications, humorous misunderstandings, and unexpected emotional depth. Written by a Deaf author, it’s a tender, literary exploration of isolation, resilience, and connection.
Borderline by Mishell Baker
Content Warnings: Mental health struggles, self-harm, disability, violence
In this gritty urban fantasy, Millie—a leg amputee with borderline personality disorder—navigates a dangerous magical world. Her disability and mental health are portrayed with authenticity and nuance, woven into a powerful story of survival, healing, and unexpected strength.
Rabbit Hole Learning 
Leave a comment