Inclusive Book List
OIW assessed an extensive range of books covering many different forms of disability. Some of the books included general messages about disability, whilst others featured characters or stories relevant to specific conditions. Given the large number of books, for the purposes of this report, the inclusive books have been grouped into books:
Books including disabled characters (general)
Alja gets a Bunny (Alja Dobi Zajcka Ang)
Brane Mozetic (text), Maja Kastelic (ills.)
2014 Aleph/167 Centre for Slovenian Literature, Slovenia Language: Slovene
OIW felt that Alja gets a Bunny and should be commended for including a child with profound additional needs (Alja is unable to walk, cannot hear or see and cannot eat unaided). The way the school naturally includes Alja in all the activities is extremely positive. However, our research found that there were learning points to be drawn in terms of the need to show that children with complex needs should be treated as equals, as opposed to being seen as a novelty. The style of illustration perhaps reinforces the sense of 'detachment' and difference, with the disabled child appearing to be rather doll-like and overly passive.
My Grandmother Will Always Remember Me
(Abuela siempre me recordará)
Samar Mahfouz Barraj (text), Maya Fidawi (ills.) Grupo Amanuense, 2013
Originally published by Yuki Press Publishers, Lebanon, 2012
Language: Arabic and Spanish
OIW believe that My Grandmother Will Always Remember Me deserved great credit for offering an insight into a subject rarely depicted in books (that of Alzheimer’s) as a young girl learns to understand how her grandmother’s condition has begun to erase her memory. The portrayal is sensitive and we welcomed the fact that it is a picture book for an older age group. However, there was a concern that the story was slightly over-long; it was felt that it would need substantial editing in order to ensure commercial and audience appeal in the UK.
My Sister Aixa (Mi hermana Aixa)
Meri Torras (text), Mikel Valverde (ills.)
La Galera: Círculo de Lectores, Spain, 1999 Language: Spanish
OIW were pleased to include this short story of a young boy and his disabled adopted sister Aixa, who arrived from Africa with an amputated leg following a landmine accident. Written with plenty of humour and understanding, this book boasts originality and a positive depiction of a disabled character and there are also lots of other issues tackled including race, disability, adoption and also bullying. OIW felt the book should be considered by the UK publishing world.
Palkó and Lenka
Katalin Szegedi
Csimota Publishing House, Hungary
(Palkó 2013) and (Lenka 2014)
Language: Hungarian
Palkó and Lenka feature two children, both seen as 'outsiders' by their classmates, who share a friendship. OIW felt that these books from Hungary offered an interesting model, featuring different perspectives of the same friendship. The distinctive illustrations are an important feature of these titles in terms of their appeal. Lenka was praised in particular, for tackling body image which is a neglected area in the children's UK book market. There was the suggestion from the VFG that the two stories might work better as one book. OIW believe that some work would be needed to address the concerns raised about the way issues such as physical appearance are raised, and the risk of accentuating difference and reinforcing negative stereotypes.
She and the Others (Heya Huma Hunna)
Nahla Ghandour (text), Janna Traboulsi (ills.)
Al Khayat al Saghir, Lebanon, 2010
Elle et les autres (French edition), Le Port a jauni, France, 2011
Language: Arabic and French
She and the Others is a two-chapter story featuring a character with a physical disability (depicted pictorially by the girl having a 'key' in place of one of her legs). OIW were delighted to include this unusual book in the project. Written by the author who is herself disabled, we felt it offered innovative symbolism and multiple visual messages to explore. With its highly original style of artwork and short text, it could be a particularly distinctive and thought-provoking picture book to share with older readers.
While on the surface, the book simply describes two brief moments from the author’s own experiences as a child, in doing so it serves to highlight the immense physical and social barriers which face a disabled child at school – and could be seen as a wider metaphor for society’s attitude towards disability. OIW considers this a book which has vast amounts to offer in terms of discussing the social model of disability, particularly with older readers and adults. It might be a particularly valuable title to explore with young people in mainstream settings, something we were unable to do in-depth during this project. (see Case Study 4)
Speechless (Muette)
Anne Cortey (text), Alexandra Pichard (ills.) Autrement, France, 2011
Language: French
OIW thought Speechless was an appealing book with an important theme (a child who does not speak) and attractive artwork. It might require some editing in order to avoid implying that being selectively mute is likely to 'suddenly' resolve itself. However, it is a book with much to offer and good potential viability.
Together We’re Fantastic
(Gemeinsam sind wir Klasse!)
Franz-Joseph Huainigg (text), Verena Ballhaus (ills.) 2007 Anthology (Gemeinsam sind wir grosse Klasse) Anette Betz (imprint of Ueberreuter Verlag), Germany, 2014
Language: German
Together we’re Fantastic is the first of four books from the Anthology 'Gemeinsam sind wir grosse Klasse' for children of seven plus, by Austrian author and politician Franz-Joseph Huainigg who has been disabled since he was a child.
Talking about a school visit the author said:
"One experience gave me plenty of food for thought. I asked one class whether it included any disabled pupils. The children nodded and pointed to a girl who began to cry. She sobbed that she wasn’t disabled. The teacher joined in and said, "Look, no one here is disabled, we’re all the same." I thought about that for a long time. Apparently, the other children saw things differently. And why was the word 'disability' so negative for that little girl? Disability doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything. We’re not all alike; we’re all different and everyone has some special skills".
OIW considered Together we’re Fantastic (featuring a child with Down Syndrome) to be a book with plenty of substance and some powerful messages about the importance of inclusion. We also believed it was important to put the book in context in terms of how the author came to write the story. Huainigg is clearly writing from personal experience. His observations may not always be comfortable and some of our VFG have commented that they felt the portrayal of disability was not always positive. However, they all thought there was definite educational merit in the books receiving a wider audience.
Us (Noi)
Elisa Mazzoli (text)
Sonia MariaLuce Possentini (Ills.)
Corso Bacchilega Editore, Italy, 2014
Language: Italian
OIW were pleased to call in this title (discovered it at the Bologna Book Fair in 2014) and to find a book which features a topic almost completely absent from young children’s literature – that of facial disfigurement.
It proved to split opinion both across our VFG and even the OIW team. Whilst it carries an effective message about human tendencies to judge others on appearance and quickly draw false conclusions, there were questions about whether the book places excessive emphasis on the negative. Nevertheless, OIW considered there to be some valuable learning points to be drawn from Noi. Particularly interesting is the way in which it successfully avoids some common pitfalls (both through the text and artwork) such as not depicting the disabled character as only finding friendship only with another 'outsider' but instead showing a more gradual change and growing friendships.
Welcome to the World of Rafraf
(Ahlan bikum fi alam Rafraf)
Fairouz Qarden Baalbaki, (text) Nadine Sidani, (ills.) Dar Al Ilm Malayin, Lebanon, 2009
Language: Arabic
OIW considered Welcome to the World of Rafraf to be of interest in terms of its unusual theme, that of pet therapy, and particularly the idea of reading to a pet to help the young protagonist overcome his fear of reading aloud in class. However, the style of this book and some elements of its delivery might mean 'Rafraf' would have difficulty being able to attract interest in the UK publishing industry.
Specifically featuring Wheelchair users
Some of the titles we received featured the use of a wheelchair; either referencing disability in a metaphorical way or depicting the practical aspects of living with a disability.
Alice’s Heart (Coeur d’Alice)
Stéphane Servant (text) Cécile Gambini (ills.)
Editions Rue du Monde, France, 2007
Language: French
Alice cannot walk, run, jump, dance or balance; however, she can do lots of things in her wheelchair. The illustrations by Cécile Gambini are unusual, rich and colourful, and were commended by many of those we consulted. The book is very intriguing and the gentle references to Alice in Wonderland offer great additional interest. Historically, books have rarely included children with more complex forms of disability in stories, and as such, OIW praise this book for choosing to do so. However, where the positivity of this depiction was concerned, there were clearly some mixed views within our team of experts. As such, OIW feels it might benefit from some rewording were it to be published for a contemporary UK audience, to ensure the messages are as effective as possible. This is a book which clearly offers a wealth of material in terms of discussing the portrayal of disability. (See Case Study 5)
Like a Fish into Water (Como pez en el agua)
Daniel Nesquens (text) & Rikki. Blanco (ills.)
Thule Ediciones, Spain, 2007
Language: Spanish
OIW found Like a Fish into Water to be a fascinating, but complex book with unusual and attractive illustrations. It takes a metaphorical approach – Sebastian has a profound affinity with water and when he is in the swimming pool, he forgets everything else. Out of the water, Sebastian feels as if he is suffocated by the heat and lack of moisture – which renders any messages about disability ambiguous so there were concerns they could be interpreted in a less than positive way. Nevertheless, it is a deeply intriguing book and one which merits discussion.
Lola the Wolf (Lola la Loba)
Almudena Taboada (text), Ulises Wensell (ills.)
Grupo SM, Spain, 2011
Language: Spanish
OIW did not have the opportunity to explore Lola the Wolf in depth because it was discovered quite late into the project, but we were impressed by the way in which the author avoided some of the common pitfalls in featuring a disabled character. Lola, who cannot walk following an accident, is depicted as neither hero nor victim, but somewhere in-between. She shows that she does not need to have decisions made for her (for example, being told what kind of mobility equipment she needs) but she does need practical help. Secondly, the book shows that it is possible to use non-human characters to feature the subject of disability without resorting to very non-specific stories about 'difference'.
My Wheelchair is my Legs
(Meine Füsse sind der Rollstuhl)
Franz-Joseph Huainigg (text), Verena Ballhaus (ills.) 1993, 2001 Anthology (Gemeinsam sind wir grosse Klasse) Anette Betz (imprint of Ueberreuter), Germany, 2014
Language: German
My Wheelchair is my Legs is the second of the Huainigg titles featured in the research. In this story, the main character Margit is determined to go shopping at the supermarket on her own, but it is the first time she has had to navigate her wheelchair alone through the streets and she encounters some challenges along the way.
As mentioned in the conclusion of Together we're Fantastic OIW believes it is interesting to note the perspective of the author, who set out to write such stories in the belief that it was important for disabled people (especially children) to learn from them and to know that they were not alone in the concerns and challenges they faced.
The other two titles featured in our research were We Talk with our Hands (featuring deafness) and We See Eye to Eye (featuring visual impairment).
OIW embraces this intention and welcomes books which help develop understanding and reduce isolation and exclusion. There was some strong support for this argument from the VFG, with experts often agreeing that the stories could be useful as information books although some members felt they were too didactic and could be seen to convey a 'negative image of disability'. However, one member of the panel, who is herself disabled, not only recognised some of the many issues highlighted in the book as facing a disabled child but also believed that it was very important that books like these should have a much wider audience.
OIW concluded that there is a need for such books to be viewed within an appropriate context and as part of a wider landscape which also features many other, natural, casual and positive depictions of disabled children.
Books Featuring the Autistic Spectrum
Introduction
Although recent years have seen several books published featuring characters that are on the autistic spectrum, OIW considers there to be a need for many more, particularly some which include such characters subtly or casually.
Our focus groups with parents of children on the autistic spectrum attested to this. The parents were able to name several books featuring characters on the autistic spectrum, and particularly praised the translated Japanese title The Reason I Jump, especially since it is written by a boy who is on the spectrum himself. They all talked about looking for books which helped explain autism to friends and family members. However, they also agreed that there is a need for more books which feature autism in a subtle but positive way, avoiding sensationalism.
Gabriel
Elizabeth Motsch (text), Philippe Dumas (ills.)
l’école des loisirs, Paris, France, 2006
Language: French
Although Gabriel is a chapter book rather than a picture book, OIW were pleased to include a title featuring Asperger’s Syndrome, particularly as it's rare to find one for an older age group. There were, however, concerns expressed by the VFG about some of the messages in the book and their relevance to society today and OIW would recommend some editing should the book be published in the UK.
Lorenzo’s Saucepan (El Cazo de Lorenzo)
Isabelle Carrier Editorial Juventud, Barcelona, Spain, 2010
La petite casserole d’Anatole Editions Bilboquet, France, 2009
Il Pentolino di Antonino, Kite Edizioni, 2011 Languages: French, Italian and Spanish
Lorenzo has to drag the saucepan around with him wherever he goes. Often he finds himself in difficult situations and sometimes people don't understand him. This is a small, quirky and highly entertaining book and its metaphorical approach offers a potentially universal message about how we can each learn to cope with our own specific challenges. The author uses sensitive and amusing illustrations to recreate the daily life of a child who has some kind of additional need, showing both his character traits and the obstacles he faces. OIW liked the way no particular form of disability is specified, extending its relevance to many children. We also applauded the way the book encourages the reader to look beyond the 'saucepan', to find the true qualities of the individual. (See Case Study 6)
Sara’s World (È non è)
Marco Berrettoni Carrara (text), Chiara Carrer (ills.) Libri per Sognare, Kalandraka, Italy, 2010
Language: Italian
Sara's World drew a mixed response from our focus groups. Sara doesn’t relate to other people or her surroundings and her behaviour is disconcerting for everybody, especially her family. Sara's form of disability isn't specified and the reader is only presented with the narrator's viewpoint of his sister. The story is carried by powerful illustrations, a mix of collage and pencil, which bring the narration to life. OIW considered this to be a sophisticated book in terms of both the artwork and text, although there were some concerns about the depiction of the disabled character. There are also some positives to be drawn from this book, such as the fact that it recognises the unpredictability of some forms of disability.
Tamer's Own World (Litamer alamon khass)
Fatima Sharafeddine (text), Marianne Moussalli (ills.) Farah Merhi (photos)
Yuki Press, Lebanon, 54pp, 2012 Language: Arabic
Tamer's World was another title that attracted OIW’s interest because it sets out to deconstruct typical autistic behaviour and to show how it can be misunderstood. The carefully plotted narrative, supported by lively mixed-media illustrations, gradually reveals Tamer’s positive qualities masked behind the initial external traits.
It is worth noting that some of our panel had questions about the depiction of disability, and felt that the approach adopted by the story was a little 'obvious'. However, the feedback from the parents at the NAS was extremely positive, which leads OIW to believe that the depiction of an autistic child is very authentic. There is clearly a place for a book which features convincingly depicted characters on the autistic spectrum.
Books Relevant to Deafness
Answer Me, Leila (Leila, Ruddi Allaya)
Nadine Kaadan
Box of Tales Publishing House, Syria, 2011
Language: Arabic
OIW liked Answer Me, Leila from their first encounter with it and continued to feel that it is a strong candidate for UK publication. The vibrant artwork and powerful message about communication make it a very special book. In explaining the background to the book at an OIW seminar at the London Book Fair in April 2014, Nadine Kaadan said her story was based on a deaf woman, with whom she did not 'connect' until they started to communicate by email, upon which Nadine recognised the value of their friendship and wished she had learned sign language.
Lelia, (a Rapunzel-like princess), is not portrayed as an 'outsider'; she is an empowered protagonist who speaks her own language and it is the prince who is the one who struggles. It was clear from our research that the book would appeal to UK audiences, provided some adjustments (and possibly an extension) to the story could be made.
Zitti’s Cake Shop (La pasticceria Zitti)
Rosa Tiziana Bruno (text), Ambra Garlaschelli (Ills.)
La Margherita Edizioni, Italy, 2011
Language: Italian
Zitti’s Cake Shop was felt to be an unusual picture book with a powerful message wrapped up in references to food and silence. It explores the extraordinary properties of food as a form of communication because understanding does not always need words. The illustrations by Ambra Garlaschelli have a haunting quality, delivered in monochrome tones.
This book soon emerged as a powerful contender for UK publication, based on the feedback from the VFG and OIW’s own views. The consultation with UK publishers suggested that for some, the book might be considered to be too much of a risk in terms of its curious and rather sombre style of artwork. However, OIW would recommend wide circulation of this unusual and powerful Italian book in order to try to seek out the 'right' publisher. (See Case Study 7)
Books Featuring Visual Impairment
Close Your Eyes (Tanca els ulls)
Victoria Pérez Escrivá (text), Claudia Ranucci (ills.) Thule Ediciones, Barcelona, Spain, 2009
Language: Catalan and Spanish
In this ingenious book, the world is described by a sighted and a non-sighted child. OIW liked its innovative way of illustrating the two very different perspectives of the same objects. The lyrical text combined with bold illustrations in predominantly yellow and black with the occasional blue and pink, help to accentuate the message. The sighted brother always believes that his description of each item is the correct one and it is up to their mother to point out that perhaps they are both right, telling him to "just close your eyes".
Lola and Me (Lola e io)
Chiara Valentina Segré (text)
Paolo Domeniconi (ills.)
Camelozampa snc, Italy, 2012
Language: Italian
Lola and Me is the story of the close relationship between a guide dog and a young blind woman and was featured in the IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 2014 (no: 43). OIW did not have the chance to explore it in great detail, however, our overall impression was that it is another good example of an inclusive book about visual impairment providing a positive image of disability.
Read a Book with Me (Quer ler Um Livro Comigo?) Lawrence Schimel (text), Thiago Lopes (ills.)
Callis Editora, Brazil, 2014
Language: Portuguese
Read a Book with Me has a simple message: Antonio is already able to read but he wants to share his favourite book with someone, however, everyone is too busy. OIW felt there was much to commend, in terms of the strong illustrations set in a cultural context, the encouragement of reading, adults spending time with children sharing a story and a book that features a visually impaired character but is not about being blind. It also can be seen as a culturally diverse book.
Sofia, the Swallow (Sofía la golondrina)
Almudena Taboada (text), Ana López Escrivá (Ills.) Ediciones Grupo SM, Spain, 2006
Language: Spanish
Despite receiving limited feedback on Sofia, the Swallow, OIW felt it was important to include as another example of an inclusive book about visual impairment. Sofia has not been able to see since she was born, but she has learned to do lots of things by herself, without help. OIW concluded that Sofia, the Swallow, with its lyrical text and rich, colourful illustrations was appealing and conveyed a positive image of disability. Like Close Your Eyes (see Case Study 8), it uses sensory analogies to explain the world around Sofia.
