Compiled by the ALSC Library Service to Children with Special Needs Committee for the 2001 ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco
Abeel, Samantha. Reach For The Moon. Illustrated by Charles R. Murphy. Pfeifer-Hamilton, 1993. 1570250138.
Samantha Abeel, a learning disabled child, found creative writing as a release from her stress and difficulties with the math curriculum. This collection of Samantha’s stories and poems conveys the perspectives and feelings of a talented young writer. Sections written by her mother, one of her teachers, and notes on helping disabled children are appended.
Banks, Jacqueline Turner. Egg-Drop Blues. Houghton Muffin, 1995. 0395709318.
Twelve-year-old Judge Jenkins has a low math score because of his dyslexia. He convinces his twin brother Jury to work with him in a science competition in order to earn extra credit.
Cutler, Jane. Spaceman. Dutton. 1997. 0525456368.
Ten-year-old Gary, who is failing the fifth grade, tries to adjust to his learning disability and his assignment to a special education classroom.
Dunn, Kathryn Boesel and Dunn, Allison Boesel. Trouble With School: A Family Story About Learning Disabilities. Illustrated by Rick Stromoski. Woodbine House, 1993. 0933149573.
One family’s real-life experiences with a learning disabled child. The story is told in dual narration with Allison and her mother each telling the story from their perspectives.
Dwyer, Kathleen M. What Do You Mean I Have A Learning Disability? Photographs by Barbara Beirne. Walker and Company, 1991. 0802781039.
Photographs and text tell the story of ten-year-old Jimmy and his learning disability. Classroom strategies, creative teaching techniques, and positive reinforcement help Jimmy to feel good about himself.
Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Swallowed The Key. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1998. 0374336644.
Joey has an attention-deficit hyperactivity disability. Joey has trouble paying attention and controlling his moods. (Title is also available in large print from Thorndike Press 2001, 0786229128; unabridged audio recording from Listening Library 0807281719; e-book: Microsoft Reader Farrar, Straus, and Giroux BOOOO5IZTY.)
Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Loses Control. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2000. 0374399891.
In this sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed The Key, Joey continues to take medication to help him cope with his learning disability and spends the summer with his father. (This title is also available in unabridged audio recording from Listening Library 0807261610 and e-book Microsoft Reader from Farrar Straus, Giroux BOOOO5IZTZ.)
Gehret, Jeanne. The Don't Give Up Kid And Learning Differences. Illustrated by Sandra Ann DePauw. Verbal Images, 1996. 2nd edition. 1884281109.
As Alex becomes aware of his different learning style, he realizes his hero Thomas Edison had similar problems. Together they try new solutions until they succeed at their dream to create things that no one ever thought of before. Parent resource guide and bibliography are included.
Gilson, Jamie. Do Bananas Chew Gum. Beech Tree, 1997. 0688152945.
Sixth grader Sam Mott reads below his grade level. Sam thinks he is "dumb" until he starts to wurk with others who understand his disability.
Goldish, Meish. Everthing You Need To Know About Dyslexia. Rosen, 1998. 0823925587
The causes, symptoms and suggestions for coping with dyslexia are explained.
Hesse, Karen. Just Juice. Scholastic, 1998. 0590033824.
Juice returns to school and overcomes her learning disability in order to help her family keep their house.
Kraus, Robert. Leo The Late Bloomer. Harpercollins, 1998. 0694009806.
Leo, a young tiger, develops slowly, but one day finally blooms into his own.
Lauren, Jill, et al. Succeeding With LD: 20 True Stories About People With LD. Free Spirit Publishing, 1997. 1575420120.
Success stories include: Justin Quan, age 12, who had difficulty learning to read and write, but after working very hard is now reading above grade level; Carriemegan Mickley, who has trouble reading, writing, and memorizing math facts and goes to a school for the arts where she focuses on her dance talent; Eileen Davidson, age 10, who has trouble with math and language arts, but is a member of a synchronized skating team; and John Grunow Ill, whose family, including himself, has LD. A bibliography is included.
Lears, Laurie. Waiting For Mr. Goose. Illustrated by Karen Ritz. VVhitrnan, 1999. 0807586285.
In this picture book, Stephen has trouble paying attention and sitting still, but learns he can concentrate and be patient when he works to rescue an injured goose.
Philbrick, Rodman. Freak The Mighty. Econo-Clad, 1999. 0785765948.
Eighth-grader Max, who has a learning disability, establishes a friendship with Freak, who has a birth defect. Together Max and Freak are an unforgettable duo.
Polacco, Patricia. Thank You Mr. Falker. Philomel, 1998. 0399231668.
At first, Trisha loves school, but her difficulty in learning to read makes her feel dumb, until, in the fifth grade, a new teacher helps her understand her problem. (This title is also available as a VHS video recording. Spoken Arts, Thursday Productions, 1999; directed by Daniel M. Welsh; edited by Ernest G. Sprance; original music by Wayne Abravanel. Narrated by Patricia Polacco. 23 minutes.)
Roby, Cynthia. When Learning Is Tough: Kids Talk About Their Learning Disabilities. Photographs by Elena Dorfman. Whitman, 1994. 080758892X.
Eight children describe their learning disabilities and the ways they have learned to manage. They talk briefly about their lives, difficulties with school, coping strategies, and present positive suggestions for others with learning disabilities.
Smith, Mark. Pay Attention, Slosh! Illustrated by Gail Piazza. Whitman, 1997. 0807563781.
Eight-year-old Josh’s parents, friends, and teacher cannot understand his behavior until he is diagnosed attention deficit with hyperactivity.
Wolff, Virginia Euwer. Probably Still Nick Swansen. HoIt, 1988. 0-8050-0701-6.
With sharp, fully drawn characters, this is a perfect book for the oldest of children about to enter the teen world with all of its complications and problems. Sixteen-year-old learning disabled Nick strives to deal with other students who poke fun of him, his prom date who makes an excuse not to go out with him, and the memory of his older sister whom he saw drown.