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Look! It’s me!

Children’s picture books on diversity and inclusion, reviewed by young people with disability

We asked 15 young people with disability, between 9 and 26 years old, to read and review 38 children’s picture books about disability, inclusion, diversity and identity.

These reviews are for teachers, schools, families and caregivers who want to talk to young children about diversity and inclusion.

The aim of this project is to draw attention to realistic and positive representation of characters with disability. We want to see more of these books in early childhood settings for disabled and non-disabled children.

A woman reading a picture book to four small children in a classroom.

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This cover shows a scene of a young boy sitting on grass in a field. He is wearing a blue shirt and red leggings. The shirt seems to have the name 'Iggy' written on it. The boy, rendered in a cartoonish style, is the main focus of the image. There are also two sheep.

Just like you, only a little more different

"[T]his book would help little kids and kids with disabilities know that it’s okay to be different."

Four stars.

Read the reviews …

This is a vibrant cover features diverse cartoon children in various activities that seem to promote inclusivity and self-acceptance. On the lower side is a cheerful child in a green shirt with green and red striped leggings, while the centre presents a man engaged in a yoga pose. On the top left, there is a girl in a wheelchair, who looks like she is singing. The overall design is vibrant and attractive, using a predominant blue colour scheme. The book cover's graphics and illustration style are reminiscent of popular children's cartoons.

All bodies are good bodies

"I like that it included kids that didn’t have arms or had prosthetics."

Three stars.

Read the reviews …

This cover is dominated by white, pink and green. The illustration shows a large school building in the background with pink brick and the book title. Either side of the school building are two trees. The front of the school has a line of 8 students and one teacher. The teacher is on the far-right hand side. The diversity of students shows disability and different ethnicities. The name of the author and illustrator have school style pencils above them containing the text 'written by' and 'illustrated by'.

Our class is a family tree

"[R]hyming couplets and well-illustrated drawings that are funny and engaging for younger children."

Four stars.

Read the reviews …

The cover art depicts a scene with a child, holding a musical instrument, specifically a guitar. The guitar and the child are the central figures of the poster-like art on the book cover. The child is standing on a footpath and behind them are the title of the book and a mural on the brickwork with vibrant colours and geometric shapes.

Change Sings: A Children's Anthem

"[I]t appears the illustrator has not considered the practicalities that come with using a wheelchair."

Three stars.

Read the reviews …

Top 14 children’s picture books on inclusion, as reviewed by young people with disability

Download the Top 14 in PDF

Download the Top 14 in Word

The top 14 on Amazon!

About our reviewers

We had 84 applicants from which 15 were chosen to do the reviews.

Reviewers were from 7 different states and territories. 13 per cent speak another language at home and identify as a person of colour. 40 per cent are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. 20 per cent use a mobility device.

As part of this project, all the reviewers came together to workshop ways to get the message out to children, families, educators and schools.

A cartoon of a white person with light orange-blush hair falling to their shoulders and blue eyes behind round, black frame glasses. they have a series of black studs in their ears and are wearing a cream and grey checkered button-up underneath a yellow T-shirt with an egg design on the right chest. they stand in front of an orange ombre background, with a sprinkling of yellow sparkles

Aegon

3 reviews

Pet dog Bella, black and white

Aliyah

3 reviews

A young tween girl stands against a light blue wall facing the camera. She is wearing a white T-shirt with the denim straps of her overalls showing. Her brunette hair falls loosely to her shoulders as she smiles warmly.

Alyssia

3 reviews

A young man standing on a set of stairs holding the handrail with one hand. He has brown hair with pale skin and dark rimmed glasses. He is wearing dark trousers, yellow patterned button up shirt and a grey cardigan. He has a closed mouth smile.

Atticus

3 reviews

Photo of Chloe, a young woman with light brown skin, shoulder-length straight brown hair, and brown eyes. She is wearing glasses, a green corduroy jacket and a stripy t-shirt. She is looking at the camera and smiling.

Chloe R

3 reviews

Young woman in a green flower-patterned dress with the sky in the background. She has shoulder length blonde hair, blue eyes, and is smiling as the sun shines on her face

Chloe S

3 reviews

Aegon

# reviews

Aliyah

# reviews

Alyssia

# reviews

Atticus

# reviews

Chloe R

# reviews

It is in black ink on a white background. The person has a very big head on top of a much smaller stick figure body. The person's eyes are large and protrude from the side of the head. The eyes have pinpoint pupils. The person has an animated look on their face with a small round open mouth and eyebrows elevated from the top of the head. Freckles are spread across the cheeks, either side of a long nose. Three short pieces of straight hair are sticking up from the middle of the head. The initials EH are written in the bottom right-hand corner.

Elijah

3 reviews

A hand holding trophy represented the Lego Master symbol with Letter L and M design. The trophy has a green brick base with a red brick post. L and M letters made by red and yellow colour bricks are situated on the top of the post.

Ethan

3 reviews

This picture features myself and Nova, a friendly young mare who resides at my hose riding school.

Georgia

3 reviews

An animated head and shoulders drawing of a young girl on a white background using coloured water paints and black ink outlines. The girl has peach coloured skin. She has long blonde hair and is wearing it in a ponytail placed over the front of her shoulder. She has a layered fringe. The girl has a small nose and is smiling with a closed mouth. She has large green eyes with thick black eyebrows. Her left ear has five piercings with small black studs. The girl is wearing a wide neck, pink top with thin blue shoulder straps. The initials JH are written in the bottom right-hand corner.

Jessica

3 reviews

A young man with light skin smiling at the camera with a blue collared shirt on and with books in the background

Kai

3 reviews

A photo of a young pale faced girl with long blond, brown hair hugging a well-loved teddy and a brown cat. The cat looks serious, lying on a blue blanket with white spots.

Lily

3 reviews

Chloe S

# reviews

Elijah

# reviews

Ethan

# reviews

Georgia

# reviews

Jessica

# reviews

A close up photo of a young woman smiling with pulled back brown hair and pale skin. She is wearing a maroon zip jacket.

Matilda

3 reviews

A young man with brown skin smiling while holding his arms. The man is wearing a vertically striped shirt and sports shorts. He is standing in a lovely green open field during sunset.

Rahim

3 reviews

Tessa has short brown hair, blue eyes, and has a big smile. She is wearing a mustard colour knit and dangling pearl earrings in front of a plain cream background.

Tessa

3 reviews

Kai

# reviews

Lily

# reviews

Matilda

# reviews

Rahim

# reviews

Tessa

# reviews

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Fill out our short survey here!
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