Books for Embracing Differences

The Secret of Sapling Green

Sapling Green is a gentle, quiet girl with a secret she is scared to show the world. This beautifully illustrated, heart-warming and relatable story is an important reminder that our differences are our strengths, and we should always accept each other for who we are.

Freddy the Not-Teddy

Freddy is Jonah’s favourite stuffed toy, but no one knows quite what Freddy is – a funky duck, a peculiar platypus, a punk rock penguin? He’s certainly not a Teddy, but that won’t stop him from being the star of the Teddy Bears’ Picnic in this inspiring story about inclusion, friendship and staying true to yourself.

The Incredibly Busy Mind of Bowen Bartholomew Crisp

Most children would say that the ocean is blue, but when Bowen looks at it he sees white where the waves crash, deep black on the ocean floor, and green when there’s a storm. Bowen sees the world differently and struggles to fit in. When he turns his uniqueness into his greatest strength, however, he finds his place in the world

The Chalk Rainbow

Zane is different to other kids. He lines things up, and he’s frightened of things that don’t seem to bother other people – like the colour black. Things are looking pretty bleak for him and his family, until his sister starts to draw a chalk rainbow on the front steps … The Chalk Rainbow explores difference and diversity through a family living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It’s a story of unconditional love, of trust and of learning to look at the world through the eyes of others.

Understanding Autism: The essential guide for parents

Our understanding of the autism spectrum has improved dramatically in recent years. In Understanding Autism, two leading experts in the field combine their decades of experience to offer an extensive, accessible guide for parents and relatives.

This empathetic book covers everything from the causes of autism and the latest research to how it manifests at various ages and stages of life, from how to cope with common challenging behaviours to the importance of self-care for caregivers. An essential resource, it reassures and supports parents in coping during times of difficulty or transition, as well as with everyday life.

ADHD Handbook: What Every Parent Needs to Know to get the Best for Their Child

A diagnosis of ADHD can be overwhelming. There’s a wealth of conflicting advice available and it’s hard to know what to trust. The solution: The ADHD Handbook, a clear and comprehensive guide drawing on the most up-to-date international research to present a pragmatic look at this common disorder.

It covers how ADHD is diagnosed, the most effective therapies and techniques and the pros and cons of various types of medication, and addresses many of the common myths surrounding the condition.

Reena’s Rainbow

Reena is deaf and Dog is homeless, but they are also so much more than that. At first Reena and Dog feel like they don’t belong, but when they form a unique bond with each other, and become friends with the hearing children in the park, they discover that everyone is different and special in their own way.

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Evie is all Ears

Evie the Bilby is deaf, but one day a way comes along for her to be “all ears” – will she be able to accept help to hear again? Following the story of a Bilby is a gentle, sensitive way to explain deafness, and its isolating effects, to young children. Explore this topic in comfort with this beautifully illustrated book set in the Australian landscape.

The Boy In The Big Blue Glasses

Sam doesn’t like his new glasses. They make his ears hurt. His parents say he looks handsome in them. But Sam just wants to look like himself. His teacher doesn’t recognize him — she says he must be a new superhero. But Sam doesn’t want to be a superhero. He just wants to be himself. Eventually, with a bit of confidence and a lot of humour, Sam finds out that wearing glasses isn’t so bad — and people still like him just the way he is after all.