23 Best Books for Siblings of Special Needs Children (parent recommended!)

Yesterday was not a great day. It wasn’t terrible, just not great. I picked B up from preschool and was handed his projects and stuff to take home for the week. Among the items was his thankful list.

He had Pixie and Mango at the top. No, I’m not upset that the dogs outrank me on this list.

I was upset that Kevin didn’t make the list. So while we were driving home, we talked about it. And he said, “But I’m not fankful for him.”

And I said, “Yes, you are. We all love KevKev.”

And then he replied, “But I’m only fankful for nice things.”

Gulp. Jeez kid. I asked him another question and he didn’t respond, so then I said “Don’t you want to talk about it?” and he replied “No, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

Books About Siblings of Special Needs Children

So we’re loading up our home library with books about having a sibling with disabilities. I know it’s  a phase and he’ll grow out of it. But right now it stinks. {Note: this story is from 2012 and yes, things have improved!}

We went through a really rough patch that had lasted more than a year. The disdain that he had for his brother was palpable at times. We tried counseling and working with teachers. Now we’re in a good spot, and I truly think that the books and movie had something to do with it.

Siblings with Disabilities

Something new I noticed recently is that Brian will draw my attention to something that is disability related. Such as, “Mom, look. The Philadelphia Eagles went to visit a kid with a wheelchair.” Stuff like that. Human interest stories that he comes across.

At the end of the year, I let him do a small scholastic book order for his summer reading books. While I was finishing out the order, it suggested “Rules” so I purchased that too. It’s a book for siblings with autism. He enjoyed it. (featured below)

Teen Siblings with Disabilities

As I update this post, I realize that most of the books in the list are little kid books. So, I have put together a widget with books about having a special needs sibling, but for older kids.

I hope that some of these help your family, or maybe you don’t need the help. For a while, I was really concerned.

Also, I want to add, that now this post is over 10 years old, I’ve gotten a few emails about it. Some have said that they feel the post is ableist, because it portrays the disabled child as being a “burden” on the non-disabled child.

You’re entitled to your opinion. I’m also entitled to not agree with it. My family has challenges that other families do not have. And yes, it impacts all of us, not just the disabled child. To pretend it doesn’t exist, and not invite my child to talk about it or read about it, would be gaslighting to an extreme level I can barely comprehend.

When your child has witnessed thousands of seizures, some of them life threatening, then come email me about it. To deny my child the opportunity to validate or express himself through a book, wow, I just don’t understand it.

Books about Siblings with Disabilities

Here are more than 20 suggestions for you, if you are looking for books that discuss having a sibling with a disability.

These were crowdsource from blog readers like you!

1. We’ll Paint the Octopus Red || Hardcover $13.55
2. My Brother is Special My Brother Has Autism || Paperback $10.50
3. What About Me? A Book By and For an Autism Sibling || Kindle $2.99 | Paperback $9.99
4. Sometimes || Kindle $5.98 | Paperback $8.99 | Hardback $14.99
5. My Brother Sammy is Special || Kindle $9.99 | Hardcover $16.86
6. My Brother is Special: A Cerebral Palsy Story || Kindle $4.95 | Paperback $15.95 | Hardcover $20.46
7. Everybody is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With Autism || Paperback $11.70
8. Special Brothers and Sisters: Stories and Tips for Siblings of Children with Special Needs, Disability or Serious Illness || Kindle $15.29 | Paperback $17.95
9. Little Big Sister || Kindle $2.99 | Paperback $7.99
10. My Sister is Special, My Sister Has Down Syndrome: A Story About Acceptance (Special Needs) || Paperback $10.50
11. My Brother is Autistic (Let’s Talk About It Books) || Paperback $7.99
12. Autism in My Family: A Journal for Siblings of Children with ASD || Paperback $15.83
13. Brotherly Feelings: Me, My Emotions, and My Brother with Asperger’s Syndrome || Kindle $9.99 | Paperback $14.49
14. Just Because || Kindle $7.01 | Paperback $9.78
15. Oh Brother! Growing Up With a Special Needs Sibling || Paperback $8.53