Picture Books
The Treasure on Gold Street = El Tesoro En La Calle Oro : A Neighborhood Story in English and Spanish by Lee Merrill Byrd. Cinco Puntos 2003
Denise describes her neighbors on Gold Street, especially Isabel, who is an adult but still plays with the young children
and holds her mother’s hand to cross the street, just as she has since Denise’s mother was small.
Big Brother Dustin by Alden R. Carter. A. Whitman 1997.
A boy with Down Syndrome helps his parents and grandparents get ready for the birth of his baby sister and chooses the perfect
name for her. (BWI)
Dustin’s Big School Day by Alden R. Carter. A. Whitman 1999.
Second-grader Dustin, who has Down syndrome, anticipates the arrival of two very special guests at his school one day.
My Friend Jacob by Lucille Clifton. Dutton 1980.
A young boy tells about Jacob, who, though older and mentally slower, helps him a lot and is his very best friend.
Be Quiet, Marina! by Kirsten DeBear. Star Bright 2001.
A noisy little girl with cerebral palsy and a quiet little girl with Down Syndrome learn to play together and eventually become
best friends.
Be Good to Eddie Lee by Virginia Fleming. Philomel 1993.
Although Christy considered him a pest, when Eddie Lee, a boy with Down’s Syndrome, follows her into the woods, he shares
several special discoveries with her.
Ben, King of the River by David Gifaldi. A. Whitman 2001.
Chad experiences a range of emotions when he goes camping with his parents and his five-year-old mentally disabled brother
Ben who has many developmental problems.
Keeping Up With Roo by Sharlee Mullins Glenn. Putnam 2004.
Gracie has always had a special bond with her Aunt Roo, who is mentally disabled, but that relationship starts to change when
Gracie begins school.
How About a Hug by Nan Holcomb. Jason & Nordic 1988.
Though it takes much concentration and will for her to accomplish each task, a little girl with Down’s syndrome is happy to
have many loving helpers along the way.
Cookie by Linda Kneeland. Jason & Nordic 1989.
When four-year-old Molly with Down syndrome learns to talk with her hands, she suffers fewer frustrations by being able to
ask for what she wants.
Making Room for Uncle Joe by Ada Bassett Litchfield. A. Whitman 1984.
When the State Hospital School closes and Uncle Joe comes to Dan’s house, Dan and his family are all apprehensive about having
a retarded relative living with them.
Somebody Called Me a Retard Today-- And My Heart Felt Sad by Ellen Cassels O’Shaughnessy. Walker 1992.
A girl expresses her sadness at being called a “retard” by people who do not know how loving and self-reliant she is.
Me, Hailey! by Sheri Plucker. Jason & Nordic 2005.
An understanding teacher helps her students welcome Hailey, a five-year-old with Down Syndrome who is excited about starting
kindergarten.
Way To Go, Alex! by Robin Pulver. A. Whitman 1999.
Carly learns a lot about Alex, her mentally disabled older brother, as he trains for and competes in the Special Olympics.
Where’s Chimpy? by Berniece Rabe. Whitman 1988.
Text and photographs show Misty, a little girl with Down’s syndrome, and her father reviewing her day’s activities in their
search for her stuffed monkey.
Veronica’s First Year by Jean Sasso Rheingrover. Whitman 1996.
Nine-year-old Nathan helps welcome his baby sister, who has Down’s syndrome, into the family and eagerly anticipates the day
when she will be able to ride his tricycle.
Russ and the Almost Perfect Day by Janet Elizabeth Rickert. Woodbine House 2000.
Russ, a student with Down syndrome, is having a perfect day until he realizes that the five-dollar bill he has found probably
belongs to a classmate.
Russ and the Apple Tree Surprise by Janet Elizabeth Rickert. Woodbine House 1999.
After Russ, a five-year-old with Down syndrome, picks a basket of apples and helps his mother and grandmother make a pie,
his grandfather invites him into the backyard for a surprise.
What’s Wrong With Timmy? by Maria Shriver. Little, Brown 2001.
Making friends with a mentally retarded boy helps Kate learn that the two of them have a lot in common.
The Best Worst Brother by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen. oodbine House 2004.
Older sister Emma tries to be patient while teaching three-year-old Isaac, who has Down syndrome, how to communicate using
sign language. Includes questions and answers about sign language.
We’ll Paint the Octopus Red by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen. Woodbine House 1998.
Emma and her father discuss what they will do when the new baby arrives, but they adjust their expectations when he is born
with Down syndrome.
“Thumbs Up, Rico!” by Maria Testa. A. Whitman 1994.
In three separate stories, a boy with Down syndrome makes a new friend, helps his sister with a difficult decision, and finally
draws a picture he likes.
My Brother, Matthew by Mary Thompson. Woodbine House 1992.
Though David knows frustration and resentment at times, he feels he understands his disabled little brother even better than
his parents; and together the two boys experience a great deal of joy.
My Friend Isabelle by Eliza Woloson. Woodbine House 2003.
A young boy named Charlie describes the activities he shares with his friend Isabelle, a girl with Down Syndrome.
My Sister is Different by Betty Ren Wright. Raintree 1981.
Carlo struggles with his positive and negative feelings about his mentally handicapped sister.
