Readers of the Wheelchair Travel Newsletter can expect a brief pause in regular scheduling this week as John concludes leading group trips across Europe. Upon his return, travelers and advocates alike can look forward to the official announcement of a brand-new Summer 2027 tour. In the meantime, the publication has turned its focus toward a cornerstone of travel downtime, family life, and community advocacy: the power of reading, with a curated selection of disability-focused literature spanning early childhood, middle grade, and adult audiences.
Whether navigating long hours on trains, waiting anxiously at airport boarding gates, or experiencing inevitable air travel delays, finding a reliable distraction is a familiar challenge for modern commuters and globetrotters. Travel activities frequently lean on books to pass the time, serving as a vital antidote to boredom for travelers of all ages. For many households, daily reading is deeply ingrained, extending into multi-year community book groups and shared literary traditions that underscore the profound value of books both at home and on the move.
This appreciation for literature finds a fitting backdrop in the family’s new home city of St. Louis, anchored by the grand, historic architecture of the St. Louis Central Library. The building evokes the timeless atmosphere long associated with grand repositories of knowledge, featuring notable literary quotes inscribed across its exterior facade. Among them is a reflection by Andrew Carnegie: “I choose free libraries as the best agencies for improving the masses of the people because they only help those who help themselves. They never pauperize. A taste for reading drives our lower tastes.”
Seeking to share a passion for storytelling that resonates deeply with the disability community, the newsletter features a carefully selected list of disability-lit titles. Drawn from hundreds of books read over the years, the curation highlights four standout works per age grouping, starting with early childhood picture books designed to serve as both windows into new perspectives and mirrors reflecting lived experiences.
Early Childhood Picture Books
Among the early childhood recommendations is What Happened to You? by James Catchpole. Having followed the Catchpoles for years on social media, the transition of James’s work into a US release brought a grounded, necessary perspective to children’s literature. The book directly addresses the unspoken, everyday encounters many disabled children face, using its main character, Joe, to illustrate the subtle and pervasive nature of ingrained ableism in a manner that remains accessible to young minds. It offers a clear framework for discussing situations that many families previously lacked the exact vocabulary to articulate.
Another standout in the early childhood category is Best Day Ever by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Leah Nixon. The upbeat story follows an enthusiastic puppy and her young owner, who happens to use a wheelchair. Offering natural disability representation without heavy-handed exposition, the book fulfills a critical need in children’s literature by providing disabled children with literary "mirrors"—stories that reflect their own daily realities rather than solely acting as educational windows for others.
Rounding out the youngest demographic selections are Jordan Scott’s award-winning I Talk Like a River and Annette Bay Pimentel’s All the Way to the Top. Scott’s book details a boy finding a poetic connection between his stutter and the flow of a river, aided by his father, through prose and illustrations that resonate across generations. Pimentel’s illustrated biography introduces young readers to disability history through the childhood experiences of Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, highlighting her participation in the historic Capitol Crawl and demonstrating that children can play an active role in shaping a more accessible world.
Middle Grade Novels
Transitioning to middle-grade readers, the selection highlights chapter books that have become well-worn favorites, recognizable by their dog-eared pages and fingerprints. Dusti Bowling’s Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus emerges as a household favorite. The story follows Aven, who was born without arms, as she navigates a new school, a lighthearted mystery, and friendships—including a peer with Tourette Syndrome. The book provides a realistic characterization of disability while maintaining a narrative centered on humor, self-discovery, and friendship rather than defining its protagonist entirely by her physical experience.
Similarly, Rob Harrell’s Wink draws on the author’s own early life experiences with a rare form of eye cancer. Main character Ross attempts to navigate the turbulent social landscape of middle school following a sudden diagnosis. The novel blends quirkiness, music, and honest reflection, offering a relatable narrative for any young reader who has ever felt outside the traditional mold.
The middle-grade category also incorporates nonfiction and biography through works like Rolling Warrior by Judith Heumann and Kristen Joiner, alongside Cerrie Burnell’s I Am Not a Label. Adapted from Heumann’s adult memoir, Rolling Warrior recounts the persistence of a pioneering disability rights activist, bringing firsthand historical accounts of the disability rights movement to younger readers. Meanwhile, I Am Not a Label profiles more than 30 disabled artists, thinkers, performers, and activists, actively pushing back against narrow societal expectations and offering expansive role models for developing minds.
Titles for Young Adults and Adults
For older readers, memoirs and essays take center stage, beginning with Rebekah Taussig’s Sitting Pretty. As one of the earliest memoirs read from a disabled author, Taussig’s collection of essays unpacks the realities of disability with nuance, refusing to gloss over challenges while maintaining an authentic sense of hope. The book serves as an examination of societal structures and personal perceptions alike.
Ariel Henley’s A Face for Picasso offers an equally profound exploration of identity and beauty, charting the author’s experiences growing up with Crouzon Syndrome, a rare condition causing premature fusion of cranial bones. Henley’s raw and poignant reflections challenge underlying societal beliefs about appearance and self-worth.
The collection of adult titles concludes with two seminal biographical works: Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann with Kristen Joiner, and Haben: The Deafblind Woman who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma. Heumann’s unvarnished account details major milestones in disability history, from the historic Section 504 sit-in to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and her tenure in the Obama administration. Concurrently, Girma’s memoir chronicles her journey navigating a world largely built without accommodation, reframing disability not as a personal barrier to be overcome, but as a catalyst for creative innovation and institutional change.
As readers explore these titles through local institutions like the St. Louis Public Library, families are also encouraged to check with their local branches regarding additional community benefits. Public libraries across the country frequently offer cardholders access to free and discounted tickets for local museums, cultural centers, and tourist attractions, turning a simple library visit into a broader opportunity for exploration and engagement.
