Hi I’m Julia.  I’m a native Pittsburgher born with Cerebral Palsy, who also has Type I Diabetes and Epilepsy.  I’m an aspiring artist and writer and I am currently working on a children’s book and a novel. I also work at Brother Andre’s Cafe as a cashier and as their blog writer. In addition, I have my own Instagram and blog called Wheeling Around where I share what my life looks like. I love to travel and explore new places.  I started writing to help people better understand disabilities. I want to show everyone that disabilities shouldn’t define the person they are. I believe that we all have a story to tell.   

I’m an avid reader.  These are my picks for books with disability representation. All these books truly depict the struggles and joys of living with a disability.  In these books, not only do we learn about the person or character’s disability and how they navigate a world not made for people like us, but we watch them have typical feelings and experiences. We learn what they like and dislike, and who they are as a whole person. I hope you’ll take a look at these books for some of your future reads. 

Jun 24, 2026

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If you’re looking for more book suggestions, we’re happy to recommend them to you! Use this Book Recommendation form to send us some information about what you like to read and we’ll curate a list just for you.

If you have any additional questions, you can call us at 412-622-3114 or email us at info@carnegielibrary.org. You can find additional ways to contact us on the Need Help? page.

In the Catalog

Best Day Ever!

Best Day Ever!

Marilyn Singer

The story of a playful puppy and her best friend.

From the Catalog

From Libby

From Hoopla

Daniel's New Friend

Daniel’s New Friend

Becky Friedman

Daniel meets Prince Wednesday’s cousin, Chrissie!

From the Catalog

Every Body

Every Body

A Celebration of Diverse Abilities

Shelley Rotner

This photo picture book looks at differences in bodies, with photos of children with many different challenges including various physical disparities, learning differences, and medical conditions.

From the Catalog

Out of My Mind

Out of My Mind

Sharon M. Draper

“Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there’s no delete button. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school-but NO ONE knows it. Most people-her teachers and doctors included-don’t think she’s capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows. But she can’t. She can’t talk. She can’t walk. She can’t write. Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind-that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it. From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you’ll never, ever forget”–Publisher.

From the Catalog

From Libby

From Hoopla

Sam's Super Seats

Sam’s Super Seats

Keah Brown

Sam, who has cerebral palsy, goes back-to-school shopping with her best friends.

From the Catalog

What Happened to You?

What Happened to You?

James Catchpole

Joe, a young boy trying to play pirates at the playground, keeps getting interrupted with questions about what happened to his leg, and gets more and more fed up until the kids finally understand they don’t need to know what happened.

From the Catalog

Wonder

Wonder

R. J. Palacio

Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student.

From the Catalog