In the United States each year, roughly 1 in 1,900 people are born with a limb difference, and an additional 185,000 individuals experience a limb amputation. Children's literature with representation of characters with upper limb differences help empower children to accept their own, as well as others', differences.

Series of books for children featuring characters with limb differences Includes series of three or more books (two book series and standalone series are included on the next list). Series are listed by publication date. Bold text indicates author or illustrator with a limb difference. Title (Series)Author/IllustratorCharacter(s) with limb difference(s)Year 1st PublishedBook typeAven GreenDusti Bowling/Gina PerryProtagonist is a girl with no arms.2021-PresentChapter bookWhat Happened to You?James Catchpole & Lucy Catchpole/Karen GeorgeProtagonist is a boy missing his right leg.2021-2024Picture bookThe Wolf in UnderpantsWilfrid Lupano/Mayana ItoïzProtagonist has a friend that is a bird with one small wing. Featured prominently in the second ("The Wolf in Underpants: At Full Speed") and third ("The Wolf in Underpants Breaks Free") books in the series.2019-PresentGraphic novelMia MayhemKara West/Leeza HernandezProtagonist's friend has prosthetic legs. This friend is in some books of this series.2018-PresentChapter book5 WorldsMark Siegel, Alexis Siegel /Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, Boya SunOne protagonist is a robot who loses his right arm in an accident and then receives a new mechanical arm. Another protagonist begins losing his right hand due to a mysterious illness.2017-2022Picture bookJust JessicaJessica Smith/Hasīna Shafad Protagonist is a girl without a right hand.2022Picture bookDinosaur Farm: A story about a kid with a limb difference that is NOT about the limb differenceKristen SilvaThe author has written versions of this story with various protagonists, including: a boy missing fingers on his left hand, a girl with a prosthetic left leg, and a boy with a prosthetic right leg.2019Picture bookAvery Takes the StageKristen SilvaVarious versions of this book. Sophia: prosthetic left leg. Ava: congenital left-hand limb difference. Clara: missing part of her right arm (congenital amputee). Kyra: missing part of her right arm (congenital amputee).2018-2019Picture bookThe Chronicles of ClaudetteKara West/Leeza HernandezProtagonist's father has above knee and left arm amputations from fight with dragon.2012-2018Chapter book

Other books for children featuring characters with limb differences Books are listed by publication date. Bold text indicates author or illustrator with a limb difference. Title (Series)Author/IllustratorCharacter(s) with limb difference(s)Year 1st PublishedBook typeI am the CageAllison Sweet GrantProtagonist is a girl with a congenital short femur.2025Chapter bookLucy's Fancy LegLisa DeJongProtagonist is a girl with a below-the-knee amputation on her left leg.2024Picture bookThe abilities in me: Limb DifferenceGemma Keir/Yevheniia LisovayaProtagonist is a girl missing fingers on her right hand as well as her right leg below her knee.2022Picture bookBaking Up a StormJessica Parham/Srimalie BassaniProtagonist is a boy without a left hand.2022Picture bookCome Over to My HouseEliza Hull, Sally Rippin/Daniel Gray-BarnettExamples of lots of different disabilities and how people live by showing kids playing at each other's houses. One family includes a dad with a missing forearm and his various prosthetics. There is also a parent with dwarfism who uses a reaching claw to assist.2022Picture bookGoldie's Tasty TacosNicole Julia/Jeff CrowtherProtagonist is a girl goat who does not have a left hand.2022Chapter bookI am Sheriauna: We are AbleSherylee Honeyghan/Ana PatankarProtagonist is Sheriauna Haase, a girl with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2022Picture bookMy Friend JacksonSharon WassonProtagonist is a boy with congenital limb differences.2022Picture bookPerfectly Precious Peggy: A True Story about Challenges, Acceptance, and FriendshipDale Lee Loomis/Maria MughalProtagonist is a female goat missing her front right leg.2022Picture bookWhy Me, Mama?Katherine Lockwood/Evgeniya ErokhinaTwo of the characters have a limb difference. Every character in the story represents a different disability.2022Picture bookABC Let's Celebrate You and MeSugar Snap StudioFeatures several characters with limb differences, including a boy with a prosthetic right leg, a boy with a prosthetic left leg, a boy with two short fingers on his left hand, and a girl without a left hand.2021Picture bookThe Bare Naked BookKathy Stinson/Meilssa Cho Depiction of many people, including some with limb differences.2021Picture bookWhat makes you Super?: Let's talk about Amniotic Band SyndromeFernanda Neves/Leonardo Zampronio Protagonist is a girl missing her index and middle fingers on her right hand, from Amniotic Band Syndrome.2021Picture bookWhen You See a Child Who's DifferentAbbey Luckett Benjamin/Michael Garriga Depiction of children with various limb differences.2021Picture bookBodies are CoolTyler FederBook shows a variety of different bodies (including ones with varied limb differences).2021Picture bookGood to Be MeJessica Parham/Srimalie BassaniDepiction of many kids, including some with limb differences.2021Picture bookKodiJared CullumOne of the main characters is an amputee from a fishing accident.2021Graphic novelRescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing FriendshipJessica Kensky/Patrick DownesProtagonist is a girl who is a double-leg below-knee (acquired) amputee.2021Picture book (based on true story)Roxy and Maliboo: It's Okay to Be DifferentHillary Sussman/Blake MarseeProtagonist is a dog missing her right back leg because she was ill.2021Picture bookRoxy and Tully: Words MatterHillary Sussman/Blake MarseeProtagonist is a dog missing her right back leg because she was ill.2021Picture bookSplashClaire Cashmore/Sharon DaveyProtagonist is Claire Cashmore (Paralympian) as a child. She does not have a left hand.2021Picture book (based on true story)Timo the AdventurerJonathan Garnier/Yohan SacréProtagonist loses his arm (due to magic) near the end of the book.2021Graphic novelThe Wonky DonkeyCraig SmithProtagonist is a donkey missing front left leg; wears a prosthetic.2021Picture bookAlf's PowerMina Minozzi/Miruna PrunacheProtagonist is a boy without his lower left arm.2020Picture bookBrooklyn's Lucky FinJenna ReganProtagonist is a girl with what she calls a "lucky fin," referring to her right hand specifically.2020Picture bookEvie's Missing SomethingKhadija Johnson Protagonist is a girl missing the lower part of her left arm.2020Picture bookWe Are Little Feminists On-the-GoBrook Sitgraves Turner/Archaa ShrivastavDepicts many children, including some with various limb differences.2020Board book5 Fingers and 10 Toes: Jo-Jo Goes to SchoolDawn Civitello/Francisco Villa Protagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2019Picture bookAwesomely Emma: A Charley and Emma StoryAmy Webb/Merrilee LiddiardOne of the two protagonists is a girl with a congenital upper and lower limb differences.2019Picture bookThe Bionic Kid: Bionic BeginningsZachary Pamboukas, Christo Pamboukas, Niko PamboukasProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his right side.2019ComicThe Bionic Kid, Issue 2Zachary Pamboukas, Christo Pamboukas, Niko PamboukasProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his right side.2019ComicHands (My Body, Your Body)John WoodBook displays a variety of hands, some displaying hands with varied lengths of fingers or number of fingers.2019Picture bookRae's First Day: The First Story in the Capable SeriesDanny Jordan/Agustina PercianteProtagonist is a girl with radial dysplasia (on her right side).2019ComicSophia Takes the StageKristen SilvaProtagonist is a girl with a prosthetic left leg.2019Picture bookWhen Charley Met EmmaAmy Webb/Merrilee LiddiardOne of the two protagonists is a girl with a congenital upper and lower limb differences.2019Picture book5 Fingers and 10 ToesDawn Civitello/Francisco Villa Protagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2019Picture bookMomentous Events in the Life of a CactusDusti BowlingProtagonist is a girl who is a congenital double-arm amputee.2019Chapter bookAva Takes the StageKristen SilvaProtagonist is a girl with a congenital left-hand limb difference.2018Picture bookBarefoot Books: Children of the WorldTessa Strickland, Kate DePalma/David DeanDepiction of many children, including those with limb differences.2018Picture bookClara Takes the StageKristen SilvaProtagonist is a girl missing part of her right arm (congenital amputee).2018Picture bookKyra Takes the StageKristen SilvaProtagonist is a girl missing part of her right arm (congenital amputee).2018Picture bookLook What Kate Can Do: One Hand Works as Well as TwoKatie Leatherwood, Paul LeatherwoodProtagonist is a girl with symbrachydactyly on her left hand.2018Picture bookReindeer in HereAdam Reed/Xindi YanProtagonist is a reindeer with shortened left antler.2018Picture bookI am SheriaunaSherylee Honeyghan/Ana PatankarProtagonist is Sheriauna Haase, a girl with a congenital upper limb difference on her left side.2017Picture bookI Have a Doll Just Like You!Julie Ann Zitterkopf Larson/Jacqueline Kerr One of the protagonists is a boy with a congenital amputation of his left arm.2017Picture bookInsignificant Events in the Life of a CactusDusti BowlingProtagonist is a girl who is a congenital double-arm amputee.2017Chapter bookRising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youths to Become StarsGregory Zuckerman, Elijah Zuckerman, Gabriel ZuckermanIncludes the story of a professional baseball pitcher Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand.2017Non-fictionUniquely BraveTrace Wilson/Ana SebastianProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2017Picture bookDifferent is AwesomeRyan Haack/Wes MolebashProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2015Picture bookEmmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu YeboahLaurie Ann Thompson, Sean Qualls Protagonist is a boy with a congenital lower limb different on right-hand side.2015Picture book (non-fiction)My Little LegRobyn LambertProtagonist is a girl with a prosthetic leg.2015Picture bookMy Little Leg Grows BiggerRobyn LambertProtagonist is a girl with a prosthetic leg.2015Picture bookNimonaND StevensonOne protagonist is a man with an amputated right arm.2015Graphic novelUniquely MeTrace Wilson/Ana SebastianProtagonist is a boy with a congenital upper limb difference on his left side.2015Picture bookJust Like Us: A Coloring Book Celebrating Children with Limb DifferencesJennifer Latham RobinsonDepiction of many kids with varying limb differences.2014Coloring bookHarry and Willy and CarrotheadJudith CaseleyOne of the protagonists (Harry) is a congenital left hand amputee.1991Picture book

See also Congenital limb deformities Amputation List of children's books featuring deaf characters List of amputees in film :Category:Amputees :Category:Fiction about amputees

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