While compiling this list of books to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I came across so many incredible points of view from a variety of people, from a Manager of Grassroots Advocacy at the National Down Syndrome Society to a writer and champion of Down syndrome representation in fiction, and more personally, from my friend, Sherri Krekeler, who is mother to a son with Down syndrome. Krekeler says her relationship with him is all about “learning, growing, evolving together at just the right pace in just the right moments.” With some help from Krekeler and other experts online, I’ve compiled both nonfiction and fiction titles for all kinds of readers, including parents, children, and young adults. There is a book in this list for all readers, whether we have Down syndrome ourselves, are parents or friends of someone with Down syndrome, or we simply want, in Krekeler’s words, to “shine a light and to grow our minds and our hearts.”
Nonfiction for Parents of Children with Down Syndrome
Fortunately, there is a wealth of books out there for parents of children with Down syndrome. Of course, that also means it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to read. Most of the following titles were recommended to me by Krekeler because they resonated most profoundly with her.
Books to Celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Other Nonfiction Perspectives
The Down syndrome community is full of diverse stories. These books offer glimpses into the lives of just a handful of the members of this vibrant community. Krekeler was moved by the way the author doesn’t sugarcoat her thoughts, but rather sees “moments for what they are and the people for who they are.” Krekeler told me this book was overwhelming to read all at once, but she enjoys reading it a few passages at a time. “In the beginning,” she told me, “I was reading it to absorb [and] learn.” Later, she approached this book with a more informed perspective, recognizing some parts did apply to her experiences and others didn’t. While Krekeler and her husband relied on this book while working with their son with Down Syndrome, they also recognized that they would find it “informative, practical and useful for all developing children.”
Children’s Books for Down Syndrome Awareness
I asked Krekeler to help me narrow down the list of books that celebrate characters with Down syndrome or messages of inclusivity. Many of these titles are her own family’s favorites.
YA Fiction for Down Syndrome Awareness
Because YA readers are just beginning to shape their own perspectives on the world, it’s the perfect time to introduce them to diverse characters whose lives overlap with each other’s. Each of these stories feature at least one character who has Down syndrome.
Contemporary Adult Fiction for Down Syndrome Awareness
No matter our age, being instantly dropped into someone else’s world through fiction is a magical experience, whether it’s because we recognize ourselves in the characters or because we come closer to understanding those who are different. No matter how you’re connected to the Down syndrome community, you’ll discover something inspiring when you read any of these books. After all, as Krekeler put it so well: “[W]e all come into books with different mindsets, different baggage, different perspectives, different sense[s] of time and place. It’s all these things that can shape our experience with that book.” You can find more ideas for books that celebrate characters and themes about disabilities here. And to learn more about representations of disabled people in literature, start with this Book Riot contributor’s thoughtful perspective as a disabled woman.
