Annotated Bibliography: Mild Intellectual Disabilities

Arnie and The New Kid by Nancy Carlson

• The book “Arnie and the New Kid” by Nancy Carlson is about a boy named Arnie, who

would be considered a “normal” boy; and the new kid in class Phillip, Phillip is also a

“normal” boy, he just uses a wheelchair to get around. At the beginning of the book Arnie

would be mean to Phillip and tease him. Arnie ends up getting hurt and must use crutches

to get around. Arnie and Phillip end up becoming the best of friends while Arnie is using

his crutches. After Arnie got out of his crutches he almost forgets about his new Phillip.

Arnie did not forget Phillip because he new what it is like to be left out. This book would

be good to use in classrooms with kindergarten up to second grade students. It is an easy

read and illustrates that a little bit of kindness can do a lot for a student.

Arnie and the New Kid written by Nancy Carlson. (1992). Picture Puffin Books.
Howie Helps Himself by Joan Fassler
• The book “Howie Helps Himself” by Joan Fassler is about a little boy who deals with

Cerebral Palsy. Howie goes to school by a special bus and he goes to a special classroom.

Howie is struggling with his independence because he is not able to move himself in his

wheelchair. By the end of the book, Howie is finally able to move himself in his

wheelchair just like his peers! This book could possibly be very beneficial in teaching

students about kids with Cerebral Palsy and it could be used to teach that you should

never give up on yourself, because you never know what you could accomplish. This

book is a little dated though since it uses terms such as “special bus” and “special

classroom.”

Howie helps Himself written by Joan Fassler. (1974). Illustrated by Joe Lasker. Jenson Books

Inc.

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Lemon the Duck by Laura Backman

• The book “lemon the Duck” by Laura Backman is about a duckling who is not able to

move and do like her other duckling siblings. Through the help of her classroom students

and teacher, she is finally able to walk around like the other ducks. This book can be used

as a great learning tool to teach a class about the special education program because

through the program a student is able to succeed just like Lemon the duck did. This book

can also be used as a great learning tool to teach that not only humans and animals can br

different and have disabilities. But through help, an individual can succeed.

Lemmon the Duck written by Laura Backman. (2009). Illustrated by Laurence Cleyet-Merle.

Orca Book Publishers.

 Whoever You Are by Mem Fox

• The book “Whoever you are” by Mem Fox is about how we are all the same. We are all

human. No matter what your skin tone, the color of your hair or even if you have a

disability, we are all the same. This book would be a great learning book in a first grade

or so classroom. The book teaches diversity and not to dislike anyone based on their race

or disability. We are all the same and Mem Fox does a great job illustrating this in her

book, “whoever you are.”

Whoever You Are written by Mem Fox. (2006). Illustrated by Leslie Staub. HMH Books.
Just Because by Rebecca Elliot

• The book “Just Because” by Rebecca Elliot is a story about a child with a Mild

Intellectual disability. The story is told through her little brethren’s eyes. He compares his

sister to a princess because all she does is sit there and look pretty. The little boy adores

his big sister and wants to do everything with her. This book would be very beneficial in

a kindergarten classroom to illustrate that you can love someone with a disability just

because.

Just Because written by Rebecca Elliot. (2012). Lion Hudson LTD.