Talking to your child about Moebius syndrome early on in their life helps build self-confidence and self-acceptance. It can be challenging to do this in a manner that they can understand but books are a great way to spark these early conversations.
We also encourage parents of typical children to read books about disability. Spending time reading and discussing disability helps lower stigma and discrimination against people who are different. You can build allies for the facial differences community by reading at home!
Children with limited vision can receive books from Seedlings, a non-profit that provides free and low-cost braille books for children.
Learn MoreEach month the Moebius Syndrome Foundation selects a children’s book that is naturally inclusive of children with facial differences and/or disabilities. We post recorded readings on our social media channels, as publishers permit. Authors are always welcome to visit!
September 2023: Come Over to My House by Eliza Hull and Sally Rippin
August 2023: Hiya Moriah by Victoria Nelson
July 2023: All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel and Foreward by Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins
June 2023: Fighting for YES! The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann by Maryann Cocca-Leffler and Afterward by Judith Heumann
May 2023: So Much More to Helen! The Passions and Pursuits of Helen Keller by Meeg Pincus
April 2023: The ABCs of Inclusion: A disability inclusion book for kids by Beth Leipholtz
March 2023: I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott
February 2023: Stompin’ at the Savoy: How Chick Webb Became the King of Drums by Moira Rose Donohue
January 2023: Why Me, Mama? A Children’s Book About the Disability Experience by Katherine Lockwood
December 2022: Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
November 2022: When Charley Met Emma by Amy Webb
October 2022: The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
September 2022: I Love My Body Because by Shelly Anand and Nomi Ellenson
August 2022: Spike: The Penguin With Rainbow Hair by Sarah Cullen and Carmen Ellis
Book reading by Victoria Nelson, author of Hiya Moriah
Book reading by Katie Lockwood, author of Why Me, Mama?
Book reading by Amy Webb, author of When Charley Met Emma and Awesomely Emma
Illustrated by Merrillee Liddiard
Published by Beaming Books
By RJ Palacio
Random House, 2012
This chapter book describes the phenomenal story of a fictional boy with a craniofacial condition. This New York Times best-selling book has also been adapted into a movie. Companion books include: 365 Days of Wonder and Auggie and Me.
By RJ Palacio
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2017
The picture book companion to Wonder.
By Cece Bell
Harry N. Abrams, 2014
The target audience is ages 8 – 12, but this graphic novel is perfect for children and adults interested in reading about a girl who is hearing impaired. It is heartfelt, humorous, and based on the author’s experiences as a child.
By Katherine Lockwood
Acorn Cottage Press, 2022
Written by a mother of a child with Moebius syndrome, this picture book explores all the multifaceted aspects of Moebius syndrome’s clinical presentation.
Smile for Me
By Linda Lawrance
This is a children’s book about Moebius syndrome written by a mother in Australia. For more information, contact lindaglawrance@mail.com.
In Your Face: The Facts About Your Features
by Donna M. Jackson
Penguin Young Readers, 2004
For ages 9 and up, facial features and cultural differences are explained. There is a chapter on Moebius syndrome.
By Nancy Carlson
Gillete Children’s Specialty Healthcare, 2014
This picture book is for ages 3 – 8 and is about children encountering people with disabilities or complex medical conditions. The flipbook can be read online or the book can be ordered at https://www.gillettechildrens.org/giving/support-curepity/its-okay-to-ask/.
By Anna Llenas
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2018
A picture book that describes emotion without relying on facial expressions. Different color monsters explain how they feel when they have different emotions.