About the award
The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award was initiated in 2000 to recognize authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional and biographical children, intermediate, and young adult books that appropriately portray individuals with developmental disabilities.--from the website
Dolly Gray Award Books
Dancing with Daddy by
Elsie can't wait to go to her first father-daughter dance. She picked out the perfect dress and has been practicing swirling and swaying in her wheelchair. Elsie's heart pirouettes as she prepares for her special night. With gestures, smiles, and words from a book filled with pictures, she shares her excitement with her family. But when a winter storm comes, she wonders if she'll get the chance to spin and dance her way to a dream come true.
ISBN: 9781542007191Publication Date: 2021-10-26
Planet Earth Is Blue by
"Tender and illuminating. A beautiful debut." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me A heartrending and hopeful debut novel about a nonverbal girl and her passion for space exploration, for fans of See You in the Cosmos, Mockingbird, and The Thing About Jellyfish. Twelve-year-old Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger--it's the first time a teacher is going into space, and kids across America will watch the event on live TV in their classrooms. Nova and her big sister, Bridget, share a love of astronomy and the space program. They planned to watch the launch together. But Bridget has disappeared, and Nova is in a new foster home. While foster families and teachers dismiss Nova as severely autistic and nonverbal, Bridget understands how intelligent and special Nova is, and all that she can't express. As the liftoff draws closer, Nova's new foster family and teachers begin to see her potential, and for the first time, she is making friends without Bridget. But every day, she's counting down to the launch, and to the moment when she'll see Bridget again. Because Bridget said, "No matter what, I'll be there. I promise."
ISBN: 9780525646570Publication Date: 2019-05-14
Scarlet Ibis by
When a fire leaves twelve-year-old Scarlet in a different foster home than her autistic little brother, she tracks a bird to find her way back to him in this deeply moving illustrated novel from the author of Moon Bear. Twelve-year-old Scarlet doesn't have an easy life. She's never known her dad, her mom suffers from depression, and her younger brother Red has Asperger's and relies heavily on her to make the world a safe place for him. Scarlet does this by indulging Red's passion for birds, telling him stories about the day they'll go to Trinidad and see all the wonderful birds there (especially his beloved Scarlet Ibis), saving her money to take him to the zoo, helping him collect bird feathers, and even caring for a baby pigeon who is nesting outside his window. But things with her mom are getting harder, and after a dangerous accident, Scarlet and Red are taken into foster care and separated. As Scarlet struggles to cope with the sudden changes in her life and her complex feelings towards her mom, the one thing she won't give up on is finding Red. Nothing is going to get in her way--even if it might destroy the new possibilities offered to her by her foster family.
ISBN: 9781481449410Publication Date: 2018-05-15
The Someday Birds by
Charlie, twelve, who has autism and obsessive compulsive disorder, must endure a cross-country trip with his siblings and a strange babysitter to visit their father, who will undergo brain surgery.
ISBN: 9780062445766Publication Date: 2017-01-24
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by
Describes the life and accomplishments of the animal scientist and designer of cruelty-free livestock facilities, from her early life and autism diagnosis through her journey to become a livestock expert.
ISBN: 9781943147304Publication Date: 2017-08-29
Rain Reign by
Struggling with Asperger's syndrome, Rose Howard shares a bond with her dog, Rain, but when the dog goes missing, Rose is forced to confront the limits of her comfort levels to search for her pet.
ISBN: 9780312643003Publication Date: 2014-10-07
Remember Dippy by
While reluctantly agreeing to "babysit" his autistic older cousin during the last summer before high school, Johnny discovers a new friend in his cousin, as well as an appreciation for what really matters in a person.
ISBN: 9781935955481Publication Date: 2013-07-23
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by
A tale imparted from the perspective of long-time imaginary friend, Budo, traces his awareness of his advancing age and constant thought of the inevitable day when eight-year-old Max, an autistic boy, will stop believing in him.
ISBN: 9781250006219Publication Date: 2012-08-21
My Brother Charlie by
Callie is very proud of her brother Charlie. He's good at so many things -- swimming, playing the piano, running fast. And Charlie has a special way with animals, especially their dog, Harriet. But sometimes Charlie gets very quiet. His words get locked inside him, and he seems far away. Then, when Callie and Charlie start to play, Charlie is back to laughing, holding hands, having fun. Charlie is like any other boy -- and he has autism.
ISBN: 9780545094665Publication Date: 2010-03-01
Just Because by
A little brother describes all of the great things he can do with his big sister, who happens to be in a wheelchair.
ISBN: 9780745962672Publication Date: 2011-04-01
