Included: A book for ALL children about inclusion, diversity, disability, equality and empathy

by Jayneen Sanders, Camila Carrossine (Illustrator)

This book introduces the reader to six wonderful Sam, Rishi, Jay, Audrey, Ty and Zara.
The aim of this story is to ensure all kids understand that kids with disability are just like kids everywhere. They love playing games, books, making stuff and being silly. They have things they are good at and things they need to work on. And just like kids everywhere they want to feel safe, loved and included. This book provides the reader with ways they can be more inclusive in their play and encourages the celebration of diversity in all its unique and wonderful forms. Children will come away with a growing understanding that people everywhere have differing abilities, and this only makes the world a more colourful, exciting, diverse and amazing place.

Genres: Childrens, Disability, School, Picture Books

42 pages, Hardcover

Published November 17, 2022

Reviews

[Paul Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading Included: A Book for ALL Children about Inclusion, Diversity, disability, Equality and Empathy by Jayneen Sanders. Illustrations are done by Camila Carrossine. This is a children's book I wish I had had when I was younger. As a person with a disability, this book would have been reassuring. The opening lines say it beautifully with its simplicity, "Everyone everywhere wants to be included. Everyone everywhere wants to belong." This children's book is incredibly effective in conveying the concept of understanding and inclusion. The book uses the story of six children with different kinds of disabilities. After each profile, the author poses questions to the reader like, "What do you think EMPATHY means? What do you think INCLUSIVE means?" There are also discussion questions at the end of the book for adults, parents and teachers. Credit should also go to Ms. Carrossine for her revealing and colourful illustrations. This is a book every child read. This is a book every adult should read, given the nature of our times where rage is considered a type of policy. I highly recommend this book. Enormous credit goes to Ms. Sanders for her efforts.

[Maiss Lukyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Included ” is a book centered on an audience of children who are in kindergarten to second grade. It is a fiction book that shows disability, diversity, equality, and empathy how unique each person is. These are some things kids in those grades will enjoy and help them stay interested in the material.

It is especially inspiring to all children. This is a beautiful story that reassures kids to be themselves. In the book, it shows six different kids. Throughout the book, it shows all the children with different physical traits they have, different personalities that each kid can have, and all the different abilities each and everyone has. It also talks about how different each kid is making them unique, and you should be proud of who you are. The book is also great due to its representation of young children.

I would choose this book for my classroom library since representation matters and to normalize enjoying who you are. I think this book is worth sharing in the classroom library since it is a positive story showing how awesome it is to be yourself. This book also gives many different messages, but the ones I truly love are to love yourself, self-acceptance, and always be confident in who you are.

[Tori Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about six different kids who have disabilities and educates students on what the disability they have is and how it might impact them. Each kids story ends with how they love to feel included and how they feel when they are included. All the stories wrap up with the message that even though we are all different, we are all also very alike. It encourages students to be kind and include everyone because it truly does impact everyone. It provides students with ideas and ways to include others and also provides a parent and educator conversation guide at the end. I would probably use this guide to guide a discussion about inclusion, diversity, disability, equality, and empathy at the end of reading this book aloud. We would then do an inclusion activity and I would challenge students to do as many inclusive things they can do each day! I think it's important for students to really understand the impact of including others and also see the representation in this book. I think it's important for everyone inside and outside of our classroom to be represented because our identities are who we aare and what makes us all unique in our own ways.

[Erin O'Halloran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Included by Jayneen Sanders is a children’s book that promotes inclusion, diversity, disability awareness, equality, and empathy. Through engaging illustrations, meaningful language, the book encourages children to embrace differences, be kind, and create a welcoming environment for everyone. It highlights the importance of respect, understanding, and standing up for others. I would use this book as a read aloud during discussions on kindness and inclusion. After reading, students could share their own experiences or role-play scenarios to practice empathy and understanding. This would help foster a supportive and accepting classroom community.

[Meghan]

This book is about 6 kids with disabilities and explains what their disability means and what things that kid enjoys. This book also gives ways that they can be inclusive in their play and it also celebrates diversity. I think this book is one that I would have out in all times for the students in my classroom. I would use this to show, celebrate, and start conversations of diversity and inclusion.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great classroom resource, highlighting 6 children with differences (cerebral palsy, autism, deafness, down syndrome, ADHD, limb difference) and how all of us "have things we are good at, and things we are working on". I'd recommend reading this in chunks, as the text may be too long to hold a young one's attention in one sitting. Both throughout and the end of the book there are excellent prompts for discussion.

[Courtney Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource to help build awareness and share about variety of disabilities in a positive yet engaging manner. The text is written for kids to understand. Great resource and have recommended to many other educator friends! This should be included in all classrooms.

[Veronika Pizano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jayneen Sanders prináša dôležité knihy o rôznorodosti, inklúzii a rešpekte. Pre malé deti dobre spracovaná kniha. Je tu len 6 príbehov, počas čítania mi napadlo množstvo iných rôznorodých príbehov, ktoré by sa dali spracovať. Hlavné posolstvo knihy: Každé dieťa je iné, všetky sú rovnaké. ❤️

[Kennedy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Great for any classroom

[Amy Maciejewski]

This is a great book that helps teach children about including everyone. I would read this at the beginning of the school year.

[Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It includes a lot of different brain and body differences and talks about disability in a normalizing way!

[Julie]

I really liked it. I thought it was inciteful. It had been a while since I read anything like this and I was struck by it.