Every child deserves to see themselves represented in children's literature. And every kind of brain deserves to be understood, whether they're autistic, have sensory processing differences, ADHD, neurotypical, or otherwise neurodivergent.
This list of ADHD picture books is a great way to celebrate neurodivergent experiences and help kids better understand some of their classmates or friends. They're perfect for kids of all ages, whether they're an ADHDer or they jsut want to learn about different kinds of brains.
You're going to love these children's books about ADHD!
The Best ADHD Picture Books for Kids
The following children's books focus on ADHD traits and describing what life with ADHD is like.
Please note that I have personally read and reviewed all of the following books myself and would feel comfortable sharing these books with my own children. The list will be updated as I find new titles to share and include.
1. Wepa: English & Spanish by J de laVega
Written by an ADHDer, this bilingual picture book is excellent, showcasing many strengths of ADHD. Plus, I really love the illustrations (except for all the music notes that are drawn wrong!). The art style is unique, but so fun and inviting. And I really love the character and how she finds a place where her wepa (aka ADHD) can be celebrated. Highly recommend checking this book out.
2. Happy Dreamer by Peter H. Reynolds
I always love Peter's illustrations and books and this one is no exception. This illustrations are fun and magical throughout and I especially love the page with the fireworks and how it contrasts with the rest of the book. It's a really great book that encourages kids to just be themselves. While ADHD is never explicitly mentioned in the text, this book is definitely relatable to those with ADHD.
3. My Wandering Dreaming Mind by Merriam Sarcia Saunders
This children's book features a girl with inattentive ADHD whose mind wanders a lot. It highlights different ADHD strengths and shows how to reframe weaknesses (e.g., distracted = curious or imaginative). I liked how the illustrations showed outlines of things that the girl was seeing or daydreaming about. It's a good book overall.
4. My Whirling, Twirling Motor by Merriam Sarcia Saunders
Like the book above, this one highlights the strengths and positives of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD and shows how to reframe weaknesses (not surprising, given that it's the same author as the book above). It features a boy with ADHD who is always moving and fidgeting. Overall, the book is good and I love the illustrations.
5. Marvelous by Alexandra Hoffman
While this book doesn't explicitly name ADHD in the text, it's clear the boy is an ADHDer. The illustrations are great and I love how the book showcases the strength of creativity that is common in ADHD. It's a good little book.
6. Lost Inside My Head by Vigg
Here's a really good picture book written by an ADHDer, based on their experience. It has lovely and unique illustrations and I especially like the contrast between the illustrations and the two-page spread that lists all the distractions in uppercase letters (those particular pages remind me SO much of my son back in grade one - super relatable). I like the house analogy used throughout (although some kids might get distressed that it skips numbers 5-10 when describing the house).
This picture book is also quite long in terms of length, especially compared to others on this list. And, at times, it felt a bit disjointed or choppy. So I found the story doesn't always flow well, which could have been intentional or it could have been due to translation issues. Due to the length, I think this book is better suited to older kids, but it's definitely worth checking out.
7. My Brain is a Race Car by Nell Harris
I appreciate the simple format of this book and that it doesn't use any big words or acronyms. It uses rhyming text throughout to describe ADHD, while also touching on burnout, coping strategies, and sensory accommodations. Overall, it's a decent little book, especially for kids who like cars.
More Neurodiversity Related Picture Book Recommendations for Kids
While the above list of books focus primarily on ADHD and its traits, perhaps you're looking for something that focuses on a different neurotype or neurodiversity in general. If so, try these book lists:
- The Best Autism Picture Books for Kids - Perfect for introducing autism and its traits to kids of all ages.
- The Best Neurodiversity Books for Kids - Picture books that are perfect for introducing the concept of neurodiversity to kids.
- The Best Sensory Processing Picture Books for Kids - Awesome for learning about sensory processing, sensory overload, and exploring sensory differences.
I hope you enjoyed this list of ADHD picture books. Which one will you be checking out first?
