The ABCs of Inclusion
A Disability Inclusion Book For Kids
Reimagined, Refreshed & Ready To Inspire
Celebrate inclusion in a whole new way — the second edition of "The ABCs of Inclusion" is here!
In a relatable, positive, and compassionate voice, disability advocate and social media content creator Beth Leipholtz introduces twenty-six real kids with autism, hearing differences, epilepsy, Down syndrome, and more than a dozen other diagnoses. Their stories remind us that people with disabilities are all around us, and all children deserve to be seen, heard, valued, understood, and loved.
Reimagined, Refreshed & Ready To Inspire - Coming Fall 2025
a peek at our story
The journey to this book's existence began in October 2019, when our world was rocked by the information that our son, Cooper, was profoundly deaf. The diagnosis was overwhelming. As a way of processing, I began writing about and sharing our journey on social media.
As we gained a steady following, it became apparent to me that so many people had stories to share — and not only that, they had children to educate. Why not create a book that told those stories, but also served to teach children that differences aren't a scary thing?
Since releasing the book in March 2023, it has grown beyond what I anticipated. I am overjoyed to announce the Fall 2025 re-release of the book by Little, Brown and Company, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.
A Disability Inclusion Book For Kids
About The Author
Beth Leipholtz is an inclusion and accessibility advocate who believes in creating a more accepting world for our children. As the hearing mother of a deaf child, Beth is raising her son, Cooper, bilingually in both hearing and Deaf cultures. She shares her parenting journey on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, where she has built a community of more than 2 million people around disability inclusion.
She lives with her husband and son in Minnesota. In addition to spending time with her family, Beth enjoys Minnesota summers, photography, iced Americanos, CrossFit, and a good old-fashioned book. You can follow her online at @beth_and_coop.
About The Illustrator
Voun Illustration is a Vietnam-based illustration duo with over six years of experience in picture book and advertising illustration. Starting with local publishers in Vietnam, they expanded internationally in 2018, collaborating with publishers in China, Malaysia, and Korea to bring children’s stories to life with their vibrant and heartfelt artwork.
Praise for the original edition of The ABCs of Inclusion
- Awesome! What an amazing way to teach and show kids that others are sometimes different than us, but even though we may be different in ways that are not easily seen, they still deserve kindness. I’m so excited to read this to my kids!Abby R.Amazing! I think it's a fantastic idea. I work in a daycare and we will be reading it to the children quite a bit.MaryAmazing! This books was well worth the wait! It’s a great way to introduce others to disabilities they may not know about! It also helps teach kids that everyone is special and different 10/10 definitely recommendBecca c.
- This book blew my mind! Not only is this book beautiful, but it's message of inclusivity & understanding of those with different disabilities is profound!Beautifully done & a must have in your library for any kiddo in your life (adults too!) that you want to raise or encourage to be a kind human!Ashley L.Great Book! Read this to my first graders who have learning disabilities! They loved learning about the different children and the different disabilities! The cutest moment is when my students leave the class now they have to touch the braille on the classroom door EVERYDAY!HonestlyAmazing book about real life kiddos!! I loved the idea of this book as soon as I saw it and I love the end result! 26 real like kiddos with amazing abilities!! Everyone should pick this up and spread the word that there is no other option rather than inclusion for our amazing kiddos in this world.Hannah M.
- Must have! I got 3 copies of this book. One for my child and 2 to share! The illustrations on beautiful and bright! Every letter tells its own unique story. I’ve enjoyed learning more about the wonderful people that make up this world!Naomi M.My son Gabe is in this book! My son is in this book. He has so much pride showing it to everyone, saying "G is for Gabe, that's me!" Great book, showing the true personalities of our kids, not just their special needs. Thank you so so much Beth Leipholtz.Shonna Z.Best book! Love it so much! I will read it to my class at school. Thank you for writing! This is wonderful.amanda
FAQs
How can I order The ABCs of Inclusion?
You can order your copy at various retailers. See the list here.
What diagnoses are featured in the book?
Resources
Pronunciation Guide
Here's a helpful video and list for some of the trickier content in the book.
ASL and Descriptive Version Of Book
In writing this book, I knew a variety of children would be reading it and I wanted it to be as accessible as possible. I've partnered with the Described and Captioned Media Program and Imagination Storybooks to bring this book to life with voice descriptions and ASL captioning. Follow the steps on this page to access it. Happy reading!