All of Us: A First Conversation About Disability by Dr. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison

BY REBECCA PARTEN

“All of Us: A First Conversation About Disability” was written by Dr. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison and Jessica Ralli and illustrated by Jonathan Eden. This is a brand new book - it was published on July 1, 2025. I ordered the board book version, but it is also available in hardcover, Kindle, and Audible formats.

The book is marketed as being geared for ages 2-4 years old but I personally think it’s better for a slightly older audience. I think this because of the length and the writing and words introduced. But, maybe I’m just out of the loop on child development. I’m not sure. This is the main reason I gave the book 4.5 stars.

Aside from that concern I thought it was great! The content is appropriate for kids (and adults!) with and without disabilities. Readers are introduced to the concepts of disability identity, disability justice, self-advocacy and ableism.

The illustrations are wonderful. In addition to varying disabilities, I noticed there is also a lot of racial and ethnic diversity. The book highlights varying types of disabilities and assistive technology. For example, there are people who use a wheelchair, a scooter, walker, crutches, prosthetics, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices and more. Additional types of disabilities represented are Autism, Deafness, and Down Syndrome.

Finally, at the end of the book are a few pages featuring definitions or summaries about the concepts discussed in the book. They can help guide additional discussions beyond the questions posed throughout the book.

Next month I’ll be reviewing “SelfEsteem is Cool: A children’s Book About Self-Esteem, Diversity, and Kindness” by Beth Ann Bauer.