Literature for children and young adults is written for many different reasons. It is written purely to entertain, to help children and young adults understand the world they live in, or to help cope with problems they face. It can also be written to introduce new places, ideas, or situations to its readers, or to portray characters with whom readers can relate to better understand themselves. Children's and young adult books that portray characters with disabilities are important tools for helping all readers learn about, understand, and relate to people with disabilities. Literature portraying characters with disabilities can help children and young adults develop the habit of reading for pleasure about characters like themselves, and it can support the development of personal power by portraying these characters as strong and believable. This literature can also assist children and young adults with disabilities in developing self-esteem and sense of purpose. If children and young adults are exposed to books that portray characters with disabilities, they can learn about their own feelings towards their peers with disabilities, reflect on similarities between themselves and the character with the disability, and become aware of the everyday life of a child with a disability. They can learn to understand the challenges their peers with disabilities face every day. In this article, the author presents some key criteria for school librarians and educators to consider before selecting books that portray characters with disabilities.