Wokingham

Youngsters visiting Wokingham district libraries will now be able to gain a better understanding of disabilities thanks to local charity Peapods who have donated money to buy books featuring characters with disabilities.

Peapods is a local charity and support group whose aim is to bring families of those with disabilities together. With their donation of £500, Wokingham District Council has bought for the ten public libraries within the district a variety of fiction and non-fiction books aimed at different ages which help raise awareness of children and young people with disabilities.

Mother of three and Peapods committee member Sarah Barnard said: “Peapods decided to do something positive which would benefit the entire community and Wokingham district libraries were very keen to be a partner in this project. The idea was not only to buy non-fiction ‘medical’ books which would help families further their understanding of certain conditions, but also to choose carefully a selection of fiction books with disabled children in the story to interest young readers everywhere. There are some great books out there with disabled children as heroes, heroines and as supporting characters in stories. We are pleased that Wokingham libraries have been active in helping us purchase books which reflect society properly. We hope that families throughout the Wokingham district enjoy the new books.”

Wokingham Cllr Iain Brown, chairman of the council, said: “We are delighted that Peapods have donated money for us to buy these books. It is important that we include everybody in our society and this is an excellent way of educating children about people with disabilities.”