Children’s Books featuring Deaf/hard of hearing characters

WSELC Lending Library

The WSELC Lending Library includes a wide variety of books for children of all ages. The list below features books appropriate for young children. Books can be checked out via mail; please contact wselc@uw.edu for more information.

Selections and descriptions were curated by Leah Martin, staff audiologist at the Pediatric Audiology Clinic at the CHDD, University of Washington Medical Center.

Ada and the Helpers Paperback by Travis D. Peterson

“Be bold! Be brave! Let you be you… and let’s help others, too!” That’s Ada’s motto.

Ada is a dancing, deaf fox with cochlear implants who loves to help others. On her way to dance in a talent show one day, she meets three other creatures who are each facing a physical challenge or disability of their own. She decides to help each of her new friends to see past their challenges and discover their natural strengths. But can they help her in return? Ada’s a bit nervous about the talent show!

This children’s book comes with some special features, including:

One word spelled out using the American Sign Language alphabet on each spread of the story (14 in all) in diverse skin tones so that you can help your child practice learning the ASL alphabet and begin fingerspelling.

An ASL alphabet chart in the back of the book. By the way, the hardcover edition has a double-sided dust jacket that also serves as an American sign language alphabet poster, perfect for hanging in your child’s bedroom or in the classroom!

The book also introduces three of the ling sounds used in the Ling Six Sound Test, which is used to help audiologists, special educators or teachers of the deaf, and parents or hard-of-hearing children assess whether or not the child can hear and recognize the full range of vocal sound. By helping your child associate these phonics with the characters in the book, it becomes easier for you to practice these sounds with them.

Mighty Mila Paperback by Katie Petruzziello

Mila may be a kid, but she can act pretty grown up…at least that’s what she thinks. The trouble is, Mila’s parents still treat her like she’s little, so she’s decided to prove once and for all that she can do things “all on her own!” But when it turns out that being a big kid isn’t as easy as she thought, will Mila admit defeat, or will she find a way to prove just how big and mighty she really is?

Readers of all ages will love Mila’s spitfire personality and imaginative approach to overcoming obstacles and will cheer her on as she uses her creativity, her willpower, and even her new cochlear implant hearing devices to face down challenges.

Representation & empowerment: A book that provides much needed representation for deaf/hard of hearing children through a fun story portraying a deaf main character as a “regular kid”, where her hearing loss is NOT the focus of the story. Also enables typical hearing children to see that deaf/hard of hearing children think, feel and act just the same way as they do!

Princess Lizzie Wears Hearing Aids Paperback by Tosombra Kimes

What is hearing loss?

Why do Princess Lizzie and other kids have to wear hearing aids? How do they help?

In this book, kids learn about hearing loss by following Princess Lizzie’s journey.

This book is excellent for all readers, those with and without hearing loss, to enjoy.

Super Kena: A Girl Made Fierce with Hearing Aids by Becky Cymbaluk

Kena is a fierce, determined and caring kindergartner. She is hard of hearing and wears hearing aids.

When kids at school make fun of her hearing aids, she gets a super idea. Super Kena will gather her differently-abled classmates to create a team of “superheroes”. Together, they will use their superpowers to make a difference in the world. They will spread understanding and acceptance, one classroom at a time.

Perfect for children ages 4-8, this book teaches acceptance, kindness, compassion and diversity. It teaches kids to accept the differences in others and in themselves.

Mila Gets Her Super Ears Paperback by Ashley Machovec

Come join Mila and her family on their journey as they navigate the world of hearing loss, hearing aids and cochlear implants! Mila refers on her newborn hearing screening, and her family begins to navigate this new world. After two years, Mila’s hearing drops and she quickly becomes a candidate for cochlear implants. Her family does not know what to expect, and neither does Mila. We touch on an ABR, initial diagnosis, the listening booth, the cochlear implant procedure and the multiple therapies that our children with hearing loss require all in a positive way. The characters are happy and curious; the illustrations are colorful and lighthearted, and the language is easy to understand and relatable. This is Mila’s journey to cochlear implantation. With her family by her side, she can do anything.

Gracie’s Ears Paperback by Debbie Blackington

This is the story of Gracie, your everyday fun-loving kid who does everything that you do but has trouble hearing. It’s as if her ears are sleeping! Can anyone or anything wake up Gracie’s ears? Based on a true story.

Told in rhyme, this uplifting story with gentle illustrations is based on a real little girl who doesn’t realize her ears aren’t working like most people’s do. When her family searches for answers, she discovers the wonder of hearing aids and the sounds of the world. Gracie’s Ears introduces what hearing aids are to young children needing help to hear, and to their friends who wonder – what are those things in their friend’s ears and what do they do?

Baby Loves the Five Senses: Hearing! (Baby Loves Science) Board book by Ruth Spiro

Accurate enough to satisfy an expert, yet simple enough for a baby, this book explores the world of sound–what it is, how it’s made, and how Baby hears it. Baby also learns that some ears use technological help, and some people use ways other than sound to communicate. Beautiful, visually stimulating illustrations complement age-appropriate language to encourage baby’s sense of wonder. Parents and caregivers may learn a thing or two, as well!

Freddie and the Fairy by Julia Donaldson

Freddie wants nothing more than a pet, so when the fairy Bessie-Belle offers to grant his wishes, he knows just what to ask for. But Bessie-Belle can’t hear very well, and Freddie tends to mumble, which means the wishes aren’t turning out as planned! Whatever can they do? Luckily the Fairy Queen is on hand to help.

Ranvir Cannot Hear Paperback by Genevieve Yusuf

Ranvir Cannot Hear is a magical story set in the plains of India and is about a little elephant who goes on a long journey in search of his hearing. On his travels he meets some wonderful friends along the way who can’t do certain things but tell him about the things that they can! Ranvir even finds out he has a special talent too… This is a beautifully illustrated children’s story with a message of inclusion and empowerment. Learn to find out what you can do and don’t worry about what you can’t. 10p of every book will be donated to the Rangammal school in India for children with a hearing impairment. Recommended for children up to 7 years old. British and American sign language alphabets are included in the back – teach your little one to sign their name!

Completely Me Paperback by Justine Green

Completely Me is a story about a little girl who never noticed there was something different about herself until others pointed it out. When she decides to stand up for herself, she teaches the townspeople an important lesson about acceptance.

Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus

Boy Bear cannot hear Dad Bear coming to wake him up in the morning, but he can feel the floor vibrate with his heavy footsteps. He can only grasp little bits of what his teacher says to him at school. He cannot catch what his friends are laughing at. And, all the time, Boy Bear keeps hearing the question, “Can Bears ski?” What does it mean? With the support of Dad Bear, Boy Bear visits an audiologist and, eventually, he gets hearing aids. Suddenly, he understands the question everyone has been asking him: “CAN YOU HEAR ME?”

Raymond Antrobus, the award-winning poet of The Perseverance, draws on his own experience to show how isolating it can be for a deaf child in a hearing world. But through his lyrical and moving words, matched with Polly’s stunning imagery, he also shows how many ways there are to communicate love. With a solid network, Boy Bear will find his place in the world.

This new paperback edition includes an illustrated BSL alphabet.