Staff Pick
This children's picture book follows Little Bear as he, with the help of his father, realizes he is having trouble hearing his teachers and friends. Little Bear goes to the audiologist and takes a few tests, then he starts hearing therapy and lip-reading classes and begins to wear hearing aids. I loved how this book describes both Little Bear's experience hearing clearly for the first time, but also how sometimes Little Bear feels tired or frustrated — both valid experiences and emotions. Author Antrobus is deaf and describes this book as, "the book I could see myself reaching for as a child, and I'm excited to have it exist in the world." This book has lovely illustrations and would be perfect either for a child experiencing hearing loss, or to teach other young children about hearing loss. Recommended By Sarah B., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Is Little Bear ignoring his friends when they say hi, or is something else going on? A discovery opens new doors in a tale that will delight kids with deafness and all children learning to navigate their world. Little Bear feels the world around him. He feels his bed rumble when Dad Bear wakes him up in the morning. He feels the floor shake when his teacher stomps to get his attention. But something else is missing, like when his friends tell jokes that he isn't sure he understands, or when all around him Little Bear hears the question, "Can bears ski?" Then, one day, Dad Bear takes him to see an "aud-i-olo-gist," and Little Bear learns that he has been experiencing deafness and will start wearing hearing aids. Soon he figures out what that puzzling refrain is: "Can you hear me?" Little Bear's new world is LOUD and will take some getting used to, but with the love and support of Dad Bear, he will find his way. In this lyrical picture book, award-winning creators Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar draw on their own experiences to tell Bear's story.