Moses Goes to a Concert: Picture Book About Hearing Impaired

A few things coincided with this post. My middle daughter who is in 3rd grade told us at dinner that she’s learning sign language at school and proceeded to demonstrate the alphabet. She has had a hearing-impaired student in her class for the last three years so I asked her if it is to help communicate with that child. She said, “Yes.”

That’s really cool — enlightened education — that she’s learning to sign and it’s helping her to connect with her classmate. I always worry that the curriculum at my elementary school is molded around the standardized tests that begin this month.

Then, I read two interesting articles on sign language. This YouTube video is going viral and is a homemade version of Snow Patrol’s Hands Open (hey, I know them! They opened for the only concert I’ve been to in years: U2!). And it’s in IRISH sign language. Who knew sign language was by foreign languages?!! You’d think it would be universal?! But it’s a lovely video to share with your children and it might even make them want to learn sign language themselves!

The second article is on how sign language helps to limit disruptions in the classroom because … it’s quiet! Students can sign things like “I have to go to the bathroom.” Or just “yes” or “no.” If you want to incorporate this nifty trick at home or at school (should you be a professional educator!), here is the site they recommend.

6 Sign Language Picture Books for Kids

Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman

Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman is my favorite picture book on empowered hearing-impaired kids and the book also has a nifty sign language guide in the back. I can do the alphabet from it, but I’m not so good at the other active swinging signs. I’d use that site for that to see actual video demonstrations.

Listening to the Quiet by Cassie Silva, illustrated by Frances Ives

Jacki is learning sign language along with her mother who is losing her hearing. It’s like learning a secret language. Jacki is also noticing different ways to listen, including to music. For Music Appreciation Day at school, Jacki has a surprise for her mother. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus, illustrated by Polly Dunbar

This is a picture book about hearing loss. Little Bear keeps hearing “Can Bears ski?” when they are actually asking “Can you hear me?” He visits an audiologist with his dad where he gets hearing aids, hearing therapy, and lip-reading classes. And, it turns out, bears CAN ski! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, A Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth

Evelyn Glennie played piano at eight years old and clarinet at 10 but lost her hearing by the time she turned 11, she lost her ability to hear. She discovered percussion at school and found that though she couldn’t hear, she could still play by feeling vibrations through her bare feet. In the U.K. where she lived, she changed the rules in music schools across the country; no one would be turned away because of disability. After graduating, Evelyn became a professional percussionist, winning awards and performing all over the world. She tells the world that losing her hearing has made her a better listener … and musician! [picture book biography, ages 4 and up]

Sky the Deaf Home Run: A Lesson in Courage by Mickey Carolan, illustrated by Adisa Fazlovic

Mickey Carolan was raised by two deaf parents and learned sign language as a result. This ability, though, also made him the target for bullies. He wrote the Sky picture book series to show how deafness can be a superpower that can be used for good. In the story, Sky can hit home runs because of his ability to focus on the ball, and he vows that for every home run, he will turn a bully into a friend. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

El Deafo by CeCe Bell

Cece Bell shares her own story of hearing loss and struggles with her very large but powerful hearing aid, which allows her to hear but also makes her look different. [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]