UOD Book Reviews
* = Young Reader ! = mature Reader ♥ = a must read
Deafness/Hard of Hearing
♥Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
This story would not happen if Iris wasn't deaf, BUT the story is not about her being deaf. This book hits on all the major challenges of communicating as a deaf person (interpreters, people who only kind of sign, mustaches making facial recognition hard, deaf people who sign much faster than her, people who shout/ get in her face and personal space to get her to understand). It shows how despite being talented and intelligent, Iris still feels very isolated and lonely due to impositions placed on her by people who think they are doing what is best for her. She uses all of her skills as well as her understanding of sound/loneliness/and empathy to try to help another (in this case a whale) not feel as lonely as she is. She also learns about friendship, tolerance, and empowerment along her journey.
*Can Bears Ski by Raymond Antrobus
This is an adorable book about a bear discovering and coming to terms with the fact that he is hard of hearing. This is a simple but good book that will open a discussion with a young person about being diagnosed with hearing loss.
*Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman (other Moses books are available as well)
Moses is a deaf boy who goes to a school for the deaf. This set of books chronicles his experiences, through story as well as providing sign language. In this book, Moses and his classmates go to a concert where they learn how to experience music in other ways than hearing it as well as learning that being deaf does not have to stop a person from achieving anything they want to.
♥ El Deafo by Cece Bell
This graphic novel tells the story of Cece, from before she goes deaf through many of her friendships and experiences in elementary school. It gives lots of information about deafness, lip reading and many other things that a deaf person might experience from a first person point of view. An easy, informative, and entertaining read.
*Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion
by Shannon Stocker, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth
As a child, Evelyn Glennie loved music. After the nerves in her ears began to degenerate, she became deaf. Defying doctors’ predictions, Evelyn persevered to find an innovative way to listen and play percussion, becoming an award-winning musician. The words and art reflect the rhythm and movement of her experiences. This poignant and important story, with its use of color to indicate the ups and downs of one family's emotions, is an accessible way to discuss mental illness with young readers.
Learning Disabilities
*How I Learn by Brenda S Miles and Colleen A Patterson
This is an excellent book about people with Learning Disabilities and how each of them have strengths and weaknesses and yet are otherwise typical, intelligent, talented kids. Good for younger elementary kids and as an introduction to the topic of Learning Disabilities for anyone.
♥Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (middle grade chapter book)
Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike
You can also find this on our post-unit webpage with suggested activities (and the author's website has many more activities and discussions): https://understandingourdifferences.org/wrap-up-ld/
*A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott
Hudson Talbott's inspiring story vividly reveals the challenges--and ultimately the rewards--of being a non-mainstream kind of learner.
When Hudson Talbott was a little boy, he loved drawing, and it came naturally to him. But reading? No way! One at a time, words weren't a problem, but long sentences were a struggle. As his friends moved on to thicker books, he kept his slow reading a secret. But that got harder every year. He felt alone, lost, and afraid in a world of too many words. Fortunately, his love of stories wouldn't let him give up. He started giving himself permission to read at his own pace, using the words he knew as stepping-stones to help draw him into a story. And he found he wasn't so alone--in fact, lots of brilliant people were slow readers, too. Learning to accept the fact that everyone does things in their own unique way, and that was okay, freed him up and ultimately helped Hudson thrive and become the fabulous storyteller he is today.