The value of written language is immense in any culture. But
what if your culture doesn’t have a written system? In fact, about half of the
world’s languages have no written form today. Deaf culture uses sign languages
as their primary means of communication, but many members of Deaf culture don’t
know sign language.
No culture deserves to be neglected or underrepresented
because of its written form (or lack thereof). It is especially important for
children to learn about cultures different from their own, and to see their own
minority cultures reflected back at them in literature. Below is a list of
books that feature individuals from Deaf culture, with a focus on literature
for children.
This post is the fourth installment of Diverse Reads, a
series that gathers books with diverse characters or authors: people who are
LGBTQIA+, Native, people of color, gender diverse, people with disabilities, or
ethnic, cultural, or religious minorities. I hope that these books help open a
window for you into other worldviews.
(2017)
Valencia finds herself thrown together with her classmates
on a summer day in this Newbery Medal-winning novel. Like many deaf and Hard of
Hearing kids, Valencia doesn’t know any sign language, and she wears hearing
aids that don’t work well with loud background noise. Her self-confidence and
perseverance give readers someone to root for.
(2008)
At age two, Laura Bridgman lost her sight, hearing, smell, and taste. At the country’s first school for the blind, Bridgman paved the way for future generations of children with disabilities, making possible important advances in the way they would be educated long before the likes of Louis Braille and Helen Keller.
(2019)
An amazing Deaf character named Iris lives in a world where her intelligence isn’t recognized in her home nor at her school. Her loneliness is reflected in her attempts to reach Blue 55, a whale who cannot communicate with its own kind. Iris and her Deaf grandmother communicate via sign language, which is especially rare in children’s literature.
by Brian Selznick
(2011)
The stories of two deaf children who were born 50 years
apart: Ben’s story is told in words, while Rose’s in pictures. This work is a
unique attempt to track the changes to Deaf culture in America through stunning
illustrations.
by Alex Gino
(2018)
When her new baby sister is born deaf, Jilly makes an online connection with a fellow fantasy fan, who happens to be black and Deaf, and begins to learn about the many obstacles that exist in the world for people who are different from her.
*A version of this blogpost first appeared on Provo City Library blog.*