Deaf Characters in Children's Literature-Kami and the Yaks

My amazing friend Jenny, who has had quite an amazing journey herself and inspires me everyday, gave Christian Kami and the Yaks by Andrea Stenn a couple of years ago. Before Jenny became a Mommy of 2 adorable girls, she was my beach house mate/Dewey Beach Buddy/ and oh, award winning elementary school teacher. She found this book, and for so many reasons, it is one of MY favorite children's books.

Kami is a deaf Sherpa boy, who braves a snow storm to search for his family's yaks. When Kami finds the Yaks herded around a baby calf whose leg is wedged between rocks, he whistles for help. His whistles go unanswered, he slides down the mountain covered in ice to get his father and brother. Through signs, he tells his father and brother, and the family rescues the calf. It is a wonderful story full of inspiration. While Kami's deafness is an important part of the story, Andrea Stenn focuses the tone of the story on Kami's strengths.

The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and powerful. The story is on the longer side for young preschoolers, but holds Christian's attention (age 3) well. It's opened up many concepts for us. One part of the story describes how Kami can't hear his whistle but feels it buzzing. Christian asked "Why can't he hear it if he has a CI like me". It was a challenge, but it was the first time I explained to Christian that not all deaf friends wear CIs or hearing aids. After a couple of readings, I think he "got it". I think the story also teaches empathy, and we even looked on a map to find out where Kami lived. I highly recommend this book...it's concepts are a bit advanced for children under 3, but they still would enjoy the illustrations.

He's Just Like Me!-Deaf Characters in Books

Christian has always loved books. As a little baby just fitted with hearing aids, we read the Priddy Happy Baby books. We would sign and speak, and he would always laugh and respond to the books so positively. Now at 3, I'll often find him sitting in his comfy chair or his cozy corner in the playroom leafing through books and "reading" his story aloud. His teachers tell us that he is always one of the first children in his class to pick up a book during choice time and after snack. He enjoys picking out new books at the library almost as much as he enjoys playing with his Spiderman! He's starting to identify letters, and we're learning that the best way to introduce new concepts to Christian is by reinforcing them with books and stories.Books are becoming such a part of Christian's life, and I hope to chronicle some of them that we're reading together through the blog.

Christian's Aunt Kate (who happens to be my oldest and dearest friend AND who just happens to have professional journalist and library specialist on her resume) sent him a very special book entitled Dad and Me in the Morning by Patricia Lakin. The story is about Jacob, a preschool aged little boy who is deaf and shares special, simple moments with his Dad. The illustrations are beautiful, and showcase Jacob's special alarm clock flashing, his hearing aids, and even Jacob signing with his Dad. Christian loves pointing to the little boy's hearing aids, and showing me the signs that Jacob signs to his Dad.

As Christian gets older, I'm starting worry about his self-image and self-esteem. While we've been lucky so far, I know there will be a day when he will get taunted for his hearing loss. I worry about him feeling lonely and different. He's the only person in our family with hearing loss, and in 2 short years, he'll be the only kid in school with a Cochlear Implant. I'm hoping by giving him an opportunity to read books with Deaf/HOH characters that it will some how enhance the seeds of positive self-image and confidence that I work so hard everyday to plant within him.