El Deafo
Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. New York, NY: Amulet Books.
I love this book for so many reasons. First of all, it takes a topic like hearing loss and makes it completely accessible to a child through cute pictures and humorous storytelling told from a child's point of view. The fact that Bell decided to make all the characters bunnies adds to the cuteness, but the underlying truths and hardships are still very apparent. The book is about author Cece Bell's life growing up hearing impaired. She had meningitis as a young girl and was left with very minimal hearing. She tells about the struggles she faced having to read lips (which was not easy!), transitioning between different schools, using hearing aids and a phonic ear both at home and at school, trying to make friends, and just about every other normal pre-teen experience like having a crush, losing a best friend, and first sleepovers. I found myself laughing out loud at times and other times feeling so sad for this little girl navigating a hearing world with just her phonic ear. You will be rooting her on as she gains confidence in herself and sees herself as a super-hero, "El Deafo," with super powers like being able to hear everything her teacher does as she wears the Phonic Ear.
This book is so good for all kids to read to know how someone who is hearing impaired has to work so hard to participate and hear, something those of us with normal hearing take for granted. Young girls will especially be able to relate to the ups and downs of making and losing friends. I also think any pre-teen would relate to how Cece goes through school so self-conscious of her Phonic Ear.
Teaching Guide for El Deafo:
Cece Bell talks about El Deafo (she even shows a real Phonic Ear!):
More ideas on how to use El Deafo in the classroom:
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