September is Deaf Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the rich culture, language, and contributions of the Deaf and hard of hearing community. It’s also an opportunity to help children understand that not everyone experiences the world in the same way, and that differences in communication, hearing, and expression are something to be respected and celebrated.

Share these stories featuring Deaf and hard of hearing characters to open conversations about accessibility and to remind children that all ways of communicating are valid.

This picture book collection shines a light on Deaf representation in children’s literature, offering windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors for kids of all backgrounds.

Picture Books ft. Deaf / Hard of Hearing Characters

Find the full book list on Amazon | Bookshop, or click on the individual titles linked below:

Butterfly on the Wind by Adam Pottle | Aurora is nervous on the day of the talent show. Her hands tremble, and no matter how hard she tries, her signing just won’t come out right. But then, she notices a butterfly. With one small sign, she sets a magical butterfly free into the world. Soon, Deaf people everywhere are sending their own butterflies, each one carrying love, pride, and support. When they return to Aurora, she feels the strength of her global Deaf community lifting her up.

Cesaria Feels the Beat by Denise Rosario Adusei | Cesaria is ready to shine in her seaside Carnival performance, dressed in her favorite peacock leotard. But when her director insists she put on shoes, Cesaria stands her ground: “Peacocks don’t wear shoes!” For Cesaria, who is Deaf, the music comes alive through the soles of her bare feet. At first, no one understands, until the other dancers join her, taking off their shoes to feel the rhythm the way she does.

Listening to the Quiet by Cassie Silva | Jacki’s mama is slowly losing her hearing, and together they begin learning Sign Language so they can always share their thoughts and feelings. But while Mama’s world grows quieter, Jacki still loves the sounds of Music Appreciation Fridays at school. How can she enjoy music when her mama can no longer hear it?

The Moonlight Zoo by Maudie Powell-Tuck | When Eva’s beloved cat, Luna, goes missing, her search leads her to the Moonlight Zoo: a magical place where all lost pets and animals wander. Among lions, elephants, parrots, dogs, and even guinea pigs, Eva must find Luna before the zoo disappears at dawn. Eva is portrayed with hearing aids.

Mara Hears in Style by Terri Clemmons | Mara’s first day at her new school isn’t easy: her teacher forgets to use the microphone, the lunchroom is too noisy for lip-reading, and everyone keeps asking, “What’s in her ears?” But things start to turn around when Mara makes a new friend and discovers that her hearing aids are actually her superpowers. Filled with ASL illustrations.

Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus | Boy Bear notices the world feels different: he can’t always hear his dad’s footsteps, catch what his teacher says, or understand what his friends are laughing at. And everywhere he goes, people keep asking, “Can Bears ski?” With his dad’s support, Boy Bear visits an audiologist and is fitted with hearing aids. Suddenly, the confusing question makes sense: “Can you hear me?”

Sound Switch Wonder by Dr. Christine J. Ko | A young deaf boy with cochlear implants as he navigates both sound and silence. Sometimes he prefers quiet, sometimes he chooses to connect with the hearing world. Through creativity, he finds a way to share what silence means with his family.

Next Door by Deborah Kerbel | A Deaf boy and his mother explore their neighborhood: greeting friends, playing, and running errands. When they meet new neighbors who have just immigrated, the boy and the girl overcome language barriers, using ASL and Arabic gestures to connect and form a new friendship.

Sky, the Deaf Home Run Hero by Mickey Carolan | Young Sky was born deaf, but that doesn’t stop him from chasing his love for baseball. With determination and focus, he discovers that not hearing is his very own superpower, helping him knock home runs out of the park. And when bullies try to put him down, Sky finds the courage through baseball to turn each one into a friend.

Be More Dog by Caroline Crowe | Sam the dog finds happiness everywhere: in a stinky boot, a squishy puddle, even a flat old ball! But when Dad leaves for work, his young owner, shown with hearing aids, feels like happiness is gone too. With Sam’s carefree spirit as a guide, the child learns that joy can be found in the simplest moments.

Dancing Hands by Joanna Que | Sam notices her new neighbors’ hands moving gracefully, and she wonders what they’re saying. When she meets Mai, her new neighbor, she learns Filipino Sign Language and discovers the joys of friendship.

Monster Hands by Karen Kane | Milo is convinced there’s a monster under his bed, but his best friend Mel knows how to help. Using rhyming ASL and shadow puppets, the two friends face the monster together, learning that the best way to conquer fear is with a friend by your side.

Nonfiction Biographies

Dreams Take Flight by Brittany Richman | Nellie Zabel Willhite, who lost her hearing at age four, discovered her passion for flight while working at the Sioux Falls airport. Overcoming educational and societal challenges, she trained as a pilot, adapting courses to accommodate her deafness. In 1928, she made history as South Dakota’s first female pilot and the nation’s first deaf pilot, soaring into aviation history with determination and courage.

So Much More to Helen by Meeg Pincus | Beyond the well-known story of Helen Keller learning sign language at the water pump, this book explores her full, remarkable life. Helen was an activist, writer, performer, rebel, and romantic. This inspiring biography reveals the many facets of her personality and achievements, showing that she is more than a single story.

Listen by Shannon Stocker | Evelyn Glennie discovered her own way to listen, and to create extraordinary music. Though she lost her hearing as a child and was told she could never be a musician, Evelyn learned to feel the vibrations of sound through her body.

---

I hope this book list is useful! Please consider subscribing for more bookish content.

Here’s to raising our young readers and future leaders~

Happy Reading,

Maya