Want to Read About Hearing Devices? Here Are 4 Great Books for Older Kids and Beyond

While picture books can be enjoyed at any age, it's great to have books that cater to an older crowd.

Bigger kid and teenage books can be perfect for:

• An older deaf child who wants to see their condition represented,
• Children or teens experiencing late-onset hearing loss,
• Family members and friends who want to better understand the challenges of deafness and listening devices.

#1 - El Deafo

El Deafo is a classic! An adorable and funny graphic novel that takes us on the author's journey navigating hearing loss as a child.

Reading Age: 7+

From the Publisher

The beloved #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor winning graphic novel memoir from Cece Bell

‍El Deafo is now streaming on Apple TV+. The Guardian called the animated series: "Sweet, funny, poignant and definitely not just for kids."

Starting at a new school is scary, especially with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here, she’s different. She’s sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends.

Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom but anywhere her teacher is in the school—in the hallway . . . in the teacher’s lounge . . . in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it’s just another way of feeling different . . . and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend?

Our Review

This book is fantastic! It lives up to the hype. Cece is so lovable, and the illustrations beautifully portray her world. It's an easy read. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. It's wonderful to read about a family like ours, but Cece is so charming, anyone could enjoy it. This would also make a great gift to adults, tweens, and teens who want to understand more about the challenges of deafness, or for anyone who loves coming of age stories.

The publisher's Reading Age is 7+. That seems a bit young skills-wise, and for some of the subject matter. We'd consider it more 10+.

#2 - All the Ways I Hear You

Reading Age: 5+

From the Publisher

"All the Ways I Hear You" first introduces our young hard of hearing narrator, Sy, and his neat hearing aids. From there, Sy goes on to introduce his diverse group of friends who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind and their own hearing technology and communication styles, like cochlear implants, bone anchored hearing systems, communication boards/tablets and sign language. The book also introduces other children in familial and support roles, namely a hearing sibling and a child of deaf adults.

This is the first book written by Stephanie Marrufo, who is Sy's mom. When Sy was diagnosed with hearing loss as a 2-year-old, Stephanie began searching for children's books that featured or included deaf and hard of hearing characters and found this type of resource to be extremely lacking. Once she decided to write her own, she realized the importance of being as inclusive as possible, and following that decision, this unique story came to life.

"All the Ways I Hear You" is beautifully illustrated by Priscila Soares, an artist with hearing loss who wears bilateral bone anchored hearing systems, and mother to a child born deaf who now has cochlear implants. She uses her talents to advocate for people with hearing loss by sharing their stories through her mixed media work.

#3 - Rally Caps

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Reading Age: 8+

‍From the Publisher

RALLY CAPS is a humorous, fun-filled baseball and camp story.

Ten year old Jordan is injured in an unfortunate and frightening accident while trying out for the Little League Travel team. Recovery is difficult. At summer camp he struggles to conquer his anxiety and fear in order to return to his beloved game of baseball. He forms a friendship with a deaf Italian boy, Luca, who wears a cochlear implant. Luca's compelling positive nothing is impossible attitude, along with the inspiration he draws from his idol, Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., gives Jordan the courage to return to baseball with a passion. Find out what happens as "Rally Caps" are raised in the bottom of the final inning in the biggest game of Jordan's life. Boys and girls alike will enjoy this touching story of persevering through difficult times.

Now being made into a film!

#4 - Emma Everyday (Series)

Reading Age: 5+

Emma Everyday features a main character who uses a cochlear implant, and signs. It's an 8-book series, with lots of adventures to choose from.

From the Publisher for Emma Everyday - Friendship Goals

Emma, who is deaf and wears a cochlear implant, loves playing soccer with her friends Izzie and Chen, but when Izzie gets discouraged and wants to quit, Emma and Chen take the time to show her that improvement comes through practice. Includes discussion questions, writing prompts, an ASL fingerspelling chart, and a sign language guide.