March 3rd is World Hearing Day, observed by the World Health Organization — but conversations about hearing, and truly listening to one another, shouldn’t belong to just one date on the calendar. In our classrooms, in our homes, and in our stories, communication shows up in many forms: spoken words, sign language, hearing aids, silence, expression, and connection.
Below is a collection of picture books, middle grade, and young adult titles that center Deaf and hard-of-hearing experiences — stories that celebrate communication in all its forms.
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Children’s Books for World Hearing Day
(For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday)
Picture Books
The Sound of All Things by Myron Uhlberg
Based on the author’s childhood, this tender story follows a hearing boy with deaf parents as he tries to describe the sounds of Coney Island to them. A beautiful exploration of perspective and family communication.
Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker
This lyrical biography shares the true story of percussionist Evelyn Glennie, who learned to “listen” through vibration after losing her hearing. An empowering reminder that sound can be experienced in many ways.
Mighty Mila by Katie Petruzziello
Inspired by a real family story, this uplifting book follows a young deaf girl navigating school and friendships with courage and self-advocacy.
I Deaf-initely Can: Rhett the Heeler by Karlie Waldrip and illustrated by Lucy Rogers
Based on a real deaf dog’s story, this heartwarming picture book highlights determination, adaptability, and thriving with differences.
The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game by Nancy Churnin
A true story about William Hoy, a deaf baseball player who helped popularize hand signals still used in the game today — a powerful blend of sports and accessibility history.
Piglet Comes Home: How a Deaf Blind Pink Puppy Found His Family by Melissa Shapiro
The real story of Piglet, a deaf-blind puppy who finds safety, trust, and love. A gentle way to introduce resilience and communication beyond sound.
I Am Helen Keller by Brad Meltzer
An accessible introduction to Helen Keller and her journey to communication and advocacy, perfect for early elementary readers.
Middle Grade
deaf not Deaf by Christian Fusco
A middle‑grade story about a sixth grader with cochlear implants who forms an unlikely friendship with a Deaf classmate and navigates misunderstanding, community, and belonging
El Deafo by Cece Bell
A humorous and heartfelt graphic memoir about growing up with hearing aids. A fantastic springboard for discussions about self-advocacy and classroom inclusion.
Hear Me by Kerry O’Malley Cerra
A middle-grade novel about a 12-year-old girl navigating progressive hearing loss, friendship, and self-discovery.
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
A deaf girl connects with a whale who cannot hear others of its kind — a moving metaphor for belonging and finding your voice.
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Told partly through words and partly through stunning illustrations (like Hugo‘s story), this time-traveling novel of sorts includes a deaf protagonist and invites conversations about visual storytelling and perspective.
Young Adult
Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino
A YA novel about a teen at a summer camp for deaf and blind kids, exploring identity, community, and first love.
The Loudest Silence by Sydney Langford
A young adult novel about a Deaf‑Hard of Hearing teen navigating life after sudden hearing loss, friendship, music, and identity while finding belonging with an unexpected friend.
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
A sensitive YA story about a girl who is selective mute and a boy who is deaf; as they learn to communicate with each other, they both discover their own voices and connection
The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais
A deaf teen transfers to a mainstream school and must navigate identity, relationships, and communication barriers.
True Biz by Sara Nović
Set at a residential school for the deaf, this powerful novel explores language politics, culture, and activism through multiple perspectives. Also check out Novic’s Mother Tongue: A Memoir
Activities and Other Related Things
In a recent class I took, one section was all about how we can listen better; and I recognized what I do well and what I don’t when I listen. Listening is certainly different from and way more than hearing; and requires us to pay attention to not just what is being said.
Try This: Have students describe a familiar sound — the ocean, a playground, a morning routine — without naming it, focusing only on what they see and feel. Discuss how we can experience sound in multiple ways.
💛 And Now, the End of This Post
Whether you read one aloud, add one to your book shelf, or simply begin a conversation about how we communicate, these stories remind us that listening goes beyond sound – it is attention, access, and respect.
Which of these books have you read? Which would you add? Let’s keep the conversation going – not just for a day, but all year long
