Description

The debut children’s book from award-winning poet Raymond Antrobus, author of The Quiet Ear, that tracks a father-and-son journey into the discovery and management of deafness.

“This is a powerful and beautifully created book.” – Able

“This multi-layered, skillfully woven story provides a brilliant insight into how children make sense of their experience when they don’t have the words to describe it.” – The Scotsman

“This is a book which should certainly have a place in every primary school for children, teachers, parents and staff.” – The School Librarian

Featured on the BBC news, the ITV news and in a deaf storyline on Coronation Street as well being the first book to have ever been read entirely in BSL on CBeebies Storytime by Deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis.

Boy Bear cannot hear Dad Bear coming to wake him up in the morning. He only grasps little bits of what his teacher and friends say to him. And, all the time, Boy Bear keeps hearing the question, “Can bears ski?” What does it mean? With the support of Dad Bear, Boy Bear visits an audiologist and gets hearing aids. And suddenly, he understands… “CAN YOU HEAR ME?”

Now with an illustrated BSL alphabet included, Raymond and Polly draw from their personal experiences of deafness to show how isolating it can be for a deaf child in a hearing world and all the many different ways to communicate love. A great book for creating Deaf Awareness, as well as helping build empathy and making welcoming, inclusive spaces for Deaf children.

“The detail of how Little Bear can feel the vibration of Dad’s feet on the floor rather than hear his voice in the morning, and how he can feel the crunch of the snow under his feet when he walks to school, as well as the experience of visiting an audiologist, bring an authenticity to the depiction of being deaf or hard of hearing in childhood alongside a lovely story told in a relatable child voice.” – Booktrust

Publisher Review

This multi-layered, skilfully woven story provides a brilliant insight into how children make sense of their experience when they don't have the words to describe it. * The Scotsman * The detail of how Little Bear can feel the vibration of Dad's feet on the floor rather than hear his voice in the morning, and how he can feel the crunch of the snow under his feet when he walks to school, as well as the experience of visiting an audiologist, bring an authenticity to the depiction of being deaf or hard of hearing in childhood alongside a lovely story told in a relatable child voice. * BookTrust * This is a powerful and beautifully created book. * Able * The story is direct and straight-forward without ignoring either the best times or the challenging times for those who are lip reading and/or have hearing loss. Colourful full-page illustrations will capture the attention of both children and their families. This is a book which should certainly have a place in every primary school for children, teachers, parents and staff. * The School Librarian * Drawing on Antrobus' childhood experience with undiagnosed deafness, this new paperback edition comes with a BSL alphabet, as well as Dunbar's cuddly illustrations. * Guardian *