Violet’s Story
Violet’s story is published by Auditory Verbal UK (www.avuk.org) and written by Frances Clark who is a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist.. It is the story about a little girl is born with normal hearing but looses hearing at age 4. She is confused and doesn’t understand what is happening to her. Her parents are concerned because she has stopped talking in the car and doesn’t answer when called in the park. Violet gets a cochlear implant and starts therapy. All is well. On each page of the book there are notes to the adult about how to read the book to the child with topics for discussion. And, of course, I like the book because Violet has purple hair like me!!!
Lou Knows What To Do At the Doctor’s Office
This book is written by Kimberly Tice and Venita Litvack, two speech-language pathologists at Boys Town, and illustrated by Andre Kerry and published by Boys Town Press. It describes what a child should expect at the Doctor’s office. It reviews the pediatrician, dentist, ophthalmologist.
I wish it had included a visit to the ENT and the audiologist but it is a good book that will help I prepare children for going to the doctor. This book has information at the end for teachers and parents to help them understand how to prepare children for a Dr’s visit.
Freddie the Fly
This book is a story about learning to read social cues. It is written by Kimberly Delude, speech-language pathologist and Boys Town, is illustrated by Brian Martin and published by Boys Town Press. Freddie the Fly keeps missing social cues so he misunderstands what people mean and finds himself in a mess. The book was written for children with autism but some of the social issues can be the same for children with hearing loss.
Freddie describes his problems, like when he borrows things without asking, or stays up late without permission. But other times he doesn’t understand what is wrong. Like when the bus drive said “Why don’t you sing a little louder” and he did, and he got sent to the principal’s office.
The book discusses reading between the lines –
- How words are said (noticing what the voice sounds like);
- How a face looks (what the eyes, mouth and lips do)
- How a body acts (what the head, chest, arms, hands, legs, and feet do)
The book discusses how to recognize signs in the way people present and use that information to interpret what is being said. The end of the book has suggestions for parents and educators about how to discuss the recognizing social cues.
