Owen Whang

Sound Switch Wonder is a great way to introduce children to the concept of deafness and cochlear implants. Many children know someone who uses cochlear implants and may wonder what they are for and how they work. This book explains it in an easy to understand way and will have children empathizing with the young child in the story. I love how the author used relatable analogies to help explain what it's like to be deaf, at least one example of deaf. This is definitely a good addition to a children's' library collection. ** I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program, but all opinions are my own. **
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Sound Switch Wonder is a children’s picture book about a young boy who is deaf but has cochlear implants. He tells the reader what it’s like both with and without the implants and how he can choose to use them or not. As he spends the day with his family, mom and dad wonder what it’s like to not hear sounds, so he works to find just the right way to explain to them what it’s like to be deaf.

As a relatively new grandparent, I’m always on the lookout for great new children’s books for the grandkids, and I’ve had a particular interest in cultivating books with good diversity rep. One thing I thought my personal library was lacking was books about disabilities, so when I saw Sound Switch Wonder being offered in the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program, I immediately requested a copy. It’s a very sweet story about a deaf boy going through a normal day with his family, and when he’s asked what it’s like to not be able to hear, trying to find a perfect way to convey a world without sound to them. I thought this was a wonderful book that shows how deaf people can lead the same kind of lives that hearing people can. The way they experience things is just a little different. The whimsical illustrations bring the story to life in a fun way. I love that all the contributors are part of the deaf community. Author Dr. Christine J. Ko is the mother of a deaf child, and her eighth-grade son and co-author, Owen Whang, is deaf with cochlear implants just like the boy in the story. Illustrator Katie Crumpton is deaf in one ear due to being born with a craniofacial difference. Each of them contributed a one-page note at the end of the book describing their own experiences with deafness, all of which added to the story and which I enjoyed reading. I think this book could be inspiring to deaf children who will be able to see themselves represented on the page, while it could also demystify deafness for hearing children so that they can better understand what that’s like. I highly recommend it. Sound Switch Wonder will definitely be going on my keeper shelf for the grandkids.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author via LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.… (more)