Introducing books that feature characters with hearing loss or hearing aids can foster empathy and inclusivity. Whether your child or grandchild has hearing loss or not, these stories are valuable tools for teaching understanding and celebrating differences. They also make thoughtful gifts for birthdays or holidays.

The list keeps growing, so we've sorted it by age group:

• Newborn to 8 years
• Ages 9-12 (middle grade)
• Teenagers

Newborn to 8 years old

Reading to your children at this age is one of the best things you can do to prepare them for academic excellence. Here are a few picks for babies, preschoolers and young readers:

Super Hearing

by Jennifer Whitehead

This book takes readers on a little boy's journey getting hearing aids, which he calls his "super ears." The young narrator delights in all that he can now hear, such as the morning birds singing softly and quiet drops of rainfall. Fans of this book say it's "informative, inclusive, loving and fun."

Ada and the Helpers

by Travis D. Peterson

On her way to dance in a talent show, Ada meets three new creatures, each with a disability of their own. In her efforts to help her new friends realize their God-given strength, Ada finds they help her, too. Special features in this book include one word on each page illustrated in American Sign Language to help with fingerspelling skills, an ASL alphabet in the back of the book, and an introduction to the Ling Six Sound Test using three of the ling sounds.

Lucy

by Sally O. Lee

Lucy discovers she can't hear in one ear after a play session with friends. After her parents take her to the doctor, who confirms her hearing loss, Lucy is sad until she begins to notice others with different disabilities. Lucy learns she can still sing, dance, and draw—and that her friends still like her just the way she is.

Ranvir Cannot Hear

by Genevieve Yusuf

A young elephant goes on a long journey in search of his hearing and learns about inclusion and empowerment in the process. British and American Sign Language alphabets are included in the back, plus 10% of book sales will be donated to the Rangammal school in India to aid children with hearing loss.

Super Kena: A Girl Made Fierce with Hearing Aids

by Becky Cymbaluk

Follow Kena, a girl with hearing aids, as she works through issues with classmates who don’t understand her hearing loss. With the help of her mom, Kena realizes her hearing aids give her ears “super powers” and makes plans to form a team of her other differently-abled friends in an effort to explain their super powers to the class during Show and Tell.

Freddie and the Fairy

by Julia Donaldson

Fairy Besse Belle has hearing loss, but that doesn't stop her from trying to grant Freddie's wishes. Unfortunately, Freddie mumbles, so the Fairy Queen steps in to help. Children will love this witty, rhyming tale with its subtle message about the importance of speaking directly to someone who has hearing loss.

Mighty Mila

by Katie Petruzziello

Mila's plan is to do everything on her own, without asking for help. She uses her creativity, willpower, and even her new cochlear implant hearing devices, to tackle one big kid activity after another.

Bessie Needs Hearing Aids

by Jenna Harmke

Bessie the bunny is excited to start her first day of preschool, only to come home deflated after realizing she can't hear hew new schoolmates. After a trip to the audiologist, Bessie gets hearing aids and preschool becomes the fun place it's meant to be.

A Button in Her Ear

by Ada Bassett Litchfield

A young girl’s hearing loss is detected and treated with the help of a hearing aid. Those with normal hearing will learn about hearing loss, and those with hearing loss will identify with the primary character. Just keep in mind that today's hearing aids look quite different than the body style aid featured in this classic. 

I Have a Sister, My Sister is Deaf

by Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson

Read along as a sister affectionately describes her younger, deaf sister as someone who likes to run and jump and play, just like everyone else. Part of the Reading Rainbow Book series.

A Birthday for Ben

by Kate Gaynor

Author Kate Gaynor uses Ben’s birthday party to illustrate the challenges of hearing loss, but also the ways in which we are all the same. A good book to help teach concepts of understanding and inclusion.

Dad and Me in the Morning

by Patricia Lakin

Parents and children will enjoy this sweet read, describing the very special relationship a dad has with his deaf son and how they find ways to communicate with each other. A great introduction to American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf culture, this book is a good read for children of all hearing abilities.

Cosmo Gets an Ear

by Gary Clemente

This interactive book, written from a young child’s perspective, describes the journey from hearing loss to hearing aid. Readers and/or listeners can interact by answering multiple-choice questions, as well as learning about benefits to wearing hearing aids and how to take care of them.

Camden and His Superpower Ears Go to a New School

by Leigh Porter Cutrone

In this book, young Camden transfers to a new school and is nervous about his cochlear implants. He needs to wear them for school and he knows he'll have to explain how they work. Fortunately, his new schoolmates accept him and enjoy learning about his "superpower ears" and being deaf. Camden learns his implants are part of what makes him unique.

Peyton's Magical Hearing Aid

by Niki Halwani

This book follows a young girl named Peyton who discovers that her hearing aid doesn’t just help her hear, it also opens doors to magical adventures. This story highlights the importance of hearing aids while also celebrating individuality and confidence.

HearO Saves the Day: An Adventure in Music, Health, and Hearing Protection

by Adele Sandberg and Sherilyn Adler

This book follows a young girl who is overwhelmed by loud noise during a park concert. With the help of superhero HearO, she and her friends learn fun, simple ways to protect their hearing while still enjoying the music. The book emphasizes the risks of noise-induced hearing loss and encourages hearing safety through relatable situations for kids.

I've Never Sawn That Before

by Kristin Blakely

This whimsical bedtime story follows young Nate as his imagination runs wild just before bed, conjuring up playful visions like donut rain and dancing dinosaurs. As bedtime anxiety sets in—especially after removing his hearing aids—his dad gently comforts him, easing his fears and helping him feel safe. With lyrical rhymes and soothing illustrations, this heartwarming tale celebrates the bond between parent and child while offering reassurance to any child feeling anxious at night.

She Heard Her Footsteps

by Brenda Schmidt 

Lily, a curious and spirited girl, receives her first pair of hearing aids and begins to experience the world in a whole new way. From playful giggles to the rustle of leaves and chirping birds, each sound brings wonder and delight. As Lily shares her discoveries, she helps those around her appreciate the beauty in everyday moments, creating a heartwarming celebration of sound, connection, and the joy of listening.

Mara Hears in Style

by Terri Clemons

Follows Mara on her first day at a new school, where she faces challenges navigating her hearing aids and feeling understood. From a forgetful teacher to a noisy lunchroom, Mara’s day starts off rocky—until a making a connection at the playground helps her realize her hearing aids are actually her superpower. With ASL depictions throughout, this story empowers children, promotes inclusion, encourages understanding of hearing differences, and inspires confidence in kids starting new journeys.

The Magical Arguing Cookies

by Storey Kuo

While not directly about hearing loss, this book was inspired by the author’s experience with developing sudden hearing loss as a teenager. It's a playful and heartwarming story about nine lively cookies who come to life and compete to be the “best” for a young boy Oliver. As each cookie highlights what makes them unique—from sweetness to surprises— Oliver learns that everyone has something special to offer.

Ages 9-12 (middle grade)

By this age, children may be independent readers but still occasionally love to have a caregiver read a book to them. Either way, these books are recommended for kids in the fourth grade to tween range:

El Deafo

by Cece Bell

This Newbery Honor winning graphic novel memoir from Cece Bell became a New York Times bestseller upon publication, and it's easy to see why. This charming book follows Cece as she navigates the awkwardness and amazingness of having a super-hearing, thanks to her hearing aids. Publisher's Weekly said "Bell’s earnest rabbit/human characters, her ability to capture her own sonic universe (“eh sounz lah yur unnah wawah!”), and her invention of an alter ego—the cape-wearing El Deafo, who gets her through stressful encounters . . . all combine to make this a standout autobiography."

Cheshire Moon

by Nancy Butts

Older readers will enjoy this book about a deaf girl named Miranda, who must learn to trust a new friend after her cousin, Timothy, is lost at sea. Author Nancy Butts weaves suspense and intrigue into the story when the two share a mysterious dream about Timothy.

Jessi’s Secret Language (Babysitter's Club series)

by Ann Matthews Martin

When Jessi begins to learn sign language from Matt, a young boy whom she babysits, she becomes determined to introduce sign language to other interested children in the community. The book is #16 of The Babysitter’s Club series.

Rally Caps

by Stephen J. and Jodi Michelle Cutler

After 10-year old Jordan is injured in an accident, he finds it difficult to return to his favorite sport of baseball. Fortunately, he meets Luca at summer camp, a deaf boy who wears a cochlear implant and inspires Jordan with a “nothing is impossible” attitude. Find out how they rally together in the biggest game of Jordan’s life.

Addy’s Race

by Debby Waldman

Read how Addy, who has worn hearing aids for most of her life, discovers a hidden talent that teaches her she is not defined by her hearing loss.

Teenagers

The practice of reading really pays off once children enter their teen years. At this age, reading improves vocabulary and writing skills, helps teens navigate complex life issues, broadens their imagination and increases the likelihood of academic success.

Song for a Whale

by Lynne Kelly

As a deaf kid in a hearing world, 12-year old Iris knows what it's like to be misunderstood. So, when she learns of Blue 55, a whale whose song is so off-pitch he's become unrecognizable to other whales, she is determined to let him know someone understands his loneliness—even if it means breaking family and school rules to reach him.

Diary of a Hard of Hearing Kid

by Isaiah John Baier

There's nothing more poignant than a heartfelt memoir and this one delivers. Written and illustrated by 11-year old Isaiah Baier, the book gives readers a glimpse into his life as a child who lost his hearing to meningitis at 20-months of age and now wears cochlear implants. "Just to let you know, this book was made without any self pity," he writes in the disclaimer. "Feel free to laugh about my circumstances."

Isaiah donates 100 percent of proceeds from the sale of this book to Hear the World, a non-profit mission which provides hearing devices to those with hearing loss all over the world. 

A Season of Change

by Lois L. R. Hodge

Biney is 13 and has hearing loss, but that doesn’t stop her from helping a friend in crisis. The challenge helps her prove to everyone, including herself, just how grown up she really is.

Hearing Our Way magazine

This magazine is for kids and teens with hearing loss, and gives them an opportunity to connect with others experiencing the same issues and challenges. Includes resources for parents and teachers, too. 

More on books and hearing health

• How audiobooks can sharpen your hearing
• New book helps people improve mindset about hearing loss

Gift guide for people with hearing loss and tinnitus

Need gift ideas? We've put together a list of practical tools and ideas for gifts and thoughtful occasions in our Healthy Hearing's gift guide for people with hearing loss and tinnitus.