SuitabookListening to the Quiet
Cassie Silva
- Reading
- Read it together, pausing to notice the signs and visual or vibrating alternatives to sound. Invite the child to describe inclusive ideas, without expecting them to imitate hearing loss or speak for deaf people.
- Themes
- Communication and connection: Jacki and her mother learn sign language as the mother loses hearing; Jacki seeks ways to remain connected and share an important song. The story presents communication beyond speech as a valued way of sustaining affection and participation.
- Inclusive participation: The book addresses inclusive participation; the detail of how it is developed remains unclear. The event treats participation as something that can be redesigned so a person with hearing loss can take part.
- Worth knowing
- The mother’s hearing loss is central and may feel emotionally significant, particularly for readers who fear losing a familiar way of communicating with someone they love. The tone remains caring rather than alarming.