My Friend Is Deaf

The All Kinds of Friends series (6 titles) does an excellent job of educating readers about differently abled individuals while presenting them as perfectly normal. This book, aimed at beginning readers, showcases how deaf children can communicate (through sign language and speech therapy) and tools or skills they might use to understand others (lip reading, television captions, hearing aids). Simply laid out spreads depict common scenarios, like children watching TV or drawing together, through large color photos and short, descriptive sentences. The illustrations blend diversity with shared experiences, making for a positive portrayal of Deafness, which is further supported by the text’s upbeat tone. For instance, a hearing child learns a sign from a Deaf friend, which is declared “Neat!” An ASL alphabet chart concludes this affirming title. —Julia Smith