Let's Hear It for Almigal

by Wendy Kupfer, Tammie Lyon (Illustrator)

Overview

Mom's Choice Gold Award Winner for Values and Life Lessons

This fun and original picture book introduces Almigal, a spunky little girl with hearing loss who is now determined to hear every single sound in the universe thanks to her new cotton candy pink cochlear implants. These sounds include a baby’s funny giggle, the robin’s chirps outside the window, the soft song played during ballet class, and especially her best friend Chloe’s teeny-tiny voice. But most of all, Almigal wants to hear her parents whisper to her when they tuck her into bed every night. Almigal’s spirit will have both children and parents alike rooting for her, while the story delivers a positive message about accepting and celebrating differences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780983829409
Publisher:	Handfinger Press
Publication date:	05/01/2012
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Wendy Kupfer is an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing who has worked closely with Thomas Balkany, MD, former chair of the University of Miami Department of Otolaryngology, and one of the leading cochlear implant surgeons in the country. She lives in Delray Beach, Florida. Tammie Lyon is the award-winning illustrator of the Eloise and Katie Woo series of picture books. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Editorial Reviews

“Beautifully illustrated by Tammie Lyon, Let’s Hear it for Almigal should be required reading for children who are hearing impaired. It’s easy to identify with Almigal, a child full of energy, enthusiasm, and mischief. Written in language that is simple to understand for children ages three through eight.”  —ForeWord Reviews

“Kupfer—whose own daughter, Ali, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at 10 months of age—celebrates uniqueness, while the delightful, full-page illustrations show the lively heroine and her friends and family enjoying their differences.”  —Kirkus Reviews

“This is a lovely, positive uplifting book that will also hopefully make people more aware of what it is like to be deaf. It is important for people to understand what it is like to be deaf so that they can empathize with deaf people. It also gives those who are deaf an amazing character that they can relate to.”  —Children’s Web Magazine

From the Publisher

An exuberant, cotton-candy pink introduction to hearing loss and cochlear implants for ages 5 and up. Little Almigal's hearing loss doesn't get much better with hearing aids. While Ali's friend Penelope, whose hearing aids work for her, uses both her voice and signs to communicate, Almigal only knows a word or two of sign language, so she's frustrated at missing out on the sounds in her world. She declares that she needs "to hear every single sound in the whole entire universe!"--especially her parents saying "We love you Almigal" when she's in bed and not wearing her hearing aids. Her doctor suggests cochlear implants to improve her hearing, and Almigal is all for it. The book gently covers Almigal's trip to the hospital for the operation and the importance of handling the implants carefully, as displayed in episodes where Almigal fails to treat the implants properly, thus learning how important that care can be. The implants successfully help Almigal hear all the things she'd been missing. Although the story skips the controversy surrounding cochlear implants and their place in the deaf community, the cheerful inclusiveness will be a welcome introduction for children. Kupfer--whose own daughter, Ali, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at 10 months of age--celebrates uniqueness, while the delightful, full-page illustrations show the lively heroine and her friends and family enjoying their differences. Almigal considers herself to be the luckiest girl in the world. "Do you want to know why?" she asks. "Because I have so many friends and each one is different." The charming story of a brave child's decision to make her life better.

Kirkus Reviews

Read More