Turi’s Book Corner
Welcome to Turi’s Book Corner, where Portland Parent Guide, Turi Hoaglin, shares with you some of her favorite children and adult books! Learn more about Turi, or how to get in touch with her, on our Guide By Your Side page!
Turi’s Book Corner (May 2025)
The Delightful Dragonfly
By Karen Putz
As we move into summer this is a beautiful book about a dragonfly emerging and going out into the world. This is another beautiful book by Karen Putz.
It’s about firsts, differences, resilience, and the power of kindness.
Did you know dragonflies are deaf? It just goes to show we are more than our differences and kindness wins. Another beautiful book to add to your library.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon:
https://amzn.to/3GViccp
You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P!
By Alex Gino
This is a book from Scholastic about Jilly, a middle schooler, whose life changes when her sister Emma is born deaf. She asks questions to Derek, a black ASL user. Jilly doesn’t know what she doesn’t know and inadvertently offends Derek with her questions.
This book explores how her family navigates grief, language, and amplification choices, and how the delivery of that information to a family can hurt or help them in making the decisions that are best for their family.
It also brings in privilege and how that can look being both Deaf and a person of color. Alex explores the world of technology and how we now communicate. From text speak to abbreviations this book is for a middle school reading level, but is also a great family read. This is a book that will lead to some meaningful world view conversations.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon:
https://amzn.to/4dis8J7
Turi’s Book Corner (April 2025)
A Game Most Foul
By Alison Gervis
This book is a mystery novel with a fantasy/time travel twist.
Jules Montgomery was accepted to a prestigious Summer writing seminar. She is still learning to navigate the world after recently losing her hearing and trying to not let anyone know about it. When her classmate suddenly disappears it is up to Jules and her friends, Suruthi and Percy, to figure out exactly what happened. This book has all the elements of suspense and is a wonderful book about friendship and coming of age.
Another great read!
This book is intended for a middle school and up reading level.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/4cFUYCL
I Felt the Cheers
By Curtis Pride
Curtis Pride is deaf, a major league baseball player, a coach of the Gallaudet University baseball team, a son, husband and father.
This is a memoir about the power of family, perseverance, and an incredible work ethic.
Read how he has navigated the hearing world throughout his life first in mainstream school, then college, professional baseball, and finally as a coach.
For those of us with kiddos who are DHH this a book about his family’s journey as well as his own.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/4j7Dgub
Turi’s Book Corner (January 2025)
Diary of a Hard of Hearing Kid
By Isaiah Baier
This is an awesome glimpse into the everyday life of a Hard of Hearing kiddo. There is an abundance of humor sprinkled with examples of how Isaiah navigates the world. Isaiah ultimately shows us how his disability becomes an ability while doing things a typical hearing child does.
As a parent, I related to some of his musings, like $10,000 dollars down the toilet. It’s illustrated with his own drawings that lend even more charm to this book.
I loved it!
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/41XxRQm
Educational Advocacy For Students Who Are Deaf of Hard of Hearing
Cheryl DeConde Johnson, Janet DesGeorges, and Leeanne Seaver with Lisa Kovacs & Sara Kennedy
As we’re heading into IFSP/IEP season this is a must have to help with advocating for your child. It covers Eligibility, the ABC’s of FAPE (Free and Appropriate Education,) LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) and much more.
There is also a Chapter on Special Considerations of DHH students which every family should be familiar with.
A must have for every family.
Available at https://handsandvoices.org/resources/products.htm
Turi’s Book Corner (November 2024)
CHRISTMAS GIFT RECOMMENDATIONS
I would very much like to wish everyone a Blessed Holiday Season and enjoy your families and especially your DHH kiddos!
Turi
Duke the Deaf Dog Series
By Kelly Brakenhoff
This is a great series for little ones and families. It explores common themes of DHH kids written with humor and kindness.
Afterall, who doesn’t laugh at potty humor?
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/4kHYGzl
Astrid the Astronaut Series
By Rie Neal
This is a series of beginner chapter books for early readers. Follow Astrid as she finds out how having a hearing difference is her superpower and watch as she finds her community.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/4iG5wn0
Show Me a Sign Series
By Ann Clare LaZotte
For upper elementary/middle school students. Learn about the deaf history at Martha’s Vineyard in this historical novel. The book’s triumph over how the deaf are treated and viewed by society. They show how far we’ve come.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/3QZgubx
The Silence Between Us
By Alison Gervis
For high school students. A coming of age story about finding your people, figuring where you fit in, and embracing one’s identity.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/3DBS19d
Unravel
By Amelia Loken
A fantasy about a Deaf Princess who’s a witch and how she is woefully underestimated. If you like fantasy, this is a must read.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/42eL7A9
The Butterfly Cage
By Rachel Zemach
This beautiful memoir follows a Teacher of the Deaf (TOD) who also happens to be deaf. It follows her journey with her students while finding her own identity. A must read for parents.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/42geTVg
Turi’s Book Corner (October 2024)
The Deaf Girl
By Abigail Heringer
This is a beautiful memoir that any parent of a D/HH child can relate to. It mirrors so much of what both we and our children navigate on our unexpected journey.
It begins in her childhood with the struggle to find her identity and ends with her embracing her deafness.
Abigail’s time on The Bachelor was very eye opening especially since it was during Covid. The isolation she suffered from being cut off with no phone, and everyone being in their own hotel rooms, is heartbreaking.
She is an amazing woman from a very strong family who have given unconditional love and support along the way.
It’s a book anyone raising a D/HH child should read.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/3FCQn7Y
Unravel
By Amelia Loken
She’s Deaf, a princess, and a witch. Marguerite is watching her first witch trial when she rescues a child with the help of Tys, a deaf acrobat. While both her father and grandfather respect and unconditionally love her, her uncle doesn’t think that she has the ability to be queen one day. Uncle Reichard thinks he should be king so a power struggle begins. Little does he know that his niece is a strong capable young woman.
Marguerite’s magic comes from her embroidery and weaving it through the cloth. She can feel her power as she sews.
This is a story about overcoming audism, ableism, and that we must embrace our abilities.
I love reading fantasy and this book doesn’t disappoint.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/42eL7A9
Turi’s Book Corner (September 2024)
Big Feelings
By Elizabeth and Sylviah Seeliger
This book is colorful, whimsical way to explore feelings with Emotisnails. It uses velcro Emotisnails that makes it a very interactive book to name feelings in different situations.
Emotions included are brave, loved, proud, left out/hurt, scared, and shy, to name a few. Once we can identify our emotions we can more effectively communicate and avoid communication breakdowns.
There is also a Big Feelings YouTube channel! You can find the book read in ASL here.
You can purchase this book from the publisher here.
The Loudest Silence
By Sydney Langford
Casey is a teenager who recently lost her hearing and her dream of being a singer. She also recently moved from Portland, Oregon to Miami, Florida. She doesn’t want to draw attention to her hearing difference in her new school but soon finds some new friends that embrace her and stand up for her when she is bullied.
This is a book about finding your tribe. Casey finds an ally in Hayden who wants to follow his own dream. They celebrate their differences and discover we’re all more alike than different.
This is a book of triumph. Everyone one needs to find their voice to communicate their own hopes and dreams whether they are hearing or deaf.
While this book is set in Miami, I loved the references to my home in Portland, Oregon.
This is an awesome book for middle school through adult readers!
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/4kEBylq
Turi’s Book Corner (August 2024)
Success Wisdom
By Karen Putz
This is a go to book for anyone. There are quotes and bios from entrepreneurs to artists, adventurers, attorneys, teachers, and everything in between. Ms. Putz has put together a book full of diverse and successful people who happen to be Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind, and Deaf+.
There is so much wisdom in this book. Here is a quote from CJ Jones, Artist, Filmmaker, Leader, and Motivational Speaker : “Persistence is the key to success and patience the ultimate force of resilience.”
There are 60+ people profiled, and each one gives wonderful life advice.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/4hHBEG4
Bonnie and the Deaf Baker Squad
By Mickey Carolan
Once again Mr. Carolan has written about friendship, confidence, and Bonnie following her passion. Sometimes we worry so much about the destination that we forget to enjoy the journey. Following our passion is always a journey and with support from family and friends, we can’t go wrong. This is a heartwarming book and a great addition to your library.
Turi’s Book Corner (July 2024)
Thirty Million Words
By Dr. Dana Suskind
Language builds your child brain and in turn sets them up for lifelong success. Afterall what we want to raise Well Adjusted Social Kids or WASK!
Emma Every Day: Crazy for Apples
By C.L. Reid
There are four books in this series plus chapter books, too. Enjoy them all.
Turi’s Book Corner (April 2024)
Mom Dad Not Hear
By Mickey Carola
The author of this book is a CODA (child of deaf adults). It is a wonderful book about empathy, advocacy, accessibility, communication and life.
As the mom of a strong daughter who happens to be Deaf, I wish this book was around when she was growing up. It’s a great “how to” book for communication more than anything. Communication then leads to leadership and advocacy life skills.
He talks about barriers for his parents but, even so, they were spectacular parents that taught their children the value of both hard work and finding their passion. He also writes about inclusivity, diversity, and equal opportunities for all.
I had a hard time putting it down!
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/3FzCc3E
Ling Ling Bird Hears with his Magic Ears
By Tanya Saunders
This is a bright and colorful book about Ling Ling, a bird who wears cochlear implants (CI) and his journey learning about sound all around us.
From trees swaying in the wind to buzzing bees, he learns through beautiful illustrations and rhymes. It starts in the morning and ends with bedtime.
It’s a rich book of color and exploring sound.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/3FF7cPL
Turi’s Book Corner (March 2024)
Sky the Deaf Home Run Hero
By Mickey Carolan
This book is written by a CODA (child of deaf adult). It was written to honor his father who was a skilled baseball player.
Sky discovers that his superpower is the ability to hit home runs. Even though he’s unable to hear, he can focus on the ball. While dealing with bullies who steal his baseball and glove, Sky continues to support his friends even though he has some trouble with communication.
Then opening day happens. The bullies are amazed at Sky’s ability to hit home runs, he amazes the team of bullies, and he becomes the Home Run Hero. It also gives Sky the courage to stand up to the bullies and make the world better.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/420KSHx
The Silence Between Us
By Alison Gervais
This is a coming of age novel about Maya who was late deafened, had been in a deaf school, moved across the country, and enrolled in the local high school with an interpreter.
This book explores how Maya and everyone at school learned how to navigate communication and full access for Maya.
Maya meets Beau who takes the time and effort to learn ASL and slowly Maya warms up to him and discovers that even though Maya’s family is very loving, not everyone else has the same security.
My daughter was fully included in high school with interpreters and reading this book reminded me about how hard she had to work to keep up with her hearing peers.
I have lived and loved this book.
Purchase with our Amazon Associate link to support Hands & Voices of Oregon: https://amzn.to/3DBS19d