I remember in elementary school they tried to test my hearing by playing lower and lower tones in a set of headphones. I knew that I wasn't hearing what they wanted me to and I was so scared that my hearing wasn't good enough. I knew if it wasn't then I'd need to see more doctors and that would be expensive and I'd be a burden to my parents in my mind, so I tried so hard to "pass" the tests and I realized I could hear the high frequency sounds of the headphones activating, so I cheated and they never realized my hearing was getting worse until long after I turned 18 when I finally admitted that I could barely hear most men since their voices were lower tones. Never ended up learning much sign because of it and struggled so much in school with anything I couldn't read or any time I couldn't see teacher's faces to help me lip read to assist my understanding of what they'd said. If I'd just had access to a book that could dispel the fear around not being "good enough" I could have helped myself and others a whole hell of a lot more.
just wanna send some love your way, and also say that you still deserve accessibility and care. Thanks for sharing your story, it might cause some parents to get these kinds of books!
Our mom cheated on hearing tests too, after she lost some of her hearing from years of swimming! She could hear them press the button that made the sound go.
I'm currently going through hearing tests, aren't the high pitched sounds what the technicians are testing you on, is there another sound that you are supposed to be hearing.
Same! I love kids books and child development though (also used to teach). Though, I wasn't expecting books I might actually pick up for myself to practice signs with!
Another reason why I really appreciate the more subtel inclusive books or at least diverse books where the diversity isn’t the main or only story is that I’d feel more comfortable gifting them when the parents aren’t passionate about diversity. I’d worry a parent wouldn’t want to read “kid has two moms” to their kid, but a story where the love story happens to be between people of the same gender or a kid happens to have two moms seems something more parents would actually read to their kid if they received it as a gift
Totally agree. It's interesting looking back at some of the kids books and TV shows that I watched/read when I was younger, and I was actually surprised by how much diversity existed that was just 'there', rather than necessarily being the centerpiece. Whether it's sibling characters that had different mothers/fathers, a character whose classmate wore a hijab, etc. It reflects how diversity actually presents itself in the world- it's not a genre that we actively seek out, but rather something we encounter in various social or work situations throughout life.
This is why I love the book Everyday Babies. It's soft exposure to diversity of family types but the focus is on Babies and their development. If you're homophobic, you can easily decide the two women sleeping on the same bed (and exhaustedly on top of each other) are Grandma and Mom or 2 close friends who are utterly knackered from trying to get the baby in the cot to go the f-k to sleep. 😂
The "can bear ski" hit me. I didn't get diagnosed with moderate sensorineural hearing loss til I was a teenager after yet another fight with my parents where they thought I was being a stubborn a-hole and I insisted I hadn't heard the request, and I pleaded them to make good on their threat to get me tested and prove my excuse wrong. Just typed that out and realised how ridiculous! 😂 Still have trouble now in my thirties as every county in the UK requires you start from scratch to get new hearing aids...when all I wanted was for them to fix my existing ones. So now I have two pairs of broken hearing aids and can't face starting from scratch again in London because the NHS can't just look at my records from another county... Last time I told the audiologist my precise diagnosis a full two months before he confirmed it was exactly what I always new and congratulated me on my 'passing'...years of no support will do that! Sorry for rant, realise this may actually be a rare understanding community able to relate.
I immediately took out my pen and paper so I could jot down these titles. I work at my local library and am trying to help make the library a more diverse place. Thank you for sharing these books I know that my library will be very excited to order these and add them to our collection!
I get so happy every time you upload, Its difficult to explain just how special your channel is to me, as someone whos disabled, also in a queer relationship and wanting to start a family one day im so happy to see such great rolemodels. Thank you so much for everything!
Honestly most kids books about ADHD that I've seen are... not great. They either portray it as a superpower, or as something you need to "fix" about yourself. I don't like it. My 7 year old has moderate to severe ADHD and I'd really like to show her some protagonists that are just regular kids that deal with regular life with ADHD. Recommendations are welcome.
@@DestructionGlitterseriously how are they so hard to find? i once saw a book which described a character named Tommy who had ADHD as “much more silly than a normal child”… like as if having ADHD would mean you’re not “a normal child” and the book completely ignores the struggles of having it and only focuses on how others see him
Just like how most ‘coping strategies’ turn out to be ways for me to behave that make it easier for others to cope with me. They are not there to help me at all. Watch out for that one. It’s exhausting. Yes it’s sometimes necessary to have skills that allow us to act in a more socially normal manner….but we need to understand that is what is being asked. Because it is so draining…..we need to give ourselves permission to turn off the act when we can to save energy. Reserve it for when it really matters.
omgomgomg I could not be more excited for this series. My little girl is 16 months and OBSESSED with books, we're averaging 10 books a day right now and I want to make sure we're incorporating important concepts and keeping her worldview inclusive
I don’t even have children nor do I plan on having any, but learning what books I could gift my cousins, friends, and the likes is wonderful. Plus you’re my favourite deaf RUclips creator :)
As a person with synethesia, I teared up when you read parts of the last story!! Even though it wasn't explicitly about the experience of synethesia, I really felt represented (for the first time) by the many different ways the character experienced sensations. Representation is something I hadn't even considered that I might want as a synesthete, but this was the first time I've felt seen and it was truly wonderful ❤
Rupert making sounds and asking you what animal comes to your mind when you feel the vibrations is the cutest thing, plus it shows how smart he already is
I totally get what you’re saying that sometimes you have to point out the quiet thing to kids who might not notice, but I personally love and want more books about xyz that aren’t ABOUT xyz. I want a deaf child to go on a jungle adventure without it all having to be about how they are deaf. I want people to see that people who are different than you are have the same lives and love the same things and are just PEOPLE. It frustrates me that so many stories are purely educational about “what is hearing loss,” “what is gender,” “what is Islam.” I just want to read my baby a book that casually uses they/them and no one mentions it because it’s not the point.
I grew up with being deaf since a toddler and like you, books have really helped me too! I still love to read. 😊 I wish we had these inclusive books growing up. Thank you, Jessica! ❤️
I love that you share your interactions with Rupert especially in regards to his understanding of your disabilities. Children are so clever and it's incredible to see! I look forward to being a mother one day and your videos are always so helpful😊
I'm 54, I was never told I was deaf until I was 12? 13? Ah! The 70's! I can't wear hearing aides because I'm deaf in one ear and ok in the other. I learned the alphabet at 15 and know some signs. I am teaching my granddaughter now because I have a hard time understanding her. These books might help. Thanks!
I'm a disabled children's author of books for older kids so it's great to see this as a series! I find it hard though as I don't know how to get seen as a disabled author. I always try to write a diverse range of characters and have had multiple different disabilities included but I haven't had anything published with a disabled protagonist yet. I really want to but I'd want that to be based on my own experience and I find it quite difficult and distressing to write about 😫 not to mention I pitched a story based on one of my conditions recently but was turned down as they didn't think it was realistic! 🙈
Ugh, reminds me of how when Lucille Ball pitched _I Love Lucy_ with Desi playing her husband in the show, vs. doing a continuation of her radio show character, the head honchos didn't think they could convince America that Lucy would have a Latino husband. She had to keep pointing out to them, BUT I DO!!!! Wishing you all the success she eventually had.
Our first kid is due some time in the next month, and your parenting content has really helped me feel like it’s not entirely overwhelming to contemplate (especially in a queer and Quaker way). Thank you!
When I was an older child I still liked books for small children (alongside books for children my age) because I thought the illustrations were soooo nice! Not a surprise I ended up becoming an animator 🌈 I loved when mom read books for me as a child and I think she did it until I was maybe 9 years old but I really struggled learning to read myself. I’m dyslexic, and I don’t think it helped that at the age of 5 when I started learning to read easy sentences in English we moved to Sweden and everything was different 😅 It all worked out in the end luckily, I don’t read as many books as I’d like to but I still have a great love for them despite the turbulence in my younger life 🎉
As someone who grew up with a love of books and who works as a FT Library Assistant I’m always on the lookout for books to suggest to add to our collection. I was instantly wanting to watch this video. Thank you for the wonderful books you mentioned. 🤓❤️📚
I had an amazing idea for a series: cozy little reading corners where you to read & sign the books to the camera! that way kids who maybe don’t have the resources or support to be able to purchase them would be able to access these wonderful books as well. It would also be a great tool for hearing parents who are trying to learn sign alongside their child! (also, I highly recommend others to contact their local libraries and ask them to add these books to their collections. Im sure many would be delighted to)
For D there are quite a lot of other real animals they could have used ( donkey, dog, dolphin, dinosaur…) other than dragon, but the sign for it is pretty cool.
I had hearing issues when I was a child. It progressively got worse until mid primary school. Turns out my ears couldn't drain. I read a lot to help me connect to the world and I barely spoke. By the time it was addressed, I'd already started compensating for my problems with lip reading. After I could hear again and I started speaking, I spoke in Shakespearean English because that what I read
@@jennifers5560 was definitely a shock for my teachers. Not the average 6 year old thing to do. I could also list off Latin terms for dinosaur bones. Was definitely the odd ball in the class. Wish I'd kept it up though. Now I love everything that makes me different. Still struggle with r's and w's though which started at the same time as the hearing issues.
My godson has a disability, he signs more than he speaks. So I watched this whole video to find ideas for him. Guess who's getting a load of books? He'll love the big one especially
Living in America, I am now wondering what books I can find that will show ASL. I have a very minimal understanding and my child is hearing as well, but I love the idea of teaching him some signs now while he is 6. Also, my child is a proud member of the "let me max out the library books I can check out on my card AND the books Mommy can check out on her card" team. 25 books every time we go.
I think when something becomes incidential, for eg. a child that walks on crutches is- that means it that they [ eg. a child that walks on ctutches] is accepted and intergrated in society. I absolutely love this video.
[I will put this more clearly]. I think that when something in a children's book [ie. a child walks on crutches] becomes incidental [eg. not the focus] it means that the child who walks on crutches has become accepted and intergrated into society. [I realise that I am reiterating what you have said, Jessica, just putting it in my own words]. x ps. I am putting this on my Twiitter page, Instagram etc. as I think that it is so important.
15:08 I coach a deaf girl and they didn't figure it out until she was 5, she had taught herself to lip read well enough that she could generally get by OK, she now has bilateral cochlear implants and is learning NZSL
Currently writing a children's book about collective nouns for animals. Example, it will explain that a group of birds is called a flock, but a flock of hummingbirds is also called a bouquet, a flock of vultures is called a wake, and a flock of owls is called a parliament. The pictures would show a group of owls in parliamentary wigs and robes.
Might break it up into diferent types of animals. Birds, fish, large mammals and small mammals or predators and prey animals, etc. There's so many and I struggle to cut it down to children's book length.
I don't know if you've heard of this book or own it but another youtuber I follow, Beth, created a book based off her deaf son Cooper and some of his friends. It's called the ABC's of Disability and shows a brief description of real children with disabilities that the stories are based off of. She made it to help Cooper realize that there are lots of kids and people who might "look different" or "act different" and that that is ok. I haven't read it myself but I have heard great things
This has just been uploaded at the right time! And I'm excited for the new series, my friends have been springing out children in the last few years, and i need book recs for 6yos and younger 😊😊
I'm a lefty and I agree I have a really hard time finding good learning materials or even a teacher that could help me learn German sign language left handed. So I have to learn right handed like I had to do with so many other things. Kind of sucks to be excluded like that once again. I'm used to this because for as long as I can remember I pretty much learned everything you do with your hands the wrong way around for me but I also think I shouldn't be used to it and get the same treatment. Also little kids aren't as adapted to that yet so will struggle much more than me.
Oh my goodness, I am left handed, and adapted to a right handed world, mostly. Until uni when I took ASL as my language and was told I swapped hands and would confuse Deaf people. Then I saw a film of a hand swapper Deaf person and I (who was not allowed to speak in class) signed Like me! Like me! I'm hearing, but have some Deaf family and attended a college that was (in the US) where the Deaf students were sent prior to going on to a uni that could accommodate Deaf students who used sign. Great to know childrens' books are now crossing the boundaries between hearing and deaf.
Hello Jessica, i don't know if you are going to read this comment or not, but i really really want to thank you. I'm a law student from India and the state of lgbtq+ rights(they still don't have any marital rights), minority rights is abysmal. I really wanted to write a children's book with queer and interfaith couples featuring in it, but i constantly fear of how the government and society would react, of how they will treat my family. There was an advertisement by a jewellery brand called tanisq featuring an interfaith couple and they had to take that advertisement down due to harassment by the masses. I really want to make a change, but i am scared. But seeing you gives me hope for a better tomorrow. Your existence has helped millions of people like me. Thank you so much dear! I hope i can teach similar values to my own kids one day.
This is a good reminder to check in with our literacy leader at school to see if we have any books that feature children who are deaf or hard of hearing, We currently have one child with a hearing aid (bone conduction style) and we use a microphone in the classroom to assist. We recently got some more LGBTQI+ inclusive books, especially to support the class with a child who is transitioning at the moment
As someone studying to be a youth services librarian, thank you for making this video! The 'Emma' series by C. L. Reid is probably too old for Rupert (and it's in ASL, not BSL) but I love it.
Love the book reviews! “ Come over to my house” is an Australian picture book by Eliza Hull and Sally Rippin which features children and adults with a diverse range of disabilities and families.
TIL there are left-handed signs?! Unsure how common this is, but I always just learned one set of signs when I was growing up (long since forgotten most signs I was taught and aim to relearn sign language some time soon!) Thank you so much for the educational, fun video, as always.
More like sign language looks different when signed by left-handed speakers since they swap the dominant hand. I never thought about how confusing that would be for a lefty!
@@taylor3950 I didn’t even know signs could be different as a left handed person. As a lefty myself, I only ever learned the same signs for right handed folks. Didn’t think you could do them any other way.
The Can bears ski? Reminded me a bit of me being a kid for years desperately in need of glasses. People would walk by and say hi and I would not notice them, because I could not recognize who it was or that they were waving at ME. Or in class, I would stare at the board like ???? when the teacher talked or asked questions. Occasionally I would look off of the notes of the kids around me to try to understand what was going on but I started to get the reputation that I was always cheating off of them LOL so they’d pull their notes away when they saw me looking. I got glasses eventually, not to worry, and my grades certainly improved haha. Edit: For a while I hid that I could not see because my parents would frequently say to me as a child that sitting too close to the tv would hurt my eyes, so I thought I’d get in trouble for watching too much tv LMAO. No, poor eyesight just runs in the family.
11:58 Captions read 'So, if this is your only book, I would take it more,' but Jessica says 'So, if this is your only book, I would say: Get more,' and I'm bringing that out for other deaf people, because it really frustrates me personally when captions are wrong (nonsensical) but I have no ability to know what's really being said. (I often notice mistakes hearing people don't, because they aren't accustomed to paying attention as closely as I must just to catch _anything._ ) If anyone working on the channel sees this: Thank you, though, for always captioning the videos! Most channels don't, and a lot of channels simply approve the automated captions (which are often gibberish, because they're so obviously programmed to only recognize one accent). I presume strongly on the side of manual labour in your case, and I appreciate that a lot!! It means the instances where I replay the video over and over, struggling to understand one sentence, happen rarely here compared to elsewhere. =)
In Germany the first hearing test is after about three days and what most people (including providers) don't know is that it actually doesn't test the ability to hear, but whether or not there is an auditory canal (don't know if that's the proper english vocabulary for that). What does this mean? It means that if you pass this test you have an auditory canal, but that doesn't mean something else can't be going on that's affecting your ability to hear. If you don't pass the test you either don't have a fully developed auditory canal (or not at all maybe?) or your ear is still too small for the testing device to work or there is still amniotic fluid or vernix in your ear (the last two mean: the test is not working and therefore not conclusive and needs to be repeated). So lots of things that could be going on here that would mean a positive or negative result on this test does not automatically mean hearing loss or no hearing loss present.
I don't have children, grandchildren or any children. I've only been a long distance aunt and great-aunt-in-law so I haven't had a lot of contact with small children. But I did work with several deaf ladies early in my time at the State. My wife was visually impaired and, while we were only married 5 and a half years, we had been friends years longer than that. I learned more sign then I ever learned any other language, and I actually might've become more fluent in it because what ever is wrong in my brain about languages did seem to accept signs. I never had the chance, and at 70 I don't think I will. Honestly, my hearing is pretty good for my age, just like a lot of other things are pretty good for my age. Heck, despite being morbidly obese, I'm not diabetic... pretty good for my age.
Also the visible sounds reminds me of a german song "Sie mag Musik nur, wenn sie laut ist" (She only likes music if its loud) by Herbert Grönemeyer. Cant tell about how much it actually shows deaf experience but it opened my eyes a bit as a kid that not everyone experiences the world the same. The song is about a girl who blasts music because she can feel the vibrations even when she cant hear the music itself.
I got 5 copies of a COVID specific "viruses are invisible and everywhere" book with an entire page dedicated to public transport and hand washing (gritter and texture for the virus depictions) and distributed them to places I knew kids were around to read them
I want to mention, this is for England’s Sign Language. As someone who was taught, by an actual deaf teacher in college. The ABC’s is definitely different from American Sign Language, which was originally adapted from French’s version and surprisedly, at Martha’s Vineyard (in island that’s not far from the mainland US) had their own version of SL. So, in a way, the US version is a combination of French and Martha’s Vineyard versions of sign language. Also ASL only uses one hand to do the ABC’s. So, it’s weird to see that in England, they need both their hands to do each letter. I wish SL was more universal, since it’s just hand movements and facial expressions, but it’s not.
'and I really like pirates--" You should do a team up with Merphy Napier and talk about pirates! Also, great books, I wish I'd had books like those when I was growing ip.
Or a moment I thought you wrote the number four, and that it was a cheesy way to tell us about it :D two mommies, and the mix heritage sounds like something you could include in a children book :)
Anyone elses parents give up on sending them to their room because being in there with your books wasn't really making you reflect on your misbehavior?
I love kids books so much , I am never going to have kids but I have an excuse to buy them as an artist 😅 , I'm super interested in bridging communication gaps for kids so hopefully I will be an illustrator one day ,
I'd love to know which sounds/vibrations are your favourite. I'm going to assume Claudia and Rupert's voices will at the top of the list, but what about the other sounds? What brings up a little bubble of joy?
You mentioned that the first book shows the BSL signs for different things, including animals. Do you happen to know if there's an edition of the book for other countries, such as the USA? (ASL/SEE) Same question regarding the other book(s) with signs. Wish my friend Courtney were still around for me to tell her there's a book about a 🐞-bug loving girl. She raised praying mantises, roaches and other bugs and while it wasn't _my_ thing, I found it charming that it was hers.
I would love to see books for children that show people in wheelchairs, paraplegia etc. But any books that you recommend that include any disability in would be welcome. As comeone who loves books, I'm keen to develop an inclusive range. Also, different types of family structures (single/solo parent, gay/lesbian parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, foster/adoptive children) would be very welcome. And if you've found any good ones that include IVF that would also be welcome 😊 Thank you
I wonder how interesting the chinese written language (and japanese and other languages that use them) is to deaf children. It's not a written system based on sound, but on ideas. They feel to me kind of like sign languages.
I don't know if this is a stupid question, but how is it possible that you speak with a british accent while being deaf? Could you hear when you learned how to speak? or is it just that accents can be learned without actually hearing them?
![How Do I Teach my Baby Sign Language? [CC] [AD]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gRjQxoDiHtM/mqdefault.jpg)
![How Do I Teach my Baby Sign Language? [CC] [AD]](/img/tr.png)
I remember in elementary school they tried to test my hearing by playing lower and lower tones in a set of headphones. I knew that I wasn't hearing what they wanted me to and I was so scared that my hearing wasn't good enough. I knew if it wasn't then I'd need to see more doctors and that would be expensive and I'd be a burden to my parents in my mind, so I tried so hard to "pass" the tests and I realized I could hear the high frequency sounds of the headphones activating, so I cheated and they never realized my hearing was getting worse until long after I turned 18 when I finally admitted that I could barely hear most men since their voices were lower tones. Never ended up learning much sign because of it and struggled so much in school with anything I couldn't read or any time I couldn't see teacher's faces to help me lip read to assist my understanding of what they'd said. If I'd just had access to a book that could dispel the fear around not being "good enough" I could have helped myself and others a whole hell of a lot more.
❤
just wanna send some love your way, and also say that you still deserve accessibility and care. Thanks for sharing your story, it might cause some parents to get these kinds of books!
Our mom cheated on hearing tests too, after she lost some of her hearing from years of swimming! She could hear them press the button that made the sound go.
I'm currently going through hearing tests, aren't the high pitched sounds what the technicians are testing you on, is there another sound that you are supposed to be hearing.
@@yusrahabdulrazaq2431 They test you on the whole range low, high and in between and left and right ears.
i dont have kids, i never plan to have kids, did i watch the whole video? yes, yes i did.
Same!
Same! I used to work in nurseries though and wish these kind of books were included rather than the gruffalo 274386359943 times a day 😂
I'm looking forward to being an Auntie with dogs ❤ can't wait to read to them and buy them books
Well yeah! Now you know books to buy for the kidlets of kith and kin.
Same! I love kids books and child development though (also used to teach). Though, I wasn't expecting books I might actually pick up for myself to practice signs with!
Another reason why I really appreciate the more subtel inclusive books or at least diverse books where the diversity isn’t the main or only story is that I’d feel more comfortable gifting them when the parents aren’t passionate about diversity. I’d worry a parent wouldn’t want to read “kid has two moms” to their kid, but a story where the love story happens to be between people of the same gender or a kid happens to have two moms seems something more parents would actually read to their kid if they received it as a gift
Totally agree. It's interesting looking back at some of the kids books and TV shows that I watched/read when I was younger, and I was actually surprised by how much diversity existed that was just 'there', rather than necessarily being the centerpiece. Whether it's sibling characters that had different mothers/fathers, a character whose classmate wore a hijab, etc. It reflects how diversity actually presents itself in the world- it's not a genre that we actively seek out, but rather something we encounter in various social or work situations throughout life.
This is why I love the book Everyday Babies. It's soft exposure to diversity of family types but the focus is on Babies and their development. If you're homophobic, you can easily decide the two women sleeping on the same bed (and exhaustedly on top of each other) are Grandma and Mom or 2 close friends who are utterly knackered from trying to get the baby in the cot to go the f-k to sleep. 😂
The "can bear ski" hit me. I didn't get diagnosed with moderate sensorineural hearing loss til I was a teenager after yet another fight with my parents where they thought I was being a stubborn a-hole and I insisted I hadn't heard the request, and I pleaded them to make good on their threat to get me tested and prove my excuse wrong.
Just typed that out and realised how ridiculous! 😂
Still have trouble now in my thirties as every county in the UK requires you start from scratch to get new hearing aids...when all I wanted was for them to fix my existing ones. So now I have two pairs of broken hearing aids and can't face starting from scratch again in London because the NHS can't just look at my records from another county...
Last time I told the audiologist my precise diagnosis a full two months before he confirmed it was exactly what I always new and congratulated me on my 'passing'...years of no support will do that!
Sorry for rant, realise this may actually be a rare understanding community able to relate.
I immediately took out my pen and paper so I could jot down these titles. I work at my local library and am trying to help make the library a more diverse place. Thank you for sharing these books I know that my library will be very excited to order these and add them to our collection!
I get so happy every time you upload, Its difficult to explain just how special your channel is to me, as someone whos disabled, also in a queer relationship and wanting to start a family one day im so happy to see such great rolemodels. Thank you so much for everything!
Thank you so much 💕
@@jessicaoutofthecloset Thank *you* so much! You're so kind :)
I would be SO thrilled for a Children's books with good ADHD / Autism representation video
Honestly most kids books about ADHD that I've seen are... not great. They either portray it as a superpower, or as something you need to "fix" about yourself. I don't like it. My 7 year old has moderate to severe ADHD and I'd really like to show her some protagonists that are just regular kids that deal with regular life with ADHD. Recommendations are welcome.
@@DestructionGlitterseriously how are they so hard to find? i once saw a book which described a character named Tommy who had ADHD as “much more silly than a normal child”… like as if having ADHD would mean you’re not “a normal child” and the book completely ignores the struggles of having it and only focuses on how others see him
Just like how most ‘coping strategies’ turn out to be ways for me to behave that make it easier for others to cope with me. They are not there to help me at all. Watch out for that one. It’s exhausting. Yes it’s sometimes necessary to have skills that allow us to act in a more socially normal manner….but we need to understand that is what is being asked. Because it is so draining…..we need to give ourselves permission to turn off the act when we can to save energy. Reserve it for when it really matters.
The bear story is so cute. I wonder if there are children's books about visually impaired people.
There is the black book of colors- Which I remember as being in black and white with braille, and describing what colors are like via other senses.
omgomgomg I could not be more excited for this series. My little girl is 16 months and OBSESSED with books, we're averaging 10 books a day right now and I want to make sure we're incorporating important concepts and keeping her worldview inclusive
I don’t even have children nor do I plan on having any, but learning what books I could gift my cousins, friends, and the likes is wonderful. Plus you’re my favourite deaf RUclips creator :)
As a person with synethesia, I teared up when you read parts of the last story!! Even though it wasn't explicitly about the experience of synethesia, I really felt represented (for the first time) by the many different ways the character experienced sensations. Representation is something I hadn't even considered that I might want as a synesthete, but this was the first time I've felt seen and it was truly wonderful ❤
Rupert making sounds and asking you what animal comes to your mind when you feel the vibrations is the cutest thing, plus it shows how smart he already is
I totally get what you’re saying that sometimes you have to point out the quiet thing to kids who might not notice, but I personally love and want more books about xyz that aren’t ABOUT xyz. I want a deaf child to go on a jungle adventure without it all having to be about how they are deaf. I want people to see that people who are different than you are have the same lives and love the same things and are just PEOPLE.
It frustrates me that so many stories are purely educational about “what is hearing loss,” “what is gender,” “what is Islam.” I just want to read my baby a book that casually uses they/them and no one mentions it because it’s not the point.
I'm an aspiring children's author and I want my books to be inclusive, so these sorts of videos are very useful for me!
I grew up with being deaf since a toddler and like you, books have really helped me too! I still love to read. 😊 I wish we had these inclusive books growing up. Thank you, Jessica! ❤️
I love that you share your interactions with Rupert especially in regards to his understanding of your disabilities. Children are so clever and it's incredible to see!
I look forward to being a mother one day and your videos are always so helpful😊
I'm 54, I was never told I was deaf until I was 12? 13? Ah! The 70's! I can't wear hearing aides because I'm deaf in one ear and ok in the other. I learned the alphabet at 15 and know some signs. I am teaching my granddaughter now because I have a hard time understanding her. These books might help. Thanks!
I'm a disabled children's author of books for older kids so it's great to see this as a series!
I find it hard though as I don't know how to get seen as a disabled author. I always try to write a diverse range of characters and have had multiple different disabilities included but I haven't had anything published with a disabled protagonist yet. I really want to but I'd want that to be based on my own experience and I find it quite difficult and distressing to write about 😫 not to mention I pitched a story based on one of my conditions recently but was turned down as they didn't think it was realistic! 🙈
Ugh, reminds me of how when Lucille Ball pitched _I Love Lucy_ with Desi playing her husband in the show, vs. doing a continuation of her radio show character, the head honchos didn't think they could convince America that Lucy would have a Latino husband. She had to keep pointing out to them, BUT I DO!!!! Wishing you all the success she eventually had.
Our first kid is due some time in the next month, and your parenting content has really helped me feel like it’s not entirely overwhelming to contemplate (especially in a queer and Quaker way). Thank you!
Congratulations!
@wlonkery please keep us updated when the big day arrives!
This is a wonderful new series, Jessica!
6:45 The sign for dragon is so much fun I plan to work it into everyday conversations!
It made me laugh thinking of ways to work it in to conversations…”It’s as hot as a dragons breath today.”
Yes! That’s a great example of how this plan can work!
When I was an older child I still liked books for small children (alongside books for children my age) because I thought the illustrations were soooo nice! Not a surprise I ended up becoming an animator 🌈
I loved when mom read books for me as a child and I think she did it until I was maybe 9 years old but I really struggled learning to read myself. I’m dyslexic, and I don’t think it helped that at the age of 5 when I started learning to read easy sentences in English we moved to Sweden and everything was different 😅
It all worked out in the end luckily, I don’t read as many books as I’d like to but I still have a great love for them despite the turbulence in my younger life 🎉
As someone who grew up with a love of books and who works as a FT Library Assistant I’m always on the lookout for books to suggest to add to our collection. I was instantly wanting to watch this video. Thank you for the wonderful books you mentioned. 🤓❤️📚
I had an amazing idea for a series: cozy little reading corners where you to read & sign the books to the camera! that way kids who maybe don’t have the resources or support to be able to purchase them would be able to access these wonderful books as well. It would also be a great tool for hearing parents who are trying to learn sign alongside their child! (also, I highly recommend others to contact their local libraries and ask them to add these books to their collections. Im sure many would be delighted to)
I wish I'd had parents like Jessica & Claudia 💗 Rupert is such a loved & esteemed child 💞
For D there are quite a lot of other real animals they could have used ( donkey, dog, dolphin, dinosaur…) other than dragon, but the sign for it is pretty cool.
I grew up using elbow crutches and a wheelchair. I did not see myself represented in books. I think that this is very, very important.
I had hearing issues when I was a child. It progressively got worse until mid primary school. Turns out my ears couldn't drain. I read a lot to help me connect to the world and I barely spoke. By the time it was addressed, I'd already started compensating for my problems with lip reading. After I could hear again and I started speaking, I spoke in Shakespearean English because that what I read
Speaking in Shakespearean English seems kind of cool. 🙂
@@jennifers5560 was definitely a shock for my teachers. Not the average 6 year old thing to do. I could also list off Latin terms for dinosaur bones. Was definitely the odd ball in the class. Wish I'd kept it up though. Now I love everything that makes me different. Still struggle with r's and w's though which started at the same time as the hearing issues.
@@Eco_Hiko ❤️
@Eco-Hiko. That is the best thing I’ve ever read 😂🤣
Jessica has so much natural charisma
Thank you for this bundle of wonderful book recommendations -- as a librarian, I enjoy finding out about books of this kind. :)
Happy week of the Deaf! This video made me SO happy ❤ (heart)
My godson has a disability, he signs more than he speaks. So I watched this whole video to find ideas for him. Guess who's getting a load of books? He'll love the big one especially
Living in America, I am now wondering what books I can find that will show ASL. I have a very minimal understanding and my child is hearing as well, but I love the idea of teaching him some signs now while he is 6.
Also, my child is a proud member of the "let me max out the library books I can check out on my card AND the books Mommy can check out on her card" team. 25 books every time we go.
Lovely video, Jessica! Lots of good suggestions for the little ones in my life. Thank you! 🎀💖🎀
Thank you so much, I'm so pleased you liked it ❤️
The do bears ski one sounds really nice
It's great to have a good list, I love kid's books
as an ASL user i love learning BSL from all these resources!! more vocab is never a bad thing 🤘🏼
I'm so glad you're working with IBC, too ❤ x
I think when something becomes incidential, for eg. a child that walks on crutches is- that means it that they [ eg. a child that walks on ctutches] is accepted and intergrated in society. I absolutely love this video.
[I will put this more clearly]. I think that when something in a children's book [ie. a child walks on crutches] becomes incidental [eg. not the focus] it means that the child who walks on crutches has become accepted and intergrated into society. [I realise that I am reiterating what you have said, Jessica, just putting it in my own words]. x ps. I am putting this on my Twiitter page, Instagram etc. as I think that it is so important.
Thank you so much Alison! 🥰❤️
15:08 I coach a deaf girl and they didn't figure it out until she was 5, she had taught herself to lip read well enough that she could generally get by OK, she now has bilateral cochlear implants and is learning NZSL
Currently writing a children's book about collective nouns for animals. Example, it will explain that a group of birds is called a flock, but a flock of hummingbirds is also called a bouquet, a flock of vultures is called a wake, and a flock of owls is called a parliament. The pictures would show a group of owls in parliamentary wigs and robes.
That sounds like it will be a fun book! My favorite is a flamboyance of flamingos.
Might break it up into diferent types of animals. Birds, fish, large mammals and small mammals or predators and prey animals, etc. There's so many and I struggle to cut it down to children's book length.
@@cathycat4989 sounds like it should be a series of books.
Yes to all those kids book video topics you suggested! Yes please
I was pretty happy when my tiny rural Queensland town got picture books with both the words and braille
So excited for this series! I teach preschool and I'm always looking for recommendations for inclusive books to read to my class. ❤
I don't know if you've heard of this book or own it but another youtuber I follow, Beth, created a book based off her deaf son Cooper and some of his friends. It's called the ABC's of Disability and shows a brief description of real children with disabilities that the stories are based off of. She made it to help Cooper realize that there are lots of kids and people who might "look different" or "act different" and that that is ok. I haven't read it myself but I have heard great things
Came here to say the same!
This has just been uploaded at the right time! And I'm excited for the new series, my friends have been springing out children in the last few years, and i need book recs for 6yos and younger 😊😊
I'm a lefty and I agree I have a really hard time finding good learning materials or even a teacher that could help me learn German sign language left handed. So I have to learn right handed like I had to do with so many other things. Kind of sucks to be excluded like that once again.
I'm used to this because for as long as I can remember I pretty much learned everything you do with your hands the wrong way around for me but I also think I shouldn't be used to it and get the same treatment.
Also little kids aren't as adapted to that yet so will struggle much more than me.
I was moderately to severely deaf as a kid and they didn't realise until my year 3 teacher questioned if I could hear rather than not listening
So excited for this series! ❤🎉
Thank you!... me too! ❤️
Oh my goodness, I am left handed, and adapted to a right handed world, mostly. Until uni when I took ASL as my language and was told I swapped hands and would confuse Deaf people. Then I saw a film of a hand swapper Deaf person and I (who was not allowed to speak in class) signed Like me! Like me! I'm hearing, but have some Deaf family and attended a college that was (in the US) where the Deaf students were sent prior to going on to a uni that could accommodate Deaf students who used sign. Great to know childrens' books are now crossing the boundaries between hearing and deaf.
There's a great children's book called Harry Can Hear about a little hedgehog who has hearing issues and his mom takes him to get hearing aids.
I am a lefty signer. I LOVE the inclusion with left and right handed signing. ❤
Hello Jessica, i don't know if you are going to read this comment or not, but i really really want to thank you. I'm a law student from India and the state of lgbtq+ rights(they still don't have any marital rights), minority rights is abysmal. I really wanted to write a children's book with queer and interfaith couples featuring in it, but i constantly fear of how the government and society would react, of how they will treat my family. There was an advertisement by a jewellery brand called tanisq featuring an interfaith couple and they had to take that advertisement down due to harassment by the masses. I really want to make a change, but i am scared. But seeing you gives me hope for a better tomorrow. Your existence has helped millions of people like me. Thank you so much dear! I hope i can teach similar values to my own kids one day.
Thank you for this video! Would love a video with physical disabilities represented
You’re videos always make the day better! I don’t have kids but I very much enjoyed this video.
This is a good reminder to check in with our literacy leader at school to see if we have any books that feature children who are deaf or hard of hearing, We currently have one child with a hearing aid (bone conduction style) and we use a microphone in the classroom to assist. We recently got some more LGBTQI+ inclusive books, especially to support the class with a child who is transitioning at the moment
Ive been stockpiling my toddler toy and book mazon wish list I LIVE for this content🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
As someone studying to be a youth services librarian, thank you for making this video! The 'Emma' series by C. L. Reid is probably too old for Rupert (and it's in ASL, not BSL) but I love it.
Before I got my Kindle, I always had a book section of my suitcase and carry-on/travel bag.
I love this!! So excited for the next episode! :)
Love the book reviews! “ Come over to my house” is an Australian picture book by Eliza Hull and Sally Rippin which features children and adults with a diverse range of disabilities and families.
I love that the first book shows both left-handed and right-handed signs
TIL there are left-handed signs?! Unsure how common this is, but I always just learned one set of signs when I was growing up (long since forgotten most signs I was taught and aim to relearn sign language some time soon!) Thank you so much for the educational, fun video, as always.
More like sign language looks different when signed by left-handed speakers since they swap the dominant hand. I never thought about how confusing that would be for a lefty!
@@taylor3950 I didn’t even know signs could be different as a left handed person. As a lefty myself, I only ever learned the same signs for right handed folks. Didn’t think you could do them any other way.
The Can bears ski? Reminded me a bit of me being a kid for years desperately in need of glasses. People would walk by and say hi and I would not notice them, because I could not recognize who it was or that they were waving at ME. Or in class, I would stare at the board like ???? when the teacher talked or asked questions. Occasionally I would look off of the notes of the kids around me to try to understand what was going on but I started to get the reputation that I was always cheating off of them LOL so they’d pull their notes away when they saw me looking. I got glasses eventually, not to worry, and my grades certainly improved haha. Edit: For a while I hid that I could not see because my parents would frequently say to me as a child that sitting too close to the tv would hurt my eyes, so I thought I’d get in trouble for watching too much tv LMAO. No, poor eyesight just runs in the family.
11:58 Captions read 'So, if this is your only book, I would take it more,' but Jessica says 'So, if this is your only book, I would say: Get more,' and I'm bringing that out for other deaf people, because it really frustrates me personally when captions are wrong (nonsensical) but I have no ability to know what's really being said. (I often notice mistakes hearing people don't, because they aren't accustomed to paying attention as closely as I must just to catch _anything._ )
If anyone working on the channel sees this: Thank you, though, for always captioning the videos! Most channels don't, and a lot of channels simply approve the automated captions (which are often gibberish, because they're so obviously programmed to only recognize one accent). I presume strongly on the side of manual labour in your case, and I appreciate that a lot!! It means the instances where I replay the video over and over, struggling to understand one sentence, happen rarely here compared to elsewhere. =)
Thank you for spotting this, they have been fixed! Captions here are indeed human made haha 💕
Thank you for this video, your such a nice and amazing person!
Thank you so much for these recommendations!
If you happen to see this, there’s a device called a “coyote roller” that may help keep the foxes out of your yard. Great vid❤
The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing, but it's in braille.
In Germany the first hearing test is after about three days and what most people (including providers) don't know is that it actually doesn't test the ability to hear, but whether or not there is an auditory canal (don't know if that's the proper english vocabulary for that). What does this mean? It means that if you pass this test you have an auditory canal, but that doesn't mean something else can't be going on that's affecting your ability to hear. If you don't pass the test you either don't have a fully developed auditory canal (or not at all maybe?) or your ear is still too small for the testing device to work or there is still amniotic fluid or vernix in your ear (the last two mean: the test is not working and therefore not conclusive and needs to be repeated). So lots of things that could be going on here that would mean a positive or negative result on this test does not automatically mean hearing loss or no hearing loss present.
I don't have children, grandchildren or any children. I've only been a long distance aunt and great-aunt-in-law so I haven't had a lot of contact with small children. But I did work with several deaf ladies early in my time at the State. My wife was visually impaired and, while we were only married 5 and a half years, we had been friends years longer than that. I learned more sign then I ever learned any other language, and I actually might've become more fluent in it because what ever is wrong in my brain about languages did seem to accept signs. I never had the chance, and at 70 I don't think I will. Honestly, my hearing is pretty good for my age, just like a lot of other things are pretty good for my age. Heck, despite being morbidly obese, I'm not diabetic... pretty good for my age.
Thank you for your videos!
Am I a 26 year old hearing woman who doesnt want kids? Yes
Do I want to read some of these books after watching the video? Also Yes
Also the visible sounds reminds me of a german song "Sie mag Musik nur, wenn sie laut ist" (She only likes music if its loud) by Herbert Grönemeyer. Cant tell about how much it actually shows deaf experience but it opened my eyes a bit as a kid that not everyone experiences the world the same.
The song is about a girl who blasts music because she can feel the vibrations even when she cant hear the music itself.
I got 5 copies of a COVID specific "viruses are invisible and everywhere" book with an entire page dedicated to public transport and hand washing (gritter and texture for the virus depictions) and distributed them to places I knew kids were around to read them
I want to mention, this is for England’s Sign Language. As someone who was taught, by an actual deaf teacher in college. The ABC’s is definitely different from American Sign Language, which was originally adapted from French’s version and surprisedly, at Martha’s Vineyard (in island that’s not far from the mainland US) had their own version of SL. So, in a way, the US version is a combination of French and Martha’s Vineyard versions of sign language.
Also ASL only uses one hand to do the ABC’s. So, it’s weird to see that in England, they need both their hands to do each letter.
I wish SL was more universal, since it’s just hand movements and facial expressions, but it’s not.
Lovely video, thank you ❤
'and I really like pirates--" You should do a team up with Merphy Napier and talk about pirates!
Also, great books, I wish I'd had books like those when I was growing ip.
Or a moment I thought you wrote the number four, and that it was a cheesy way to tell us about it :D two mommies, and the mix heritage sounds like something you could include in a children book :)
Thank you
Anyone elses parents give up on sending them to their room because being in there with your books wasn't really making you reflect on your misbehavior?
Beautiful books, lovely video!
We read the ABC's of Inclusion and loved it.
I love kids books so much , I am never going to have kids but I have an excuse to buy them as an artist 😅 , I'm super interested in bridging communication gaps for kids so hopefully I will be an illustrator one day ,
Please let me know if you find books on auditory processing disorder and/or language processing disorder.
I'd love to know which sounds/vibrations are your favourite. I'm going to assume Claudia and Rupert's voices will at the top of the list, but what about the other sounds? What brings up a little bubble of joy?
You mentioned that the first book shows the BSL signs for different things, including animals. Do you happen to know if there's an edition of the book for other countries, such as the USA? (ASL/SEE) Same question regarding the other book(s) with signs.
Wish my friend Courtney were still around for me to tell her there's a book about a 🐞-bug loving girl. She raised praying mantises, roaches and other bugs and while it wasn't _my_ thing, I found it charming that it was hers.
I would love to see books for children that show people in wheelchairs, paraplegia etc. But any books that you recommend that include any disability in would be welcome. As comeone who loves books, I'm keen to develop an inclusive range.
Also, different types of family structures (single/solo parent, gay/lesbian parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, foster/adoptive children) would be very welcome.
And if you've found any good ones that include IVF that would also be welcome 😊 Thank you
Have you ever seen "The Butterfly Circus"? I don’t know if it's problematic in regards to disabilities or not.
I wonder how interesting the chinese written language (and japanese and other languages that use them) is to deaf children. It's not a written system based on sound, but on ideas. They feel to me kind of like sign languages.
Are these signs BSL? I live in Australia. Thank you.
Good video.
I sont have children, nor i plan to. Im not deaf or HOH yet hear I am to learn about ways to introduce these topics to kids and other people around me
Random question but is lip reading more difficult when people are not speaking their first language?
For even older kids, I love the Magnus Chase series.
Will you have an inclusivity from the start playlist?
I don't know if this is a stupid question, but how is it possible that you speak with a british accent while being deaf? Could you hear when you learned how to speak? or is it just that accents can be learned without actually hearing them?
Her hearing loss was gradual and she lost most of her hearing in her teens. Also, deafness is a spectrum and she still has some of her hearing.
❤
Dont forget about WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD by Julia Donaldson. Based on Julias own hearing loss journey.
lovely video
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I don't really know why, but, until this video, I assumed all your health issues literally only manifested when you were a teenager.
I wish I could show this to my mom. She loves kids books like these. Sadly, she is a homophobe. ☹