Can bears ski? by Raymond Antrobus, illustrated by Polly Dunbar

 Little Bear feels all the sounds around him, Dad Bear walking, the crunch of snow, the stairs shaking as Dad Bear calls him for breakfast. He hears sounds too - a burst of laughter, the sound of the tv, and most often, people asking him... something. It sounds like "Can bears ski?" but Little Bear doesn't know the answer to this question.

Then Little Bear goes to the audiologist and gets hearing aids and suddenly life is LOUD. He has a whole new rush of sounds to interpret and sometimes it's just too much. But with the patience of his father and a lot of practice, he can not only hear what people are saying, he finds the answer to his question - "Bears CAN ski!"

I was a little disappointed at first, thinking this was going to be a book just about getting hearing aids, but it's a sweet and comforting story as well. Antrobus captures Little Bear's enjoyment of every day activities as well as his confusion and his frustration in trying to take in a whole new section of sounds. Dunbar's soft colors show a friendly world of animals with different colors and textures of hair, glasses, and other distinguishing characteristics, all willing to be friendly with Little Bear but as confused as he is about their miscommunication.

The author and illustrator are deaf and hearing-impaired and the story is told simply but smoothly with their own experiences obviously shaping the narrative and experiences.

Verdict: The first time I've seen hearing aids in a book, besides Carol Thompson's board books for Child's Play, this is a story that will resonate with hearing-impaired and deaf children as well as those who are curious about other abilities. It's also a gently amusing story and a comforting tale of a supportive father. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781536212662; Published November 2020 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library