Review by Booklist Review
When Little Bear's dad comes to wake him up in the morning, Little Bear knows he's there only because he feels the bed shake and the windows rumble. Snow falls, soft and heavy, outside as Little Bear and Dad Bear watch a skiing competition on TV, and Little Bear begins relating his experiences through those events: The world feels distant and quiet, like snow. And when people repeatedly ask him the same confusing question, he thinks they're saying, "Can bears ski?" Eventually, after some hearing therapy, lip-reading classes, and hearing aids, he finally understands what everyone's been asking: "Can you hear me?" #OwnVoices creators Antrobus and Dunbar have lovingly crafted a picture book that addresses not just the often-frustrating process of diagnosing a disability but also the exhaustion that accompanies living with one. Dunbar's strong-lined and loudly colored art easily translates Little Bear's emotional journey for a young audience, making this an excellent mirrors-and-windows pick, especially for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and likely won't have seen themselves portrayed so clearly before.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
Bear's home is loud -- full of Dad Bear's rumbling, shaking, and trembling -- and our protagonist enjoys the commotion. Perplexingly, though, Dad and everyone else seems to keep asking, "Can bears ski?" Bear brushes it off -- until one day Dad Bear takes the young narrator to meet an "au-di-ol-o-gist." What follows is a thoughtful sequence that illustrates what a visit to an audiologist might look like. Bear has hearing loss, and while there are different therapies available, Bear tries hearing therapy and lip-reading lessons first. Later come a pair of "plastic ears called hearing aids." At this point in the story, a suddenly bright double-page spread shouts the words, "CAN YOU HEAR ME?" -- and the startled protagonist realizes that this was the question everyone had been asking all along. The ink-and-paint illustrations are subtle and understated. Warm tones softly illuminate the story, punctuated by bold primary colors, in this compassionately told book. Maija Meadows Hasegawa November/December 2020 p.65(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A little bear wonders why everyone keeps asking, "Can bears ski?" The young narrator of this picture book tries to pay attention, but they just can't make sense of things. It turns out that they are hard of hearing. Dad Bear brings them to the audiologist, where they learn about hearing tests and audiograms. Finally, they get hearing aids, and suddenly the world is a lot louder--sometimes too loud! This book affectionately portrays one experience of being hard of hearing. There is no mention of sign language, yet it does not imply that oralism is the only valid route. It is a depiction of the real experience of many hard-of-hearing children. The illustrations are simple and cozy, featuring lots of very cute bear faces. As with many picture books addressing specific issues, the main audience for this book will be children with a similar experience, who will surely delight in seeing the little bear wearing their hearing aids and learning to navigate the world. However, all young readers will enjoy figuring out just what "Can bears ski?" is supposed to mean and will benefit from learning about being hard of hearing, including how to talk to a hard-of-hearing person. Gently and thoughtfully teaches about being a hard-of-hearing kid. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
