Youth and Family Connections

Welcome to DEAR Week 2023!

Day 4: Animal Pals!

Where would we be without our fuzzy friends? Whether we're admiring the critters at the zoo or playing with a pet at home, animals are a great way to build confidence and foster empathy. Animals can teach us about nature and lots about ourselves! Today, let's focus on our best animal pals and see how animals can show us what it means to be human.

Deaf Dog Rhett - Karlie's ASL Story

I Deaf-initely Can, Deaf author

My Heart Is Like a Zoo

Rocky Mountain School for the Deaf

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Be More Dog (2023):

Caroline Crowe

Picture Book

When his dad goes to work, a young Deaf boy feels like his happiness is gone, too. But his dog, Sam, is always happy! The boy decides to follow Sam all day to learn how he always manages to keep his tail wagging.

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Deafinitely Awesome (2019): Mary L. Motley

Picture Book

This is the story of Acorn, a dog that has a listening problem. But, it turns out, Acorn isn't be stubborn, he's Deaf! When he finds the right person who takes the time to train him with sign language, Acorn can finally show everyone what a great dog he is.

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Song for a Whale (2019):

Lynne Kelly

Elementary/Middle

Iris is 12 and already a tech genius. She's also Deaf and sometimes that means people assume she isn't very smart. When Iris learns about a whale who struggles to communicate with other whales, she becomes determined to use her own struggle to communicate and her tech skills to help the whale create its own, perfect song.

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Hurt Go Happy (2016):

Ginny Rorby

Middle Grade

Joey has been Deaf since birth, but her mother never let her learn sign language. Instead, she struggles to read lips. One day, she meets a researcher who is raising a baby chimp and teaching her to sign. Joey secretly learns to sign, too, and embarks on a journey to protect her new friends while also discovering herself. Based on a true story.

Want more recommendations? Check out last year's DEAR newsletters!

Educational Videos with ASL

Learn Bright seeks to provide educational videos that are accessible for younger learners. As part of this effort, they have over 200 videos for kids with ASL interpreters on screen and lots of visuals, including lots of animals!


See their full ASL playlist here.


See playlists separated by subject here.

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Want YFC to read with you?
Youth and Family Connections partners with schools and families to provide READ Days. A Deaf, DeafBlind, or Hard of Hearing adult goes into classrooms to read with students, foster a love for reading, and connect with students as a DDBHH role model. Children also receive free books through a CHS/American Library Association partnership!
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Disclaimer: CHS does not necessarily endorse the content of the recommended books. It is the responsibility of teachers and family members to ascertain the appropriateness of the texts for their readers. 

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