"Does a rainbow make a noise?" a deaf child asks a hearing friend. "No," he is told. Some things don't need a noise. A rainbow is just the same for you and me." WHEN CHRIS WAS A BABY, his parents realized that he didn't notice the dog barking or a door slamming. Through a series of tests, doctors determined that he was deaf. In this intriguing, reassuring book, Chris tells young readers about what it is like to be deaf and describes typical events in his life and the ways he has adjusted to his hearing loss. With the assistance of hearing aids, Chris is able to hear vibrations, loud noises, and some other sounds. With sign language, speech therapy, and an interpreter, Chris' days are much like those of hearing children, filled with classes, soccer games, and children's theater. Accompanied by Simmonds' vivid and energetic multimedia paintings, Heelan's text explores the world of a real child and answers the questions many children may have about hearing loss....

Taylor and Tyler are twin brothers and best friends. But the twins are different in one significant way: Taylor has cerebral palsy, while Tyler does not. Through Taylor's eyes we see how much effort he must expend to strengthen his legs, which are weak. He explains how valuable his new wheelchair is because it helps him maneuver more easily and do the things he want to do, like go to school and play basketball with his brother Tyler.

This full-color picture book series from the nation's leading rehabilitation center will explain to readers ages 6 and up the needs of children with disabilities. The Learning Books offer valuable insight and inspiration for children with disabilities as well as for their family members and schoolmates. Each book is written from the viewpoint of a real child with a physical disability. The goal of each book is to see into the child's world, understand the physical challenge the child faces, and learn how an assistive device can empower the child to overcome the limitations posed by his or her disability....