100 Books Like Mighty Mila

Another uplifting, “pawsitive,” diversity-inclusive book based on a real-life service dog! This wonderful story reminds kids to look for the silver linings in life, believe in themselves, and never give up. Readers will cheer for Alice Eloise as she overcomes obstacles and works hard to become the perfect silly service dog for her girl. Author Sarah Katherine Frey has overcome numerous health obstacles in her life, yet she always looks for the silver lining. Help promote empathy and disability inclusion in readers by joining Frey and Alice Eloise “on their journey as they go on adventures with a smile and a tail wag, making friends and finding joy wherever their paws may take them.” 

I have always believed that in a perfect children’s book, young readers are able to identify with the characters, perhaps even visualizing themselves in the story. This book goes above and beyond this belief. The main character has curly hair but, like most girls, thinks the grass is greener (or the hair is straighter) on all of the other girls. As Claire struggles to accept her big, unruly, curly hair, she embarks on a journey to find ways to change it. With the story’s charming illustrations and delightful rhyming text, this is a sweet story of acceptance and inclusion. But what really sets this book apart from other books is that it is available in 4 different versions! Readers can choose from African American Claire, Brunette Claire, Blonde Claire, or Redhead Claire! Wow!

Children love to believe in make-believe—and I believe in letting them believe as long as possible. This book, with its rollicking humor, is one that children will want you to read over and over again. When a young girl wishes for a pet ostrich, she has no idea what she’s in for. Imagine trying to walk an ostrich on a leash or feed him 78 apples that get stuck in his long throat! This hilarious rhyming story, with illustrations that almost jump off the page, also has an ending you would never expect.

I always appreciate children’s books that are diverse. Children everywhere should be given the opportunity to see themselves in the stories they read. It’s important for adults to understand that what a child takes away from a storybook character can become a life-altering emotion. I found that emotion in this book. Molly Morningstar is a little girl with a problem: She can’t find a doll that looks like her! Sure, the dolls all look like her classmates, but not one looks like Molly. In refusing to settle for just any other doll, Molly finds the perfect solution to the problem. What if she could make a doll? I love the emotion, fortitude, and creativity shown by our shining star, Molly Morningstar.

Holston, a journalist and musician, went to bed one night and woke up the next morning virtually completely deaf.

His book is a fascinating account of how he clawed his way back to the hearing world through various misdiagnoses, a failed cochlear implant, and finally, after extensive rehabilitative therapy, a successful cochlear implant. I learned so much about the pros and cons and risks of cochlear implants, and how they have improved greatly over the years.

I loved the way he communicates his profound frustrations and fears through this painful process with a self-deprecating humor that makes the book, despite its serious subject matter, an entertaining as well as educational read.

A wonderful story about a little fox who despite having cochlear implants, helps others see past their differences. This story teaches us to embrace our differences and accept ourselves as we are. The smallest act of kindness goes a long way. It even includes the American Sign Language Chart.

Here we have another of Oliver Sacks' brilliant books, the subject this time being the deaf. My brother’s wife is profoundly deaf as is her brother (heredity disease). He had a cochlear implant but she refused one and knowing my brother I can’t blame her. To me the most fascinating part of the book is the development of sign language and how different forms appeared in different countries. The creation of deaf schools, like the one started by Alexander Graham Bell, whose parents were both profoundly deaf, caused controversy because he didn’t believe in sign language and tried to force his pupils to use only speech in communication. As they had no feedback for sound, this was unbelievably stupid in my opinion as you can only change what you sense and can make sense of. Those who sign can ‘speak’ rapidly and clearly by ‘visual’ means, whereas those who try… show more.

I love being “caught” by great truths in the shape of precious, funny picture books. And this is one that did just that!

We all get that strangers are scary and probably not friendly and probably not nice and probably.. and probably... Well, I didn’t know how Maggie could possibly change the situation for her family, but she sure did.

I laughed and was so glad that I had discovered this book! It was written in 1979 and is so worth the search to find! 

Leonardo da Vinci was arguably the most creative person who ever walked the earth. He is known by many as an artist but his most impressive contributions came in the form of inventions. Imagine in the fifteen hundreds conceptualizing tanks, automatic weaponry, and parachutes. He was so far ahead of his time that people thought he was crazy.

Bouton skillfully weaves her personal story of suddenly losing her hearing at age 35 with information about modern hearing technology. I so relate to her account of having to adjust to living with an invisible disability, the impact that her hearing loss had on her career, and the process she went through, from denial, depression, and finally to acceptance. I appreciate how transparent and genuine she is in her disclosure of how painful and difficult hearing loss can be.  

I’ve given this book to family members and friends, for it has many fabulous tips about how to assist those with hearing loss: speak as normally and articulately as possible, rephrase when the person says “what”, turn off the TV and background music, and certainly, don’t whisper in their ear. And, shouting won’t help!