Books as Bridges with Sound Switch Wonder by Christine J. Ko and Owen Whang

In this episode, Roxanne Chester and Gina Soldano-Herrle talk about co-Picture Book Peep Member Christine J. Ko’s book, Sound Switch Wonder. Christine’s book creates a bridge toward an unhearing experience told through the POV of a boy with cochlear implants (like her son, Owen Whang, also her co-author).We were definitely ambitious in this first episode of The Curious Compassionate. 🏋️We wanted to tackle the idea of using picture books as bridges between different experiences with radical empathy and curious compassion. A bit much for 22 minutes, no?With that said, this is really a prelude of what’s to come here. Sound Switch Wonder gives the reader a brief peek into the daily life of someone with cochlear implants. We experience the day through the protagonist’s eyes and emotions.👀Roxanne and Gina also spoke about the endless loop curiosity can create within us.They also touched on words and the power within them. Words are how many of us make sense of the world we live in, create order, establish understanding. And yet, sometimes we don’t get to choose the words that others prescribe for us.We talk about the terminology Disabled vs. Persons with Disabilities. Whole worlds can be contained within the nuance of the words we choose to use when shaping our experiences and identities. Words can shape policies and create the infrastructure of the world we live in, but they are not infinite.All of us here at Picture Book Peeps cannot thank Dr. Krista Aronson enough for offering a clip for our inaugural episode. Her work in the children’s literature world to increase diversity and transparency in the books we read and have access to is invaluable. Stories connect us. They have since the dawn of time and whether our stories are written down, spoken aloud, or conveyed through pictures, the feelings they evoke within us are universal.Useful Links:Christine J. Ko’s podcast, “See, Hear, Feel”Dr. Krista Aronson and her tool Diverse BookFinder Gina Soldano-Herrle’s podcast episode about wonder wallsDisability Debrief by Peter Torres FremlinFurther Reading📚📚📚📚: Autism:A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond and illustrated by Kate CosgroveBitsy Bat School Star by Kaz WindnessA Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey and illustrated by Mika SongThe Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca and illustrated by Daniel RieleySensory Processing Disorders: Too Much! An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutierrez and illustrated by Angel ChangViolet Shrink by Christine Baldacchino and illustrated by Carmen Mok Hard of Hearing and Deaf: Sound Switch Wonder by Christine J. Ko and Owen Whang, illustrated by Katie CrumptonDancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language by Joanna Que and Charina Marquez, illustrated by Fran Alvarez, translated by Karen LlagasInclusive of Many different abilities:Come Over to My House by Eliza Hull and Sally Rippin, illustrated by Daniel Gray-BarnettEverything, Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor and illustrated by Rafael LópezAnxiety:Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom PercivalWill It Be Okay? by Crescent Dragonwagon and illustrated by Jessica LoveOlivia Wrapped in Vines by Maude Nepveu-Villeneuve, illustrated by Sandra Dumais, translated by Charles SimardSpeech Difference:I Talk Like a River by Jordan ScottMobility Difference:All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Nabi H. AliAli and the Sea Stars by Ali Stroker illustrated by Gillian ReidMighty Mara by Carina Ho and Jesse Byrd, illustrated by Mónica Paola RodriguezWhat Happened to You by James Catchpole and illustrated by Karen GeorgeLearning Difference:Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David RobertsA Walk in The Words by Hudson TalbottOCD:Malik's Number Thoughts: A Story about OCD by Natalie Rompella and illustrated by Alessia GirasoleDeaf and Hard of Hearing Organizations for Further Support:AG Bell Hands and Voices John Tracy Center Other organizations to check out:Anxiety and Depression Association of America National Alliance on Mental Illness Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit picturebookpeeps.substack.com