OUR REVIEW

Reading children’s books about characters with disabilities is a good way to help a child feel motivated and inspired. Teddy Loses His Ears written by Christine Milkovic Krauss and illustrated by Cierra Van Nes is a wonderful children’s book that validates children’s feelings and struggles about disabilities and open a door for conversation, expression, and achievement.

Teddy is a happy, energetic cat who loves to explore nature. He loves watching butterflies fluttering in the sky. It’s an incredible day for a little Teddy until things take a turn for the worse. It’s a windy day in late autumn and Teddy is happily chasing the falling leaves until is starts to snow. Teddy is lost and soon it gets dark. Teddy walks for hours in snow in search of a shelter.  He is then rescued by a kind farmer but looses his ear due to frostbite. Now Teddy looks  different from other cats. They ask questions about what happened to Teddy’s ears, was it an accident or can he still hear, and he gladly responds to them. Teddy Loses His Ears is a valuable tool of sharing with younger children examples of people helping those in need, and of inspiring them to think critically about what it means to be a good human. The illustrations help reveal the true meaning of the book which is to show compassion to all living creatures.

This story is a short, sweet look at a rescue cat who lives a well-rounded, active life! By normalizing disabilities, children will develop empathy while also learning that these pets/kids are not as different as they might seem. This book is a must for every reader. We recommend this book for ages 7 and older! We rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!