Picture Book Review – Mara Hears in Style

MARA HEARS IN STYLE

Written by Terri Clemmons

Illustrated by Lucy Rogers

(Beaming Books; $17.99, Ages 4-8)

It’s the first day of school, and Mara is excited to wear her earmolds and hearing aids that are in her favorite colors: hot pink and purple, respectively. But a shadow of doubt creeps into her mind. Will “my new classmates … think my hearing aids are weird? Once at school, Mara’s anxiety grows. Though she can’t understand their words as she walks down the noisy hall, she can read lips. Everyone’s asking, “What’s in her ears?”

Her fears are eased in class when she notices the microphone around Mrs. Lovell’s neck and hears her voice coming through clearly, “like music.” Soon a kind classmate becomes curious about her hearing aids, allowing the opportunity for Mara to make a new friend. 

At lunchtime, though, not everyone’s interaction is friendly. Everybody talks simultaneously, making the cafeteria sound “like a roaring waterfall.” This disturbance makes it impossible for Mara to talk and make more friends. Classmates opt to turn away when Mara finds it challenging to respond to them since she can’t hear what they’re saying. 

Watching Mara navigate the ups and downs of her school day, readers are reminded of author Terri Clemmons’ gracious sharing of her own-voices experience. Certain interactions (like when Mara explains to a classmate why she can easily engage in conversation face to face vs. why she can’t in a loud, crowded room) help those of us outside of this lived experience gain insight into the challenges—and gifts—of those who use hearing aids. “We can start a secret language club!” Mara’s friends say. They admire her ability to read lips and sign and eagerly learn the letters and words she teaches them. 

Through a calm, colorful palette, illustrator Lucy Rogers highlights themes of friendship and empathy. Classroom settings are sprinkled with messages encouraging understanding, kindness, and a growth mindset.  

For me, leaning into curiosity instead of jumping to fear and being open to learning are the biggest takeaways from this multi-layered book. Pages include American Sign Language depictions and an alphabet spread in the backmatter.

• Reviewed by Armineh Manookian