I Have a Sister -- My Sister is Deaf

Peterson, Jeanna. I Have a Sister – My Sister is Deaf. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997.

I have a Sister—My Sister is Deaf vividly describes Petersons experiences growing up with a sister who is deaf. She explains throughout the picture book all the adventures they go on and the things her sister is unable to do. Her sister plays the piano but is unable to hear the tune. Instead, she listens to the vibration of the cords to guide her. She is able to say minimal words in school as well as lip sync. In order to for each other to communicate, her sister asks her to take off her sunglasses so she can talk with her eyes.

The illustrations are done in black and white sketching. There would have been more power behind the story if the images stood out more with vivid colors. Instead, the story comes across simple and the reader is unable to see the emotion in the characters faces. Jeanne Peterson is considered to be an “insider” because she also has a sister that is deaf. She also goes to many communication classes with her mother and sister. Peterson explains “people who are deaf, or who grew up in families with deaf parents or brothers and sisters, are important to me. I want to understand their very special culture, their world (Peterson)”.

I have a Sister—My Sister is Deaf demonstrates many things in life that children take for granted. She explains how her sister can never hear the phone, as well as the sound of wind chimes. However she is also jealous of her not being able to hear all the frightening noises including the thunder and branches breaking from rainstorms.