My Brother John

Finding an illustrated children's book with a character with a cochlear implant is not easy. Joanne Zellweger's new book My Brother John features just such a character. The book is described as being "A humorous children's book that shows a typical day in the life of a brother and sister and the fun and mischief they get up to."

Inspired by John Tracy Clinic's sibling programme in Los Angeles, My Brother John is written from a sibling's perspective and raises some of the basic issues the hearing sibling faces with having a brother who is deaf and uses a cochlear implant and hearing aid.

The book is wonderfully illustrated by Andy Elliott, who has worked very closely with parents to produce colourful illustrations that mums, dads and children will want to discuss. Children with implants and hearing aids seem to be under represented in children's books and when it comes to rehabilitation for children with cochlear implants, reading and sharing books is so important for language development.