Jojo's Tiny Ear

by Stefania Munzi-Logus

Overview

Looking for a picture book about microtia? A sweet and gentle way to introduce disability and diversity to children? Jojo's Tiny Ear is charming, hand-illustrated book for kids that tells the story of the author's son, Jojo, and his hearing disability.

Jojo is a happy boy who loves fireworks, the zoo, swings, and trucks! He was also born with a hearing disability. In this inspiring, child-friendly kid's book about hearing disability, written by his mother, Jojo will tell you all about his favorite things. He'll also answer your questions about his tiny ear and show you that his disability doesn't stop him from enjoying his life!

Author and illustrator Stefania Munzi-Logus writes lovingly, but informatively, about her son, his condition, and how to communicate with people with hearing disabilities.

"Be proud of what makes you, you.

We all thrive with our own technique.

You are valuable too.

The world is more beautiful when we are all unique."

This is a picture book about microtia. But the real message for kids and parents alike is that differences are ok and that everybody is a little bit different!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781956159059
Publisher:	Alphabet Publishing
Publication date:	09/21/2021
Pages:	34
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.09(d)
Age Range:	4 - 6 Years

About the Author

Stefania Munzi-Logus is currently a high school art teacher in Hartford, Connecticut, specializing in portraiture, acrylic painting, watercolor paintings, illustration work and photoshop applications. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Albertus Magnus College, earning her bachelors degree in Fine Arts and previously taught at the Grove School, a private, co-educational, therapeutic boarding and day school for 11- to 18-year-olds in Madison She was also awarded the Beverly Chieffo Award of Excellence in Art in 2012. Her son Joseph was born with microtia.

Editorial Reviews

12/06/2021

In Munzi-Logus’ touching picture book, a little boy named Jojo enjoys his childhood just like any other curious kid–he likes going to the park, playing with cars and dinosaurs, and traveling to the beach, and he has lots of friends at school. The one thing that sets Jojo apart is his tiny right ear, which never grew and makes it hard for him to hear. That’s why Jojo wears a hearing aid, which is held in place by a colorful headband and to him is no big deal–but one day some bullies on the playground see it as a reason to push him down into the sand and tease him for being different.

Instead of fighting back, Jojo responds with incredible compassion and awareness: “Jojo realized they might never have seen a tiny ear. Maybe he needed to teach them about his headband and how it made sound clear.” This book’s strongest message come from its joyful celebration of the characteristics that make individuals special. Instead of treating Jojo’s disability as something he must overcome, his tiny ear is simply a part of who he is. “We all have differences. It's not bad,” Munzi-Logus writes. “Some kids need glasses or tools to help them speak. Without our individuality, the world would be sad.”

Throughout the story, vibrant, soft-edged illustrations show Jojo playing and traveling with his mom, as well as using sign language to communicate and his hearing aid to make sense of sounds that he otherwise could not hear. These pictures will help kids visualize and understand how Jojo’s special headband helps him. Inspired by Munzi-Logus’ real-life son, who was born with microtia, this tale serves as a powerful ode to the beauty of our differences and offers a memorable, uplifting lesson for kids about the importance of acceptance and kindness.

Takeaway: This inviting picture book offers a memorable lesson about the beauty of our differences.

Great for fans of: Emma Bilyk’s Rebekah's Superpower, Maggie Klein’s Maxi's Super Ears.

Production grades Cover: B+ Design and typography: A- Illustrations: A- Editing: B+ Marketing copy: A-

BookLife Reviews

2022-01-19
A young boy with one small ear and limited hearing enjoys fun activities in author/illustrator Munzi-Logus’ debut picture book.

Jojo plays with his toy car and real pets in the opening pages of this book, which features full-color images crafted in what appear to be pencils and watercolors. An encouraging narrator shares that Jojo “can do anything, just like you,” and the book shows him enjoying the zoo and a fireworks display. The narration reveals that when Jojo was born, one of his ears was so tiny that no sound could enter it (creatively illustrated by sound waves blocked by a padlock). Jojo wears a colorful headband with a hearing aid attached; two bullies push him to the ground and ask why he’s wearing it, and Jojo confidently explains why. Munzi-Logus, whose son Joseph also has microtia, effectively employs a rainbow of colors to depict the sign language that Jojo uses, showing the letters in the words educate and individuality, which clearly highlight major themes. The work shows kids with varying skin tones and abilities, bolstering the message that “the world is more beautiful when we are all unique.” However, the story lacks a consistent rhyme scheme, haphazardly switching between abcb, aba, and abab patterns, resulting in an overall lack of flow.

An enjoyable story of difference and acceptance hampered by uneven execution.

Kirkus Reviews