Our Characters
Our books star deaf champions and their super hearo friends. We celebrate bright, bold and fun characters, who aren’t afraid to be different. By telling their own life stories, our characters can help children develop strategies to cope with the challenges of growing up with a physical disability, such as hearing loss. Our characters understand that learning to listen and speak is difficult, but they are not afraid of hard work. At the same time, they don’t let their hearing loss define them, it’s just a proud part of who they are as they chase their personal ambitions. They prefer to focus on their abilities, not their disabilities. Learning along the way and ultimately succeeding builds their self-esteem and sense of identity. Our characters are happy to talk about their cochlear implants and hearing aids (their magic ears) and how it feels to be deaf, so that our books can also help families, friends and teachers to understand and support the tough but incredible journey that deaf children are on, thereby fostering greater empathy, consideration, acceptance and inclusion.
From ‘The Adventures of Ling Ling Bird’ series by Tanya Saunders
Ling Ling Bird ©Tanya Saunders 2019
Ling Ling Bird
This larger-than-life, cochlear implant-wearing bird is on a mission to help deaf children reach for the stars. Ling Ling Bird is proud of his magic ears and loves talking about them, explaining how they work and describing what it feels like to wear them...which is just as well, because his best buddy, the ever-curious Chickadee, is full of questions! As bold and brassy as his vibrant rainbow colours, Ling Ling Bird thinks being a bit different is great fun. Nonetheless, he has a few lessons to learn about how to curb his over-exuberant behaviour!
Chickadee ©Tanya Saunders 2019
Chickadee
Chickadee is a tiny wee chick with a bit of an attitude…but she’s full of curiosity and loves to learn. She first meets Ling Ling Bird in the book LING LING BIRD Seen and Heard, and they soon become fast friends. She never wants to miss out on an adventure, and is often to be found by Ling Ling Bird’s side.
The Adventures of Ling Ling Bird - a series by Tanya Saunders
“My name is Ling Ling Bird.
I confess, I like to be both seen and heard.
I’m sorry - sometimes I get over-excitable,
But I do try my best to be likeable!”
From ‘The Bear Buddies’ series by Tanya Saunders
The Bear Buddies - a series by Tanya Saunders
Sala Bear and Onna Bear are twin sisters.
Sala Bear is a kind and thoughtful bear; she enjoys solving problems, helping her friends and learning about animals.
Onna Bear is a bright and energetic bear, who likes to have fun exploring new places and ideas. Onna Bear is deaf, so she wears cochlear implants. She calls them her ‘magic ears’, because they help her to hear. Learning to talk can be hard work for a deaf bear. Onna Bear is lucky to have such a caring sister who has helped her learn to listen and talk.
The Bear Buddies - a series by Tanya Saunders
Bobby Bear and Patty Bear are brother and sister. Bobby Bear is a cheerful, friendly bear.
Patty Bear is creative and likes to paint, draw and make things.
The Bear Buddies - a series by Tanya Saunders
Oli Bear, Harry Bear and Tiny Tony Bear are brothers.
Oli Bear is the oldest, Tiny Tony Bear is the youngest and Harry Bear is in the middle.
Oli Bear is an intelligent and sensible bear. Do you like his smart red glasses? He wears them because his eyes need some extra help to see clearly.
Harry Bear is a bit of an eccentric - he likes to be different and stand out from the crowd. Everyone loves Tiny Tony Bear - he is a cheeky little bear who is full of tricks.
The Bear Buddies - a series by Tanya Saunders
Luna Bear is an only child; she does not have any brothers or sisters but luckily she has such special friends! Luna Bear loves nature, music and learning about the moon, planets and stars.
The Bear Buddies - a series by Tanya Saunders