Reviews: The Quest for the Cockle Implant

Tina, mum to Charlie (9):

 The Quest for the Cockle Implant is a really well thought out book and you can tell straight away that it’s a fantastic resource. I love the sign language used throughout and that the whole book is about raising awareness about being deaf and the use of hearing technology. My three-year-old wants to have a look at it tonight now too! I hope the book does really well for the charity.

Charlie said: “The book is great for boys or girls and it is really colourful inside. I love the use of sign language and that it raises awareness about people who are deaf and use hearing technology. My favourite bit was learning how to sign some words in the book as it shows you throughout the story. I also liked the pictures and characters. It was interesting to read about the author and the illustrator and that they’re deaf too. The book would be great in a deaf school or an audiology department.”

Nicky, mum to Isabelle (2):

When the National Deaf Children’s Society asked me to review a new book, I didn’t think too much of it besides, “free book - can’t go wrong!” I didn’t anticipate just how much my daughter would identify with it even at the age of two, being bilaterally implanted herself. The book ticks a lot of boxes for diversity of gender, race, disability and age which are all subtly included throughout, allowing a lot of readers to relate, not just deaf people.

The story follows a mermaid called Angel who loses her ‘cockle implant’ and goes in search of it across the ocean. Perfect for my Ariel-loving daughter! While the text tells a gripping story, the author has also taken the time to include ways of being deaf aware such as when one character makes sure his hands aren’t covering his mouth while talking. Another part of the text highlights the importance of facing deaf people during conversation.

The modern illustrations include depictions of sign language which Angel uses in her quest. It also touches on the isolation that language differences can bring if you cannot communicate with others around you. My daughter uses British Sign Language (BSL) to support her speech and enjoyed joining in with the key signs in the book. Being so young still, we haven’t had too much of a discussion with her about the fact she is deaf and that not everyone is. However this book gave us the opportunity to start those chats at an age-appropriate level. We’ve read it several times over already. “I want mermaid book!” – I think that means it’s a hit!

Charlotte (6) said:

My favourite part of the book was when Angel, Coral and Finn went back to visit the Merkitty and chatted with him in sign language.

The pictures were colourful and exciting and they helped me understand what was happening in the story. I love the book because Angel is deaf like me. I liked the start when Angel had her cockle implants sitting beside her bed just like I do when I’m sleeping. I liked it when Angel found her cockle implant again and when the Merkitty using sign language.

What rating would I give the book? I would give this book 5 out of 5, it is one of the best books ever!!!

Sara, mum to Charlotte (6):

This is a fabulous book about a mermaid called Angel who loses one of her cockle implants and the adventure she has with her sister Coral and their friend Finn to find it again.

There was so much I loved about this story when I was on the judging panel for the book competition and all of those aspects have been improved and expanded in this full book. I love that Angel is deaf and has ‘cockle implants’, such a beautiful play on words. I  also loved all the different tips for deaf awareness throughout the book, which will help kids understand ways to help their deaf friends – how to get someone’s attention, maintaining eye contact, using touch, using gestures and using sign language. Extra disabilities are also introduced when we meet Finn’s granny, all of these aspects help to normalise deafness and disabilities, making this a great book to share within classrooms or other friendship and family groups who are trying to get used to communicating with a deaf child.

When my daughter saw this book, she immediately loved the fact that the main character was deaf, “just like me mummy,” and had a cockle implant – that name made her giggle! Throughout the book she was excited by the story and the challenges faced by the search party and the ending, when the ‘Monstrous Merkitty’ appeared (I won’t spoil it by telling you any more about him!)

It was lovely to read such a beautiful book together and Charlotte is excited to bring it into school to show her friends and teachers a little bit about being “deaf like her”.