Now Hear This

When a child is diagnosed with hearing loss, it is overwhelming. The future can feel uncertain and parents might worry whether or not their child will thrive. Harper's real life story allows readers to follow her journey, providing both parents and children who are facing any kind of diagnosis a much-needed dose of encouragement. Through Harper's navigation of hearing loss, kids can imagine what is possible. Understanding and awareness are key to feeling included, and the community around a child with hearing loss is critical. This story shares ways people in a deaf or hard of hearing child's life can better support them. Harper's witty approach to storytelling resonates with young readers and will surely inspire the people who love and support them.


About the Author


The daughter and granddaughter of a record-breaking US Air Force jet pilot, Valli and Harper Gideons take life’s challenges as opportunities to soar.


Valli is the mother of two thriving teens who were born with hearing loss. With a BA in journalism from Virginia Wesleyan University and a background as a health and wellness director for the YMCA, Valli transitioned her passion for educating others from a family blog into a prolific writing and speaking career.


Her stories and speaking engagements cover topics that include her survival of cancer to grief, resiliency, special needs parenting, raising kids with hearing loss and military life.


Her work has reached millions on multiple platforms, including Military Spouse Magazine, Today Show Online, Today Parents, Her View From Home, The Mighty, That’s Inappropriate, Hearing Like Me, and Ashton Kutcher’s, APlus!


With an engaged community made up of parents and leaders in the field of the deaf and hard of hearing, she is passionate about her role as advocate and champion of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.


When she is not writing or carpooling to and from a sports gym or field, you can find her walking her two rescue pups along a Southern California beach trail. You can follow more of this family’s journey here: www.mybattlecall.com and on Facebook/Instagram @My Battle Call.


Harper is a tenacious teenager who has an insatiable love for books and creating. Despite being born with hearing loss, she hasn't let being hard of hearing limit her from anything. When she's not in her workshop building skate ramps or producing her latest YouTube video, you can usually find her with her puppies or on the basketball court. Harper has been known to wrestle a challenger to the ground for a loose ball and never shies away from fierce competition, no matter how big or strong her opponent. With a style, uniquely her own, Harper beats to her own drum. She has big dreams, and writing a book was one of them. You can check out her latest YouTube videos @Harper G.


Priscila Soares is an artist who has hearing loss living in the Bay Area with her partner, step-daughter and two sons. She wears a bilateral Bone Anchored Hearing System. Her youngest son was born deaf and utilizes cochlear implants. Priscila advocates for people with hearing loss by sharing their stories through her mixed media work. You can follow her here: myluckyears.com.