Do Giraffes Have Hearing Aids?

Do giraffes have hearing aids?  Hmm…certainly not a run-of-the-mill query by any standard, and one probably most of us can say unequivocally we have never even pondered on any given day, but what about a kid?  The truth is all they need is the smallest of springboards for their imaginations to take off into uncharted territory.

Where do kids’ imaginations travel when you sit down and read to them?  And what creative thoughts, ideas and notions spill forth once their minds begin to spin?  Answer:  No telling.

So where and how did this particular notion originate?  Here’s the story of “Do Giraffes Have Hearing Aids?”

Six 5-year-old hearing impaired kids sat on the library floor in the front row chatting away with their bright green, blue and pink hearing aids taking up the entire space in their ears. Once the story began, they immediately stopped talking and were instantly glued to the tale, intent on not missing a single word.  And for the duration of the story, they never moved or even batted a single lash.

Two of the young boys in the group – once the story ended and it was question and answer time – instantly started talking with one another once again, hardly able to contain their excitement.  In short order, they gave each other an unmistakable knowing look, and simultaneously raised their hands, bursting to be called upon with unbridled enthusiasm.

The first young boy when called upon asked, “Are giraffes born deaf?”  I answered that I would think it would certainly be possible as other animals are born deaf.  The second little young boy quickly followed up with, “Do giraffes have hearing aids?”  To which I answered, “Hmmm…I’m not sure about that one…”

The first boy then pondered for a moment, “Guess they would have to be really big and you would need a tall ladder to put them in their ears.”    “Yes,” I replied smiling, “I think you are absolutely right on both counts.”  The second boy, the wheels obviously turning, then immediately tapped his friend on the shoulder and smiling from-ear-to ear said, “Hey, I know, I know, we could start a business making hearing aids for giraffes so they could hear too!  Let’s do that today after school!”

They then smiled, shook hands and sealed the deal:  Hearing Aids For Giraffes – instantly, a new business was born for these two 5-year-old entrepreneurs.

What a wonderful springboard reading is for imagination, thought and creativity.  Who would have thought, hearing aids for giraffes?  Well, they did.  You just never know where reading will take you, what spark it will light in kids.  There is no doubt – Reading:  It becomes you!

With that in mind, there is no better time than summer to inspire the joy of reading in your kids.  Have fun with reading; see where the stories and their imagination take them.  It is such a special journey and their child-infused enthusiasm will surprise, engage and spark your imagination as well.

In addition to Giraffes in My Closet, here are a few For Kids’ Sake Summer reading recommendations for the little ones in your life to get their imaginations going…Here are our top 20 picks.  If you don’t have some of these in your kid library, they are all great additions.

Happy summer and happy reading for you and the little ones in your life…Make sure to slip in some outings to the library and bookstore in their summer fun, as they have great summer events and special story times for kids. Plus, when you’re out-and-about this summer keep an eye out —you just might spy a giraffe with hearing aids.

“The best candy shop a child can be left alone in, is the library”
—Maya Angelou

“The bookstore and the coffee shop are natural allies; neither has a time limit, slowness is encouraged.”
—  Lewis Buzbee