"Does a rainbow make a noise?" a deaf child asks a hearing friend. "No," he is told. "Some things don't need a noise. A rainbow is just the same for you and me."

When Chris was a baby, doctors determined that he was deaf. In this intriguing, reassuring book, Chris tells young readers about what it is like to be deaf. With the assistance of hearing aids, Chris is able to hear vibrations, loud noises, and some other sounds. With sign language, speech therapy, and an interpreter, Chris' days are much like those of hearing children, filled with classes, soccer games, and children's theater.

Accompanied by Simmonds' vivid and energetic multimedia paintings, Heelan's text explores the world of a real child and answers the questions many children may have about hearing loss.