Books About Muteness

The Best Muteness Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about muteness? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Pet
#1 in Series
After Zero
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Muteness

Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2019

Pet

By Akwaeke Emezi · Book #1 in the Pet series

A creature emerges to hunt a hidden monster. Can Jam uncover the truth before it's too late?

National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist (2019)Stonewall Book Award – Children's & Young Adult Literature Honor (2020)
208 pages· 45,631 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 35,302 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In the city of Lucille, monsters are a thing of the past—or so everyone believes. Jam's world is turned upside down when Pet, a creature from her mother's painting, comes to life. With horns, colors, and claws, Pet insists a monster lurks in her best friend Redemption's house. Jam must confront the unsettling truth and protect her friend. As she delves deeper, she faces a chilling question: how do you fight monsters when society denies their existence? This gripping tale challenges perceptions and explores the courage needed to face hidden evils.
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2016

Paper Wishes

A girl clings to hope as her family is uprooted during wartime.

192 pages· 28,265 words· Est. 3 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 3,565 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In 1942, young Manami's world shatters when her Japanese American family is forced from their home to a desert internment camp. Heartbroken over leaving her dog, Yujiin, behind, Manami secretly hopes for his return. As she grapples with loss and guilt, can she find a way to heal and reunite her fractured family?
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011

True (. . . Sort Of)

A mysterious newcomer challenges friendships and reveals life-changing truths.

384 pages· 46,342 words· Est. 6.5 hour read
6.6/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 5,000 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: When Ferris Boyd arrives in River Bluffs, Delly Pattison anticipates a surprise but finds trouble instead. Ferris, a mysterious figure, transforms Delly and Brud Kinney's lives through unexpected friendship. As they unravel Ferris's secrets, they confront challenges that test their bonds and uncover truths that redefine their world. What is the true gift Ferris brings?
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Orphan Eleven

A mute orphan must find her voice or be left behind by the circus.

320 pages· 54,724 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
5.4/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 456 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Lucy, a mute orphan, finds refuge with a traveling circus, but her silence threatens to leave her behind. As she cares for elephants, she must rediscover her voice to warn of danger. With her mysterious past closing in, will Lucy find her place before it's too late? Dive into a world of wonder and secrets in this heartwarming tale.
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2018

Tiny Infinities

A girl seeks stability in chaos, finding unexpected friendships and a mysterious voice.

352 pages· 71,658 words· Est. 8 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 442 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Alice's world shifts when her dad leaves, prompting her to camp in a backyard tent. Determined to excel in swimming, she meets Harriet, who insists her true talent lies elsewhere. Meanwhile, Alice's mute babysitting charge, Piper, unexpectedly speaks to her. As summer unfolds, Alice navigates family turmoil, new friendships, and self-discovery. Can she find her place amidst the chaos?
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

After Zero

A silent girl discovers a family secret that could change everything.

256 pages· 47,341 words· Est. 6.5 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,506 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Elise, a girl who finds comfort in silence, tallies her spoken words each day at school. Her perfect score is zero, avoiding mistakes and secrets. But as her friend Mel drifts away and a stuffed raven seems to come alive, Elise faces a dilemma. A shocking family secret emerges, challenging her to break her silence. Can Elise find her voice and unlock the life she dreams of, or will her silence keep her trapped? Discover the power of words and the mysteries they conceal in this poignant tale of friendship and self-discovery.
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013

The Boy on the Porch

A silent boy on a porch changes a couple's life forever.

160 pages
3.9/5 Goodreads · 6,222 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: John and Marta's world shifts when they find a mute boy, Jacob, asleep on their porch. Unable to uncover his past, they embrace his vibrant spirit, forming an unexpected family. As their bond deepens, they discover new perspectives and redefine what home truly means. What secrets does Jacob hold, and how will he transform their lives?
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013

The Last Wild

A mute boy discovers he can talk to animals and must save them from extinction.

352 pages
3.9/5 Goodreads · 4,190 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Kester Jaynes, a mute boy confined in a home for troubled children, discovers he can communicate with animals. When talking pigeons and a cockroach help him escape, he learns the animals are vanishing. With the help of a determined girl named Polly, Kester embarks on a daring quest to save them. Can he rise to the challenge and protect the last of the animals before it's too late? Adventure and mystery unfold as Kester's unique bond with the creatures becomes their only hope for survival.
Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 1998

Flying Solo

Sixth-graders run their class alone, but a past tragedy threatens their plan.

144 pages· 24,204 words· Est. 2.5 hour read
3.9/5 Goodreads · 3,273 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: When their substitute teacher doesn't show, sixth-graders take charge, determined to prove they can manage on their own. But tensions rise as Rachel, silent since a classmate's death, faces unresolved grief. As the day unfolds, conflicts surface, testing their unity and resilience. Can they navigate the chaos and confront their emotions before it's too late?
Chapter Book · Ages 12–+ · 2020

The Companion

An orphan's new life with a mysterious family unravels into a chilling nightmare.

448 pages
3.8/5 Goodreads · 9,885 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Margot, an orphan, is chosen to live with the enigmatic Sutton family, tasked with befriending their silent daughter, Agatha. Initially, the estate seems a refuge from her past, but the house's eerie presence soon distorts Margot's reality. As she bonds with Agatha and her intriguing brother, unsettling secrets emerge, forcing Margot to question her sanity and the true intentions of her hosts. What dark truths lie within the walls of this isolated mansion, and can Margot escape before it's too late? The nightmare she thought she left behind may have only just begun.
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Muteness Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about muteness for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Calling the Water Drum

Ages 5–9 · 2016

A boy's drum becomes his voice after a tragic journey from Haiti.

Talking is Not My Thing

Ages 3–7 · 2020

A nonverbal girl navigates a day full of surprises and challenges.

Cinnamon

Ages 4–8 · 1995

A tiger's words may unlock a silent princess's voice in a mythical land.

View all muteness picture books
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Books about identityBooks about monstersBooks about prejudice and racismBooks about social justiceBooks about World War II

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