HEARING IMPAIRED:

Ancona, George & Mary Beth; Charlip, Remy. "Handtalk - An ABC of Finger Spelling and Sign Language", 1980. Actress-teacher Mary Beth and other members of the National Theater of the Deaf scamper through the alphabet in George Ancona's full page color photographs with black and white insets. There is very little text, but plenty of dramatic color which conveys a lot of energy in this introduction to sign of interest to all ages.

Ancona, George & Mary Beth; Charlip, Remy. "Handtalk Birthday - A Number and Story Book in Sign Language", 1987. This book is a sequel to Handtalk and continues its rambunctious demonstration of finger spelling and American Sign Language. The setting is Mary Beth's surprise birthday party. (all ages)

Ancona, George and Mary Beth. "Handtalk Zoo", 1989. A jaunty color-photo trip to the zoo with five energetic young guides, all using sign language. (all ages)

Arthur, Catherine. "My Sister's Silent World", 1979. A young girl describes the world of her eight year old sister who is deaf. Included in the discussion are the ways her sister understands spoken language, sign language, and some of the difficulties that a deaf child encounters with her peers. Lively photographs of the two sisters add to the book's appeal. It is easily read independently by primary readers, and could be read aloud to younger children as an introduction to deafness. (early school age)

Aseltine, Lorraine and Mueller, Evelyn. "I'm Deaf and It's Okay", 1986. When a young boy realizes that he will always have to wear hearing aids, he rebels. A deaf teenager helps the boy understand he can have an active adult life. The plot is simple but provides a good depiction of the fears, frustrations, and satisfactions of the hearing impaired. (ages 5 - 8)

Bahan, Ben and Dennis, Joe. "Signs for ME: Basic Sign Language for Children." Dawn Sign Press. Signs For Me is an exciting and unique sign vocabulary book for preschool and elementary children - both hearing and deaf. The authors introduce common household items, animals, family, verbs, emotions, safety and other important concepts. Each vocabulary word features a picture, sign illustration and the English word. (all ages)

Booth, Barbara D. "Mandy." Barbara Booth's absorbing story and Jim LaMarche's luminescent paintings give readers rare insight into the world of a very special deaf child. (ages 4 - 8)

Bove, Linda. "Sesame Street Sign Language ABC", 1986. Large, clear print with lively and colorful illustrations plus photographs. (ages 3 - 8)

Bove, Linda. "Sesame Street Sign Language Fun", 1980. Sesame Street's "Susan" continues her introduction to sign in this very popular and well presented book. (ages 3 - 8)

Carrick, Carol. "Stay Away From Simon!", 1985. On Martha's Vineyard in the 1830's, Lucy and her youngest brother, Josiah, become lost in a snowstorm while walking home from school. A mentally handicapped boy whom they fear and try to avoid rescues them. An excellent book for helping children understand others who seem different.

Greene, Laura and Dicker, Eva Barash. "Discovering Sign Language". Children learn all about how people use sign language to communicate in this fascinati ng book. It explains the different kinds of hearing loss and the importance of when hearing loss occurred. Other chapters explain different sign language in several different countries. Additional chapters offer sign language games that build on the child's knowledge of sign language and present "How the Seasons Came to Be," a story in sign.

Laura Greene is an English teacher and writer; Eva Dicker is an interpreter-trainer. Johnson, Sue. "Grandma's House". One of the "Talking Fingers" series featuring a glossary, draw-and-color pages, and the alphabet in sign language. These books were originally designed for classroom use with hearing impaired children who were being taught sign language using the S-E-E method (Signing Exact English). When these youngsters were integrated into regular classrooms, these books found enthusiastic readers among all children just learning to read. (ages 3 - 8)

Levine, Edna S. "Lisa and Her Soundless World", 1984. Lisa is an 8 year old girl who was born deaf. This story focuses on her early difficulties in the hearing world, and the opening up of a new world of communication for her after her parents recognized that she was deaf. Hearing aids, lip reading, feeling voice vibrations, sign language, and finger spelling are discussed and illustrated. The text includes descriptions for hearing children to helm them understand what it is like to be deaf, and provides an illustration of the ear and auditory system. (School Age)

Litchfield, Ada B. "A Button in Her Ear", 1976. Angela is a school age child who keeps misinterpreting what people say to her. Her mild hearing loss is described-from initial diagnosis, audiologic testing and fitting of a hearing aid, to final daily living and acceptance. Expressive drawings help convey Angela's confusion and frustration prior to diagnosis of hearing impairment, and portray her adjustment as she gains a sense of control by caring for and manipulating her own hearing aid. (ages 5 - 9)

Litchfield, Ada B. "Words in Our Hands", 1980. Nine year old Michael describes life with his sisters and their deaf parents. Until the family's move to a new town, things aren't so bad. But on top of the adjustment of the new move, the children must cope in a new city with the awareness of having parents who are different. (ages 6 - 9)

Peterson, Jeanne W. "I Have a Sister, My Sister is Deaf", 1984. A young girl describes the positive and negative elements in her deaf sister's life. Her sister cannot hear the phone ringing or be awakened by the thunder. The narrator emphasizes that although being deaf doesn't hurt, her sister's feeling do when people don't understand her problem. The text and illustrations provide a warm, tender portrayal of a sister's love. (ages 4 - 8)

Rankin, Laura. "The Handmade Alphabet" A beautifully illustrated finger spelling alphabet in colorful, large format. (all ages) Sign Language Coloring Books, 1985. Six educational coloring books which teach signing, finger spelling, reading and writing. Each colorable page features a large picture of an animal, an illustration of the corresponding sign, the word written in clear letters and a place for it to be written, and the corresponding finger spelling. Pages may be cut out and cut up and mounted to make cards. (ages 6 - up)

Sullivan, Mary Beth and Burke, Linda. " A Show of Hands - Say It In Sign Language Fun", 1980. It's hard to resist this upbeat introduction to over 150 signs, with a deaf teen and her multiracial friends as your guides. Large cartoon-like drawings illustrate sign language and finger spelling. Directions are clear, and the lively, engaging presentation effectively integrates signed words into dynamic communication. (grades 4 - 8)

Walker, Lou. "Amy: The Story of a Deaf Child", 1985. In this portrait of an engaging 5th grade girl who is deaf, Amy talks about her life with her friends and family at school and at home. She communicates in sign and spoken language, and uses hearing aids, lip reading, and interpreters to understand what people are saying. She is an active athlete and has lots of friends at the school into which she has been mainstreamed. Abundant photographs portray Amy at school, at home, having fun with her friends, and signing several dozen words. A list of resources for the deaf follows the story. (ages 7 - 10)

Zelonky, Joy. "I Can't Always Hear You", 1980. Kim, a girl of about 10 who uses a hearing aid, tells how she learned to adjust to a mainstreamed classroom and struggled with the way others treated her. The story encourages the reader to consider the special qualities of all people. Color illustrations show children of varied appearance and ethnic background. (ages 6 - 10)