MOSES GOES TO SCHOOL

Moses is back in school after summer vacation and Millman (Moses Goes to a Concert, 1998) describes a typical first day of school. Moses and his friends talk about what happened during the summer: a new baby sister, five hamster babies, new glasses, and a new hearing aid. They work on their computer skills; they practice reading and writing; and Mr. Samuels, their new teacher, brings in a boom box and the children have a great time singing and dancing. When the school day is over, Moses and his friends board the bus and share the events of the day with Mom. What makes this story unusual is that Moses is a student at a school for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and the children are singing and speaking in American Sign Language. To his credit, Millman demystifies the special school setting and shows children having ordinary school experiences. He explains the adaptations and modifications required for the deaf or hard-of-hearing without making Moses seem extraordinary. For example, Moses learns English as a second language since ASL has its own syntax and rules. Many easy-to-understand illustrations of sign language encourage readers to try some sentences on their own. They can even try singing and signing “Take Me Out To the Ball Game.” An author’s note includes additional information about ASL and directions on how to read the symbols in the illustrations of the sign language sentences. This is an excellent read-aloud for the back-to-school crowd. (Picture book. 5-7)