Reviews (7)

The Storyteller's Beads
Can you imagine for someone to travel to an extended journey from Ethiopia to Jerusalem? In the novel, The Storyteller's Beads by Jane Kurtz is the exact similar event that happened to the main characters Sahay and Rahel. The genre of the novel is fiction. The setting of the story is generally Ethiopia and Sudan, in 1980, (during the political strife and famine). It illustrates that since most Ethiopian people wanted to seek for safety, they struggle to escape to Sudan. Therefore, the novel is a refugee story.
Sahay and Rahel, play a role in the most part of the plot. Sahay, a Christian girl, in the first place did not realized that life could get worth, but now, her uncle is rushing her through the night away from the only home she has ever known out of Ethiopia, forever. Blind Jewish as child, Rahel has always relied on her grandmother to guide her; however, her parents are sending her and her brother on a long petrify trip, with no assurance when. This illustrates that both of these girls' families wanted the two girls to live in a developed life in another place instead of Ethiopia. The Sudan soldiers sent Sahay's uncle and Rahel's brother back to Ethiopia from Sudan. When Sahay's and Rahel's paths join, they were both in a bad mood; but Sahay is disgusted to share food and water with Rahel. This shows that males could not go out of Ethiopia around 1980. Therefore, Sahay and Rahel are trying a superlative way to save each other; in addition, they want to attain their dream, which is going to Jerusalem.
One of Sahay and Rahel's external conflicts is that Sahay's uncle and Rahel's brother were sent back to Ethiopia. On page 120: Sahay said to Rahel, "Let's go to the edge of the camp everyday and we will try to find my uncle and your brother." This illustrates that both of the girls wished if the two men approached back to Sudan. It is because they are frightened, and they do not have anyone to support them in Sudan and help them survive the hazardous journey. Consequently, Sahay become Rahel's guide; however, they repeatedly go to the mountains to examine if the two men are circuitously.
One of Sahay's internal conflicts is to be friends with Rahel or not. On page 118: Sahay thought when she has nobody, even a blind Falasha (Ethiopian Jewish) girl is somebody, even though she does not like Falasha. This shows that Sahay felt being with Rahel is better than being with no one. This is because people in her family have always feared and hated Ethiopian Jewish. Consequently, Sahay started getting along with Rahel, to overcome their cultural prejudges and help each other.
The theme subject of the story is refugee. A quote that proves the theme is on page 143: they arrived to Jerusalem and saw them self that they had come to the land where for now, no matter what lay ahead, and no one was stranger. The authors comment about refugee is that refugees can accomplish a place that they can truly call home. The author's comment is true, because Rahel and Sahay accomplished a place that they can truly call home in Jerusalem. The Storyteller's Beads is a great book, and it would be recommend for anyone who want to determine some of the experiences that refugees go through.

Applause from a parent and teacher
The Storyteller's Beads explores a timely theme: how do we make connections with people from different religious, ethnic and geographical backgrounds? Read this book, and the magic of distant lands will come alive for you. Hardships and suffering are transcended by the grace of friendship. The author lived in Ethiopia as a girl and writes with exquisite detail and nuance. A must-read for ages 9-12 in this difficult moment of history. Read aloud to aware 8 year olds. Also a marvelous testament to the strength of a young woman who is physically blind but morally gifted.

LEARNING TO LOVE THOSE YOU ARE TAUGHT TO HATE
Kurtz's message of coming to love those you have been taught to hate is never emphasized enough in today's world. (Think Serbia.) Kurtz story is compelling but must be read carefully by taking time to read over the stories, the explanations of the girls' cultural histories, and the meanings of their words. Unfortunately, this is something most young readers would rather not do. If given as a class assignment, I am afraid many young readers comments may be less favorable. Anytime a children's book accurately tells about a global problem it deserves much attention and reading, and such is the case of "Storyteller's Beads". Previous Amazon reviewers have properly used this book - sharing it with an adult. Having the background notes in the front of the book would have improved the book's effectiveness. For this reason I give it 4 not 5 stars.

Really captures the voice of Ethiopia
My daughter and I read this aloud and loved it. I am American and my children are all Ethiopian. I have lived among Ethiopians for many years and have traveled extensively throughout the country. Jane does an amazing job of capturing the essence of Ethiopian culture - the strong, rich and ancient history as well as the racism, superstition and fears which keep Ethiopians from different ethnic backgrounds from uniting together to solve the countries current difficulties. The language used in the book incorporates the subtleties of Ethiopian speech which also conveys so much of its culture. This is just a beautiful book from which a whole new part of the world can be opened to its readers. It is also a remarkable work which will help Ethiopian-American children understand the country of their roots. I'd like to see this book up front and center in all children's libraries.

A New Version of Ruth
The Storyteller's Beads made me ask the question "what would I do on a journey if..... all the people that I have ever loved were no longer with me? If all I possessed was a string of beads to symbolize my family and my faith. And if the only person to enlighten me and to lead me to peace was blind. What would I truly do? And then I finished the book and found my answer.

Great first novel Jane. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Helen Keller
Helen Keller is about a girl who was blind and deaf when they wanted to talk to her they made sign language on her palm of her hand. She could talk but when Helen's perents died she decided to not talk because she din't wanted to talk about her parents. This book also relates with Stewart and Polly Anne. They wrote this book when she made her self to be blind and deaf she got that sickness.

The message is Helen Keller did not have friends because she could'nt talk or hear then she wanted to play but she could'nt because her friends said no because you are blind and deaf but Helen learned how to spell ground, water, and even her name, she learned how to see stuff and thats how she learned how to do stuff at last her friends wanted to play and talk with her.

My Opinion was bad because when she was 10 years old she was blind and deaf but sometimes I felt good because when she could spell a lot of stuff she was getting like a regular kid. I reccomend this book to all the kids if you guys read this book you would like it and you guys could recomended to other kids you want,if you guys like this book I recomend you to buy it and read it all the time you guys want but shows it with the author that says Stewart and Polly Anne I recomend it to you don't forget you would like it.

Helen Keller Crusader of the Blind and Deaf
...I think Stewart and Polly Anne Graff the author of Helen Keller Crusader of the Blind and Deaf made a good book about her life. This book is about a girl that is deaf and blind after a month of her birth, she gets help from a lady that help's her understand word's. The book also talks about her life and how she succeeded in her life.

I think that the message of this book, is no matter if there's something wrong with you, like you're blindness or deafness you could still succeeded in life no matter what. Helen Keller tells the same problem to the soldiers who get out of war. It also says to never give up.

This is a very good book and I liked it a lot. I hope I could read it again. I really do recommend this book to people of all ages. If it was possible I would like to meet her and thank her for everything.

Helen Kellen
The story is about a girl that is disabould. One day she got very mad at everybody. That she started it hit her little sister. And her mother and father. So her perents decided to call a special teacher. To help her get through all this anger. So the teacher that help Helen was Annie.

Is not given up on disabould kids. Because just how Helen got through all of this she made is too. Where she could talk a couple of wards. That us people that are not disabould . Can say like water,spone. So think that's the theme.

What I like about this book is that. It shows lots of love and care. I recommend this book to the whole world. Because it is a very good book to the disabould kids. Like Helen Keller. You can learn alot by this book.

The awsome book Helen keller
The book is awesome because it was about Helen Keller. She was blind,deaf and could not talk. It was Helen Keller's birthday, and she went to go eat some cake and her mom took the cake away from her. And she went running outside and she fell and hurt her self with thorns. Then Helen Keller went with this teacher so they can show her. And at the end she could hear and she was not deaf and she could talk.

I thik the author tride to tell us that it dosent mater if your blind deaf and could not talk. You still count the same And he tride to tell us that don't be embbarresed if you can't talk.

I think that it was a good book. Because it tells you about alot of things. And like I said it explains very good and sugest you read the book Helen Keller.

IT'S THE BEST

The amazing Helen Keller
This book is called Helen Keller crusader for the blind and deaf. It is written by Stewart and Polly Anne Graff. This book is about a girl that isblind and deaf a month after being born. Her mom tells somebody to help her. She starts to learn how to spell different words with her hand. When she grows up she starts helping people like her.

I think what the book was saying is to keep on trying. That it does not matter if you're blind or deaf. You can still do things other people that can see and hear, do. It does not matter if they have an illness.

The part that I liked was when she was helping everybody in Japan even when the United States wasin a war with Japan. I also liked how she traveled from place to place to help people. I recommened this book. I recommened this book to people that judge other people differently. It has a really good ending. Read the book and find out what it is. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Filled with practical ideas
This is the best book I have come accross on the subject, and the only one i ended up using since the birth of my son. Its jam packed with great ideas on childrens activities- which are at the same time educational.
Makes a great present to new parents!
buy it!

Have fun with your little ones!
This is the best book I've found with activities for babies. It's simple, to the point, and a quick read. I'm a nanny for one little girl--this book helped pass the long days when she was very small. I really liked the ideas that didn't require money--babies love household items. They learn so much from everyday objects. If you're looking for some different activities--this is the book to get. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Many Ways to Learn: Young People's Guide to Learning Disabil
My 10 year old son and I read this book together because he was resistant initially. He immediately connected with the mountain climbing analogy that the author uses to explain the challenges of a learning disability. He smiled and acknowledged his strengths and weaknesses when the text challenged him to do so. The book also has a very helpful and clear explanation of different learning disabilities, the nature of intelligence and intelligence testing, and methods of intervention. While I am a psychologist, and have explained a fair amount to my son, it is always helpful for him to hear it in another way and from another source. We plan to return to some of the tips for school when school begins. I think we will return to the mountain climbing analogy often. ... Read more

Book Description

In his apartment building in the city, Sam hears voices, barking dogs, snoring, and all kinds of other noises. One rainy day he also hears the sad sounds of a harmonica, and wonders who's playing. Sam's search leads him to Apt. 3, where he finds not only the source of the music--but a new friend.

"The subtle colors of Keats's paintings... make Apt. 3 a pleasure to look at."--The Saturday Review ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Apartment 3
I first read this book to my daughter when she was 4-years-old. The New York tenement setting was such a foreign world in contrast to her suburban Dallas upbringing that she was immediately enthralled with the fact that so many families of diverse ethnic backgrounds would all live in one building. Keats paints such a vivid word picture that a child as young as she could easily be drawn into the story line. The characters and events became real to her, to the extent that she could literally hear the harmonica playing. My daughter begged to revisit this story and consequently every trip to the library for the next year included Apartment 3. To this day, at age 29 and expecting her first child, she still recalls this book and wants a copy of her own. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Tiff at GMS
The story was mainly told in the forest. The main characters in the story was Franklin. The minor characters were bear, rabbit,fox beaver skunk. The theme was that this book would be that school is alot of fun and don't be afraid to go there. School is a good learning experience. The style would be that the author has a picture on every page and it has friends playing and having fun on every page.

A VERY SWEET AND ENDEARING BOOK
FRANKLIN IS A CHARACTER THAT ANYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE CAN LOVE. IN FRANKLIN GOES TO SCHOOL HE HAS GREAT RESERVATIONS ABOUT THIS NEW EXPERIENCE AS DID WE ALL AND OVERCOMES THEM WITH THE HELP OF HIS FRIENDS. I WOULD RECOMEND ANY FRANKLIN BOOK.

Franklin wins the hearts of children the very first time .
All of the Franklin books deal with something a child might face.They are written so it is easy for children to conect with their new found friend, and thats just what Franklin will become. I teach children and Franklin is the most asked for of all the books we have. His stories are great and children learn from his experiences.

Our 5 yr old loves the entire series. She reads them aloud.
From the first time our daughter had a "Franklin" book read to her, she's loved the series. Beautifully illustrated and written "up" to a child's level. We wish there were more titles available. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Inclusion at it's best!
Far before anyone else in the house is up, a young boy sneaks in to wake his dad and they head out together, to watch the sun come up over the lake by their home. The illustrations in this book are stunning and present American Sign Language beautifully, as a Deaf son and his father communicate their strong bond with one another. As an educator and an advocate for inclusion, I would strongly recommend this book as a wonderfully natural way to present disability to children.

Dad and Me in the Morning
As a Deaf person myself, I was pleased with the positive imagines in this work. This is an excellent book based on the relationship between a deaf child and his father. It displayed the father's acceptence of his child's need for ASL (American Sign Language) and the williness and time to learn it. It is also a good way to introduce the rudiments of Deaf culture to the general public. It should be recommended reading for all - including hearing children. The watercolor illustrations and the context within work together beautifully and was well recieved by students at Gallaudet University (a liberal arts university for the deaf/hard of hearing students. ... Read more

Book Description

Salz is a boy afflicted with a strange disease -- he coughs and coughs and cannot catch his breath. The only way he can stay alive is by doing things that make him an outcast: joining a coven, throwing himself into a handstand when the fits overtake him, avoiding the ale that his brothers and all the townspeople drink.

Salz lives in a time of superstition and fear, in the medieval town of Hameln. This summer his bare-bones existence has been more fearsome than ever. Salz's father and brothers are affected by horrifying fits. The rest of the townspeople are gripped by a plague of madness. And the entire town is visited by a pestilence of rats -- rats that crawl in their soup bowls, swarm in their sick beds, jump into their babies' cradles. Only Salz remains unaffected. But is that because he is innocent? Or is he the devil himself?

Only Donna Jo Napoli can conjure a world like this -- so real that readers will fill their lungs with the fetid air of Hameln with every breath they take. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Quite good, but not Great
Napoli has done an excellent job portraying a medieval town. The details of daily life in Hameln during the 13th century are fascinating, if grim. The story is narrated by a boy named Salz, who lives with his older brothers, father, and grandmother on a farm outside town. Grandmother taught him to stand on his hands to help him clear the congestion from his lungs when his frequent bouts of coughing overtake him. This year has the rainiest growing season in memory, and the most rats. First the grazing animals sicken, then the townspeople. As the frightened people try everything to rid themselves of this pestilence, Salz finds himself in danger - why hasn't he shown any of the symptoms? This book was interesting enough to finish, but not a page-turner. Recommended for history buffs and fans of the middle ages.

Review of the bood Breath
This book is very interesting. The words catch you and make you want to keep on reading. It's about a town in 1284 who gets infested with rats. Later on they all become sick with different diseases. But a boy, (Salz)who narrates the book, doesn't get any of these diseases. (Because he didn't drink the beer that that included some poisen grains). So they try him for witchcraft. I really encourage you to pick up this book.

Donna Jo Napoli outdoes herself on this one!
Donna Jo Napoli is known for standing fairy tales, myths and legends on their heads. She's taken on Rapunzel, the Sirens, Jack and his beanstalk, Pan, Beauty and Beast - always from a fresh perspective and with characters that jump off the page. Her work has a sensuality and passion that are overwhelming and at times frightening, and she takes no prisoners - always calling events and people as she sees them.

In Breath, she starts with the legend of the lame boy who is left behind when the Pied Piper attracts all the children of Hameln Town, and makes that almost an afterthought. Much of the book is devoted to the culture and mores of the time - the Church, the farmers, the townspeople, the way of life - so the book will serve as a great history lesson for those interested in medieval times.

The protagonist, who has cystic fibrosis (leave it to DJ to come up with this) is an immensely appealing and sensitive character who tells the tale through the eyes of a sickly young man whose spirit ultimately prevails. ... Read more

Book Description

Sam acts like a smart aleck to keep from looking dumbSam Mott's made it most of the way through sixth grade barely able to read and write. Now Sam's family's moved again, and none of the kids in his new school have started calling him Dumbhead Sam -- yet. But how long can Sam keep his problem secret when even the second grader he baby-sits for reads better than he does? ... Read more

Reviews (6)

From Experience
I strongly disagree with the review that states this book is not positive and allows institutions to rationalize the learning disabled. I have dyslexia and have successfully graduated from top undergrad and law schools. This book made me feel less alone at a time when dyslexia was little understood and it also allowed me to see that "stupid" is a relative term defined mainly by the ignorant. We each have different strengths and weaknesses and this book celebrates that while at the same time illustrating that weaknesses may be improved upon with hard work.

i agree with jake
I agree with everything the review below stated about how this book is triumphant and affirming of the main character. Furthermore, it is affirming of all of the main characters. Everyone, from Mrs. Glass, who learns not to sell herself short as a working woman; to Alicia, who learns that although "book smarts" come easy to her, she will have to work hard to develop her "people skills"; to Sam, who learns to value his mathmatical abilities, and stop considering himself as stupid because he has difficulties with reading.

I would like to take issue with the reviewer who criticized the book because Sam claims that his small reading victory is comparable to swimming a great distance. Why is that statement so offensive? In my mind any educational process, if you're really trying to learn and not simply going through the motions, feels exactly like that. I've always been a good student, but that doesn't mean that I didn't have to work hard to learn new things. That feeling of exhaustion and pride that you've really concentrated your efforts to learn something new shouldn't be a source of shame, it should be a source of pride.

A Lifelong Favorite
I first read this book with my father when I was seven. I am now 23 and have re-read it many times. It deals with serious issues in a clever and funny way. I think most kids can relate to this story on some level. Everyone has felt like they are behind, or unable to follow a class. Everyone knows what its like to not fit in. Many people know what it's like to be the new kid in school. I had a lot of problems in school for my first three years. I didn't have a learning dissability, I just had trouble focusing. Consequently, I was often behind in my classwork and felt ashamed and slightly outcast. Finally, my parents realized I needed a more creative type of education and enrolled me in an experimental school. I excelled and proceeded to a brilliant academic career. I think this book suggests, not that students with different learning needs be sent to "special classrooms", but that their problems may result from a failed approach in the classroom. I think different kids, just like adults, need to be stimulated in different ways in order to absorb information. Sam's regular teachers failed to give him the skills and confidence he needed. Sam taking a few out of class tests dosen't mean he will spend time being in a "special" environment. It means he had someone help him in a new and creative way. It also gave him the confidence to believe in himself. This book is a total triumph. He starts out feeling like a friendless loser. By the end of the book Sam has two great friends, is begining to believe that he is smart, starts to see the skills he took for granted such as his math abilities, learns responsibility and that adults trust him. What isn't triumphant about that?

This book is an insult and rates NO STAR at all
My son read this book at the beginning of this school year (5th grade). He struggles with reading and spelling. He so totally identified with the main character, Sam, that he labeled himself dumb, stupid and learning disabled. This is not a triumphant story. This is a tragic story. The protagonist does not feel he has overcome or mastered his learning disablity. Instead, he feels worn out and akins his small victory to having swum a great distance, only to realize that he must do it again and again. I believe that there is a political agenda at work here. Masked behind an attitude of sympathy is the deeper message that children should equate special education with learning disablities. Furthermore, it excuses the classroom teacher from having to deal with student difficulties by making it not only okay, but acceptable BY THE STUDENTS to send children from the room to another, "special" teacher. Basically, this leaves the gifted and talented in the main classroom and separates the "normal" from the "not normal". This book is subversive and an insult. It should not be in the classroom. It gives children access to a vocabulary that they cannot possibly fully comprehend (nor, I suspect, does its author). It provides students with tools to label themselves, thereby easing the burden of the school systems. Proponets of this book can only have the political and monetary protection of the institution in mind when promoting it for classroom reading. While seemingly innocent on the surface, a critical reader will see beyond the surface to the deeper meaning and hidden agenda. Of course, fifth graders aren't critical readers, they are victims of school politics.

Fun to read and much more
This book is fun to read because the writing is crisp and fast-paced with funny dialogue, but it is more than that because of its serious subject. The reader does indeed sympathize with the main character who is a very bright boy who feels dumb because of his learning disability. When the main character gets help in the end of the story, the reader shares his joy and sense of triumph. I coordinated an authors' festival in which children's authors were invited to visit seven schools in the Downers Grove area. Jamie Gilson visited several of our schools. Many students read "Do Bananas Chew Gum?" among other titles. The students enjoyed the books and were very excited about meeting Ms. Gilson. I personally spoke to two special education teachers who loved "Do Bananas Chew Gum?" and wanted to purchase whole sets of the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Becky is Sarah’s big sister. In many ways they are alike, but as Sarah says, "Becky is brave…and I am not." Becky walks Sarah to her classroom each day. She is brave about going to a new school, about standing up to a big dog, and even about having epilepsy.

But one day Becky has a seizure during class. Many kids stare, and some laugh. That evening, Becky decides she doesn’t want to go to school anymore. The next day Sarah walks to her classroom all alone. As she passes by Becky’s class, the students call out to her, "Aren’t you Becky’s sister? Is she going to get better?" Shy Sarah wants to tell them about Becky’s illness. Now she must find the strength to be brave for her sister. ... Read more

Book Description

Nick Swansen pretty much knows what it means to be Special Ed.: You can't drive, even if you're sixteen and your parents have two cars; the regular kids in school don't talk to you much; and even if you can memorize every fact about amphibians, it's hard to make sense of all the other stuff swirling in your mind. What he doesn't know is whether being Special Ed. means you shouldn't go to the prom. But since no rule says you can't, Nick decides to ask Shana.

But the prom doesn't turn out at all the way Nick expects it to, and everything bad seems to get all mixed up together: the prom, what Shana does, and the terrible thing that happened to Nick's sister nine years ago. Nick doesn't want to think about any of it, but he begins to realize that unless he makes peace with all the memories that trouble him, they will haunt him forever.... ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Probably Still Nick Swansen by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Review By: Mr.Francesco Galardo

This book is about a "Special ed" student who goes through a rough period of time in his life. His name is Nick Swansen and he knows that he is special ed student. One day he decides to ask out a fellow classmate Shana to the prom. The thing is special ed kids don't go to proms. Shana had recently graduated from being in the class with Nick to a regular high school ciriculum. Nick asks out Shana anyways. Nick does a lot to make everything work out for the prom but that night everything went downhill from there. Shana doesn't show up the whole night or even call Nick to let him know she wouldn't make it. Nick started to have bad dreams again of his sister's death nine years ago and doesn't go to school for a few days. Nick was doing a report on amphibians for his end of the year project. After a while, he feels up to talking to Shana again after she stood him up. She puts a few things together on how Nick likes amphibians and knows so much about them. You'll soon see how everything comes together with Nick and he can finally put all his thoughts troubling him to rest.

Some literly elements used in the book were:

Suspense-the book kept you waiting for more and willing to know what will happen next.

Mood-the book really expresses on how charcters feel throughout the story.

Personification-Nick sometimes gives certain human attributes to things that are not human.

Overall I'd say this book was a great book. I liked it because it related a lot on how teens deal with problems today and how some overcome their differences to figure out solutions. There was only one flaw and that was there were intentional spelling and grammar errors that corresponded to Nick's vocabulary. The book isn't in his pint of view. You should read this book because it's easy reading and it's a good book to learn a lot from and relate to a lot of your own experiances.

Great Book
I liked this book a lot. More Kids should read it.

i could indentify
since i too have ld. i could real feel for nick. it was a really good book. the kid you dont want to end.

Very thoughtful
I was reading this for the second time because of my homework. I was asked to find a story that's about a teenager having trouble with emotions and learned to deal with it effectively. I think this is a really good book for YA.

I would make it assigned reading!
But I'm not a teacher, not yet, only a teaching assistant and in graduate school to get a teaching credential in special ed. A few things have changed in the field since Wolff published this in 1988, but the fundamental truth is there. However, if I were a teacher I would assign this book to struggling readers in a heartbeat. In fact, it'd probably even be more useful for "regular" kids. The cover of my copy reads: "Nick has a problem./ No... problems." How he deals with his problems should be instructive to everybody. Much more instructive than To Kill a Mockingbird, in my opinion. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A few new easy signs
We have been signing with my 11 1/2 mos old for several months. Although I've read some ASL books, many of the signs are too difficult for an infant to use. I did get a couple of new ideas from this book - but I would have liked a few more everyday words. I do like the fact that it's a board book - so it's difficult to damage. I am also a pediatrician and I really think it benefits a child to learn signs as a way of expression before speech is developed. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

FOR DEAF AND HEARING CHILDREN
Today, Moses and his school have some special visitors. They are the actors of The Little Theatre of the Deaf. They present plays in a special way. Moses' teacher, Mr. Samuel invites a hearing class to see the play with Moses' class. Manuel is with the visiting class. He is new and speaks Spanish. Moses knows Manuel feels different and tries to sign to him. Manuel and Moses discover they do have something in common and a friendship begins.

So what is it that draws Manuel and Moses together? Moreover, how does The Little Theatre of the Deaf present the Cinderella? You will have to read the book to find out!

Millman writes and illustrates the Moses series. Millman's modest illustrations blend perfectly with the reflective storylines he creates. The Moses series' easy-going, imaginative approach teaches deaf awareness in an unassuming way. Learning new signs with each book is an added bonus. Moses is an inspirational role model for both hearing and deaf children. This is one series I highly recommend. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

Love At First Sign
Of Sound Mind is a novel about Theo, a senior in high school, and his deaf family. He is the only in his family that can hear. He is often stuck translating and doing most of the work around the house. Theo is having complications deciding whether or not he will attend college, or stay around to help care for his family. Going to MIT has been Theo's lifelong dream. After an unexpected death in Theo's family, he feels that he could never go to college and leave the remainder of his family. Theo's girlfriend, Ivy, also has a deaf father. Ivy helps Theo to understand that his life is important also. She helps Theo to make decisions that will better him for the future. In the end, Theo has to decide whether or not he is going to live his life for his family, or if he's going to live his life for himself.
Of Sound Mind is a book written for anyone who has not made a decision about something important in his or her life and needs to make a decision before time runs out. This book is very appealing because you are left in suspense all throughout the novel. You never know what's coming next, and you are definitely left in the dark about what Theo's final decision will be.
Of Sound Mind is a book for both male and female audiences. It can be helpful to both sexes. There is actually a love story taking place, but you get the chance to explore the love story from a male's point of view. Of Sound Mind is a great novel that is destined to become a classic young adult book. There are not many authors who write novels about deafness, blindness, or other handicaps that are a reality. People of all different ages, races, sexes, and conditions can relate to this novel. Deafness may not be the problem in someone's family, but there may be other problems taking place and there are no solutions for the problems. Anyone in a situation with no solution needs to read Of Sound Mind.
(I gave Of Sound Mind five stars for being quite possibly the best book I've read, or one of the best. It is very uplifting, and one of those books that you are able to read over and over and still appreciate it.)

of sound mind
I thought that this book was great! It shows how Theo a hearing 17-year-old young man lives and deals with an all-deaf family. How he has to make phone calls for his mother, and help his brother with homework because he doesn't understand the teacher. Theo never goes out or hangs round with friends because everyone at home is counting on him to help him with the thing they need to do to get on with life.
I also liked this book because it shows how mature Theo is. He has to take care of his father and brother, after his father had a stroke, because their mother/ wife is too frightened to deal with the family's situation.
This was a great book and I recommend it to everyone, young and old.

Too much angst and sympathy
I was looking forward to reading this book, because I know people who are deaf and have survived strokes. However, the characters in this story are very one-dimensional, the plot is thin, and even for a book written for young adults, the main character and his mother are much too angst-ridden.

Lastly, I know very few people who are deaf who as DEPENDENT and ISOLATED as Palma, especially in contemporary society where we have so much technology to take advantage of (TTYs, closed captions, computers, etc. etc. etc.). Most people who are deaf lead very fulfilling lives in the company of both deaf and hearing people.

A striking story of a boy whose family is deaf
Jean Ferris' Of Sound Mind is a striking story of a boy whose family is deaf. He serves as interpreter and often as the semi-head of household in a silent world where his parents often struggle with hearing people and daily living challenges. Theo wants to go away to school - but how can he leave his dependent family? A striking story of coming of age and disability.

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This book was interesting, very good. Although, the way Theo feels bad for his deaf family is the way most people would feel, and I was suprised the author made him feel this way. I personaly am partly deaf, and I think that when most people who are deaf, or partly deaf don't want anyone feeling bad for them. Otherwise this book was great. I love how Ivy manages to get Theo to be stronger than he was before. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great book of ASL for kids
I read the other reviews and I will clarify. I looked at the book and it is in ASL, no "initialized" signs as seen in signed english. It is one of the best books of it's type. A couple of the signs are hard to read the direction or orientation of the movement, that is the case with ANY of these books. There are always going to be a couple that are hard to put down on two dimentional paper, because it is a 3-D language. I noticed the sign for "Drive" is really "car", common mistake, and a "classifier" was used for "ship". Overall, a very good source.

My First Book of Sign
This Book has very nice bright pictures but it is very hard to
follow as far as knowing what the hand movements are. There is a section in the back of the book that has sign descriptions for every sign but it's very slow going if you don't know the sign and you have to turn to the back of the book to check hand position. I was quite disapointed in this book.

My first Book of Sign
This book is an excellent source to teach children and even adults sign language. The illustrations are accurate in their represenation of sign. It is coloful and visually attractive which makes it easy to read. The black and white manual alphabet, the fingerspelling, signing and aspects of sign provide excellent directions and pointers to singing correctly. The sign descriptions are a great supplement to the illustrations.

I recommend this for parents, teachers and students as an itroduction or foundation to sign language.

It would have earned 5 stars if it differentiated between "sign language" and American Sign Language".

Being an educator I congratulate Baker for writing such a helpful book.

Don't buy it.
Hello! Many of you may have seen the Dateling show where they were teaching their babies sign. I know some sign language but didn't think to use it with my baby. But when I saw that show I started using simple words for everyday thing with my 13 month old. He started picking them up in 2 weeks. Words like milk, cracker, medicine, eat. But there were alot of food words i did not remember, so I ordered this book. I ordered it thru a book club, and not at the book store, so i did not know the contents. I am very sorry I did. I Know about 75% of the signs in that book, and I want to say that if I did not know them, I would never been able to do them by reading the illustrations in this book. They are not clear at all and do not have any written disciption of how to do the sign. Signing to my son has made a difference, less crying, he cannot talk yet but he can let me know what he wants. But please spend your money on another signing book

The best children's sign book I have seen!
The thing that impresses me most about this book is it's accessibility for children of very young ages. My daughter, who just turned three, has been using this book for the last year. She has learned almost every sign in the book and uses them on a daily basis. I looked everywhere for a book that had bright, colorful pictures of the objects/concepts being signed along with the illustration of how to do the sign. ... Read more