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Moses Goes to School

Name: Moses Goes to School
Author: Isaac Millman
ISBN: 9780374350697

by Isaac Millman

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Overview

A day at a school for the deaf is like a day at any school

Moses goes to a special school, a public school for the deaf. He and all of his classmates are deaf or hard-of-hearing, but that doesn't mean they don't have a lot to say to each other! They communicate in American Sign Language (ASL), using visual signs and facial expressions. Isaac Millman follows Moses through a school day, telling the story in pictures and written English, and in ASL, introducing hearing children to the signs for some of the key words and ideas. At the end is a favorite song — "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" — in sign!

Moses and his friends enjoy the first day of school at their special school for the deaf and hard of hearing, where they use sign language to talk to each other.

Synopsis

A day at a school for the deaf is like a day at any school

Children's Literature

Children have an ongoing fascination for American Sign Language, perhaps because it seems like a "secret code" used by deaf people to communicate. While Millman doesn't totally unlock the code for children, he does offer a charming peek at ASL, which will intrigue the youngest children for whom this book is written. Moses goes to a special school where everyone learns and communicates in sign language. Moses' classmates are a delightfully drawn miniU.N. of deafness, coming from every culture and country. Living in New York makes this internationalism possible. The diverse group of children uses computers, plays at recess, and dances just like their hearing counterparts. They even sing/sign "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," which is illustrated in a picture chart that readers can imitate. It is true that most schools now mandate inclusion for handicapped children, but Moses' school represents a different model; deaf children learning together in a classroom specially suited to their needs. Moses' school is a colorful oasis where learning is clearly taking place in a different, yet equal, environment, and Moses and his friends provide a sunny vehicle for showing how hearingimpaired people are able to learn. 2000, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 4 to 7, $16.00. Reviewer: Lois Rubin Gross

About the Author, Isaac Millman

Isaac Millmans first book was Moses Goes to a Concert, which Booklist, in a starred review, called a "breakthrough picture book about a deaf child [that] works so well that you wonder why there aren't lots more like it." He lives in New York City with his wife.

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Editorials

Children's Literature

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Moses, who debuted in Moses Goes to a Concert (Farrar, 1998), is back. Here, he and his classmates, all of whom are deaf or hard of hearing, head back to their special school after summer break. The text explains that in addition to standard curriculum, these children first learn American Sign Language and then learn to read and write spoken English. Computer technology plays an important role in this class, as does music. Just as in the first book, this story reminds readers that even though these children may not be able to hear in the traditional sense, their appreciation of music and song is very enthusiastic. Child-friendly cartoon illustrations do a marvelous job of emphasizing the normalcy and charm of these youngsters. The variety of ethnicities and nationalities represented again emphasizes that special-needs children come from all cultures. The double-page layouts nicely accommodate the primary pictorial action along with written text and ASL inserts featuring Moses signing a particular sequence from the story. An author's note and directions on how to interpret the child's signing are also included. This is another great contribution to children's education about disabilities that also succeeds as effective storytelling in its own right.-Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

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)