Handtalk Birthday: A Number & Story Book in Sign Language [Hardcover]

Remy Charlip; Mary Beth; George Ancona (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

Words and sign language depict friends helping a deaf woman celebrate her birthday.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The creators of Handtalk and Handtalk Zoo combine their talents in this jolly photo essay about a deaf woman roused from sleep by friends; a lively surprise birthday celebration ensues. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3 This follow-up to Handtalk (Four Winds, 1974; o.p.) finds Mary Beth celebrating a birthday. Guessing what's in her birthday packages provides a perfect opportunity to introduce sign language vocabulary. Later, friends sing and sign ``Happy Birthday'' and try to guess Mary Beth's age. Fingerspelling and signing combine with the action of the double-page spread photographs to tell the story. Small photo insets of Mary Beth or a friend signing capture the upper portion of the body and the placement of the hands in relation to the body. Although in some of the smallest insets it is difficult to see exact signing, in most of them the vivid colors and sharp focus allow for a clear view of the exact placement of hands. A blurring line shows the movement of the hand to make that sign. Boldface text under or directly next to the signer states what is being signed. Exuberance, energy, and drama create high interest as the story imparts information about signing and fingerspelling. This creative original story is an exciting way to share the joy of signing with childrenmuch more fun than purely instructive sign language dictionaries or the signing of traditional stories. An imaginative book that introduces and sustains interest in sign language. Susan Nemeth McCarthy, Arlington County Public Lib . , Va.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 44 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (April 30, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027180808
• ISBN-13: 978-0027180800
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,413,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Photographing Sign Language, March 29, 2007

By 

K. Fournier "kr!sten" (austin, tx, usa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handtalk Birthday (a Number & Story Book in Sign Language) (Paperback)

Handtalk Birthday is a conceptual picture book that uses printed text and photographs of people speaking American Sign Language to tell the story of Mary Beth's birthday. They surprise her in her pajamas, give her gifts which she tries to guess, and they all have a party. All of her guests sign various numbers to guess her age. This is a book about language and counting in American Sign Language. Sometimes the signs are hard to interpret because they require motion to convey in reality, and this motion is photographed so the pictures are blurry. Also, the pages are too crowded with photographs and this makes the composition of each page seem messy and crowded. The facial expressions of the photographed characters are overdone and make the book seem ridiculous and garish. The book was published in 1987, and this is obvious in the photographs- the characters have not dated well and have become cartoonish. The concept is a great one but this book doesn't pull it off very well. Perhaps it would be valuable in a collection of children's books that incorporate American Sign Language for elementary school students.

4.0 out of 5 stars photos of real kids really signing!, May 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Handtalk Birthday: A Number & Story Book in Sign Language (Hardcover)

Our language delayed 3 year old loves the handtalk series. In this birthday story with a magical touch, the photos tell the story (there is text) and the characters sign along with the action portrayed. It's easiest to sign if you already know the signs as the photos don't always capture the exact motions.