Handtalk Zoo [Paperback]

Mary Beth Miller (Author), George Ancona (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1996

Mary Beth and her friends are off for a fun-filled day at the zoo, where they share their adventures by signing in the special language of the deaf. From visiting the bear to feeding the sea lions to climbing like monkeys, the children guide readers through the zoo, teaching sign language and fingerspelling as they go. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-- The third of the "Handtalk" titles carries on the imaginative and joyful tradition of its predecessors for sharing an original story in sign language. Mary Beth is off to the zoo with a group of ethnically diverse children to enjoy the sights. As they make their way through the zoo, they sign and fingerspell the names of the animals, but the book is not simply the rote signing of one animal after the next. Rather, it is the story of children on an adventure: What time does the zoo open? Where shall we go? What time do they feed the sea lion? In addition to signing animal names, the telling of time is expressed with the signing of numbers 1--12 in a clocklike shape. Vibrant color photographs depict the action of the story and the signing, while black-and-white insets show the fingerspelling. Boldface type placed next to each sign clearly states each idea but does not invade the photograph. Ancona's photography captures precisely the movement of hands and the children's expressive faces , two elements that are key to conveying an idea in sign. While other books merely introduce sign language vocabulary, this one exposes children to it in a creative and exuberant manner. --Susan Nemeth McCarthy, Arlington County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689803923
• ISBN-13: 978-0689803925
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,221,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful adventure sign book, October 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Handtalk Zoo (Paperback)

This is an excellent book of sign for children. They learn about sign while they learn about zoo life. The signs are perfectly photographed (unlike other books where they are illustrated and hard to read). It is also fun that your child learns while watching other children sign. Kids love to learn from other kids. One other great thing about this book is that each animal not only has the sign but the name of the animal is signed also ( so your child learns the proper spelling). I have purchased a lot of sign books and this one is my favorite one.