A World of Knowing: A Story about Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (Creative Minds Biography) [Hardcover]

Andy Russell Bowen (Author), Elaine Wadsworth (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Series: Creative Minds Biography

A biography of the founder of the first school for the deaf in the United States who, among other accomplishments, evolved a new sign language and wrote children's books.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5?In a straightforward, approachable format, Bowen presents the life of Thomas Gallaudet and his impact on education for the Deaf. Considering the myriad factors that intersected his life?the development of American Sign Language, cultural misconceptions about the Deaf, and the politics of Deaf education, to mention a few?the survey is evenhanded and reasonably thorough. The somewhat prescribed format of series biographies and the age of the target audience preclude an in-depth examination of some complex or troubling areas of Deaf history, but to her credit, Bowen does manage to handle some of these areas. She briefly mentions some of the bizarre and frequently painful medical approaches to Deafness during Gallaudet's time, and touches upon misnomers such as "Deaf and Dumb," or Deaf-Mute. The author clearly captures her subject's respected status in the Deaf community as well as his earnest, likable personality. Unfortunately, Wadsworth's illustrations of people signing feature frozen, meaningless gestures. The effect is somewhat jarring, as is a reference to an appended chart of the ASL alphabet as "finger signing" when it is more commonly referred to as fingerspelling. Despite these details, Bowen's offering is a solid contribution to the subject and a readable introduction to Gallaudet's life.?Jennifer Fleming, Boston Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5. Having been short, unhealthy, and left out as a child, Thomas Gallaudet empathized with young Alice Cogswell, who was destined to live a life of lonely isolation, unable to communicate. Fortunately for Alice and all deaf persons, Gallaudet stumbled on sign language, a way of "knowing and knowing" that allows deaf individuals to "speak" both to each other and to the hearing. This Creative Minds series biography, with pen-and-ink illustrations, offers an easy-to-read, interesting, and contemporary account of the life of the man for whom Gallaudet University is named. For collections needing early chapter book biographies of famous people. Frances Bradburn

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (July 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876148712
• ISBN-13: 978-0876148716
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,299,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous Bio. About the Creator of American Sign Language, December 15, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A World of Knowing: A Story about Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (Creative Minds Biography) (Paperback)

Born in 1787, young Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was unlike other children his age, for he possessed a condition that made it hard for him to have fun and play with the other kids. His eyes were always watering, and his chest was always aching when he overexerted himself, so he was used to being left behind. However, this, in turn, helped Thomas with his studies, and got him accepted into Yale College at the age of fourteen. Thomas loved learning, and made a pact with himself that he would change the world in some way, he just didn't know how. That is, until he met Alice Cogswell, a deaf girl who couldn't communicate with the other children her age. Thomas soon headed to Europe to learn all about sign language, and brought it back to America, where he developed American Sign Language, and taught many children how to communicate with the outside world, and leave their isolation behind. This is his story.

Since a very young age I have been interested in the communication of American Sign Language, and have spent many hours trying to learn different signs so I would be able to communicate with a deaf person if the time came. That's why I was utterly ecstatic to find this marvelous book about Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Andy Russell Bowen has done a wonderful job crafting a biography about the creator of American Sign Language, that will capture the attention of readers young and old. A WORLD OF KNOWING is a must have for all those who are interested in the creation of American Sign Language.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A World of Knowing: A Story About Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, February 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A World of Knowing: A Story about Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (Creative Minds Biography) (Paperback)

This is a very informative book about an interesting man with an interesting story!!!

0 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars it was terrible, May 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A World of Knowing: A Story about Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (Creative Minds Biography) (Hardcover)

I think it is was a stupid book!!