All About Sign Language: Talking With Your Hands (Transportation and Communication Series)

Discusses the history of sign language, how signs are created, and the role of technolgy in the future of sign language.

Grade 3-6–With a high-interest format, full-color photos and illustrations, and a solid grasp of its subject matter, this is one of the best books about sign language on the market today. Lowenstein uses stories of real deaf people, such as Helen Keller and Alice Cogswell, to introduce each chapter, and effortlessly weaves the fascinating history of American Sign Language into the narrative. Unlike many books on the subject, this one goes into the linguistic principles of ASL, and also shows that it is a real language. This point, unfortunately, is a bit muddled in other parts of the book in statements that subtly reinforce the widely held misconception that sign language is universal and dependent on spoken language. Also, the time line includes major events in the history of American Sign Language without giving enough information about their significance. Overall, however, this is a well-organized, readable work with an excellent list for further reading to supplement the text.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia
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