Deaf History Month
Animals Helping with Special Needs
Claire Oliver
This interesting book describes the many ways that animals, particularly dogs, are trained to assist humans with special needs. In an appealing layout, the stories of many kinds of people with special needs are related deaf people, blind people and those with physical or mental disabilities. Dogs, monkeys, horses and even dolphins are specially trained to assist special-needs people in their daily lives, such as being their eyes or ears or assisting them with physical chores. Using color photos, the stories provide fascinating accounts of the use of animals to help others. Just being around animals and petting them has been found to improve people's mental health. A glossary of terms from the stories as well as an index and resources for further information are included. This is a sensitive resource for classroom use. One in a series of six books entitled "Animals That Help Us." 2000, Franklin Watts, $20.00 and $6.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 0-531-14564-6
ISBN: 0-531-15404-1
Some Kids Are Deaf
Lola M. Schaefer
Kids who are different need to be accepted and understood. With a simple text and photographs Schaefer describes children who are deaf, their challenges and adaptations, and their everyday activities. Readers will see and learn that these kids are really not much different. Deaf kids can't hear but they use their other senses to undertake tasks like reading captions to understand television. Some deaf kids use sign language others can lip-read and speak. The closing pages contain a word list with definitions that are written on a higher level than the text, a list of additional books, Internet sites and an index/word list. Part of the "Understanding Differences" series. 2001, Pebble/Capstone, $13.25. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-7368-0665-2
Can You Feel the Thunder
Lynn E. McElfresh
Mic Parsons only wish is for a normal family life and a chance to play baseball. The likelihood of Mic's family achieving normalcy is small since he has an older sister, Stephanie, who is deaf and blind. Mic used to think of Stephanie as a best friend but now, as Mic enters adolescence, she is an embarrassment and the subject of ridicule by his classmates. She is also about to go away to a residential school which causes conflict between Mic's protective mother and his more realistic dad. As for baseball, Mic is having trouble with middle school math and his parents have said no tryouts until his math grades improve. Could life be any worse? Yes, Mic's social acceptance sinks even lower when he is "adopted" by an in-your-face weirdo named Vern, who compensates for his learning problems by being a baseball savant. Although this book solves Mic's problems a little too neatly (his sister tutors him in math and Vern's dad turns out to be a hotshot baseball coach), the emotions that Mic experiences while trying to fit into his middle school society ring true. Mic's mother is especially well-drawn as a powerful advocate for her daughter who cannot let go when it is clear that her child needs help beyond the family circle. A worthy successor to books like Welcome Home, Jelly Bean because of its portrayal of the family dynamic experienced by siblings of handicapped children. 1999, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $16.00. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Lois Rubin Gross
ISBN: 0-689-82324-X
Dovey Coe
Frances O'Rourke Dowell
Parnell Caraway is dead! Accused of his murder is the feisty Dovey Coe. Dovey did not take kindly to the handsome but cocky son of the richest man in town. She did not like the way he courted her sister Caroline, convinced his charm would woo her from her dream. She sure did not cotton to the way Parnell was dismissive to her deaf brother Amos, telling everyone he was retarded. The Coes might not have much, but they had pride and dignity and recognized a slick character when they saw one. Everyone knew there was no love lost between Dovey and Parnell and when she was found standing over the body, what were they to think? As the independent Dovey stands accused, she finds she must rely on others and put her faith in an untried city lawyer who does not understand the ways of the North Carolina mountain folk. It is impossible not to like the spunky Dovey Coe and her refreshing wisdom. In addition to being a rich character study, this is also a satisfying mystery. Dovey Coe, I'm glad I met you. 2000, Atheneum, $16.00. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 0-689-83174-9
Helen Keller
George Sullivan
One of the most celebrated lives in American history is brought to life in this biography of Helen Keller. Helen's fiery spirit along with help from her loyal teacher Annie Sullivan led to her success in living with being blind and deaf. Readers will be awed to learn of Keller's fierce determinism to succeed in a world that was often unfriendly and unsupportive to those with disabilities. The book displays her courage to succeed and to help other deaf and blind people lead as normal of lives as possible. Each chapter progressively documents Keller's life story along with photographs which accent the text and bring her life closer to the reader. The author uses direct quotes from several of Keller's books which makes the text livelier and provides authentic primary source information. A chronology of her life, further reading list, index and a list of resources top off this recommended biography. 2000, Scholastic, Ages 8 to 12, $4.50. Reviewer: Melissa A. Caudill
ISBN: 0-439-09555-7
The World at Her Fingertips: The Story of Helen Keller
Joan Dash
Everyone has marveled at the story of Helen Keller finally understanding the word w-a-t-e-r as it was spelled into her hand by teacher Annie Sullivan. But did you know that Helen graduated from Radcliffe, was active in the Socialist party, and traveled the world as a fundraiser and lecturer? Joan Dash writes of Helen's indomitable spirit and courage as an adult, confronting not only prejudices against people with disabilities but also accusations that she was being manipulated by her sighted friends and companions. Unfortunately, there is a stilted quality to the writing, especially when Dash refers to Annie Sullivan only as "Teacher" even in very personal passages. Although Annie's devotion to Helen is never questioned, Dash repeatedly emphasizes her moodiness, her own disinterest in learning, and the constant pressure she placed on Helen to achieve. There are gaps that young readers might wonder about: the numerous quotes from Helen's own writings refer more to her political and social beliefs, leaving questions about her more personal feelings. Helen's mother Kate seems to drop in and out of her daughter's adult life, but we learn almost nothing about Helen's relationship with her younger brother and sister and the whole family has disappeared completely by the end of the book. The World at her Fingertips does include a bibliography and an index as well as numerous interesting photographs, including a close-up of Helen writing on her specially constructed board and celebrating her 75th birthday. 2001, Scholastic Press, Ages 12 to 15, $15.95. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-590-90715-8
Moses Goes to School
Isaac Millman
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 mini-U.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 hearing-impaired people are able to learn. 2000, Farrar Straus Giroux, $16.00. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Lois Rubin Gross
ISBN: 0-374-35069-8
The Raging Quiet
Sherryl Jordan
For her family to keep the overseer's cottage after her father's debilitating accident, Marnie must marry the lord's second son and set up housekeeping in his grandmother's cottage by the sea. Two days later her husband is killed when a rafter crushes his skull. Marnie is relieved although the village people feel she is responsible for his death. She befriends a deaf man, Raven, who people think is mad. Marnie and Raven learn to communicate with hand signs, which further convinces the villagers that she is a witch. The characters are either good or bad so it is very easy for young readers to identify with Marnie and Raven, to feel their pain when the villagers torment them, and to cheer them when they succeed. The plot is plausible and the historical events such as Marnie's witch trial are depicted realistically. Marnie does things that are morally right although not accepted. She has the courage to stand up to the community and accept Raven for what he truly is-not crazy, but frustrated and angry at not being able to communicate and be understood. 1999, Simon & Schuster, $17.00. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Janet L. Rose
ISBN: 0-689-82140-9
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