Inclusive Lit MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT By: Millman, Isaac

Bibliography: Millman, Isaac. 1998. MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT. Ill. Millman, Isaac. Minneapolis, MN: Tandem Library Group ISBN 0613538412

Summary

Moses and his peers, members of a class of deaf children, attend a concert. To their surprise and delight one of the percussionists is deaf as well. When the concert is over she allows this group of students onto the stage to play the instruments that the musicians had played.

Critical Analysis

MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT is a picture book written and illustrated by Isaac Millman. Millman is quoted as saying “Real life is the best inspiration for my stories.” It is apparent in this picture book about a group of deaf children enjoying a field trip to a concert that he has been inspired by such a group. Cultural markers are identified in the cartoon strips that give illustrations of some of the American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary that is a universal language of the deaf and the one most widely used within the United States. These cartoon strip illustrations are available on most pages and give the reader a brief lesson on a few words within the language. The illustrations follow the text with the students in the contemporary clothing that would be found within the schools. Clothing includes tee shirts, shorts and tennis shoes. Within the illustrations, whether on the school bus, or at the concert the children’s hands show them vividly communicating with each other with the various signals of ASL. The thematic idea of the children’s excitement over going to the concert and the fact that Moses and a friend both have drums at homes lets the reader understand that although they cannot hear, they can feel the music through the vibrations that it makes. The illustration on the first page shows Moses playing his drum with sock feet and when the percussionist comes out the students realize that she is also in her sock feet. It was a wonderful surprise to them that she was also deaf. Mr. Samuels, the teacher, gives each of his students a balloon to hold during the concert so they too can “listen to the music” through the vibrations of the balloons. When Mr. Samuel gives the balloons to the students he smiles and signs “She is deaf too. She follows the orchestra by feeling the vibrations of the music through her stocking feet.” The reader will notice on the page where the percussionist “talks” to the students using ASL, the facial features of the percussionist. In particular, the second illustration shows how important facial expressions are in communicating with ASL. When she says “worked hard” the seriousness of the expression shows how important the hard work is. Facial expressions, at times somewhat exaggerated, are an important part in communication with the deaf. The only deference given to the group of deaf children is front row seats and this is probably so they can better feel the vibrations of the concert. An author’s note at the beginning of the book describes ASL as a “visual sign language which is composed of precise handshapes, movements, and facial expressions used to form words.” The foundation of the signing in this book is credible following the author’s many hours that deaf teachers at New York City’s J.H.S. 47 School for the Deaf spent in helping him get the sign-language diagrams in the book right. This section of the book also gives some direction on how to read the arrows and symbols shown in the illustrations so the reader can practice the language. The end of the book gives two full conversations in sign language as well as the hand alphabet which many hearing children find a challenge to learn.

Although this book is written for younger children, reviews indicated preschool through grade two; there are many older children that are interested in ASL. They would enjoy seeing how the signs are made and practicing the alphabet.

Review

Horn Book Guide: Moses and his classmates, who are all deaf, enjoy the young people's concert when their teacher gives them balloons so they can feel the vibrations of the music. Afterward they meet the percussionist, who is also deaf. The illustrations include diagrams showing readers how to sign key words and phrases of the story. A page at the back shows the hand alphabet.

School Library Journal: A group of deaf children is taken to a concert where the youngsters meet the percussionist, a friend of their teacher, and learn to their surprise that she is also deaf. She explains to Moses and his class how she became a percussionist even though she had lost her hearing and helps them understand that anything is possible with hard work and determination. She lets the children play on her instruments and feel the vibrations on balloons that their teacher has given them. Cheerful watercolor illustrations show the multiethnic children enjoying themselves at the concert, while smaller cartoon strips feature Moses’ additional comments in sign language. A page displaying the manual alphabet and a conversation in sign language in which Moses tells his parents about his day enhance the upbeat story.

References: Houghton Mifflin “Meet the Author/Illustrator Isaac Millman” http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/millman.html (accessed 23 Jul 2007).

Connections:

SIGN LANGUAGE FOR KIDS: A FUN & EASY GUIDE TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE By: Heller, Lora ISBN 1402706723

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE by: Deborah Kent ISBN 053112018X

Music teacher use the book to introduce instruments to students