Max Learns Sign Language

Max

by Adria F. Klein, Mernie Gallagher-Cole (Illustrator)

Maxs friend Susan cannot hear. She talks with her hands. Will Maxs sign language class help him learn how to talk to her?

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Adria F. Klein is a sought-after educational speaker, author, and expert in literacy instruction; author of children's books; and director of a center focused on early literacy intervention at Saint Mary's College of California.

Reviews

[Jenna Kistner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book “ Max Learns Sign Language” is a about a boy named Max who will find out a new way of communication. At school Max has a friend named Susan who is not able to communicate verbally. However, Max is determined to find a way to talk to Susan in a way she understands, which is through sign language. Max finds a class after school that teaches him some sign language that he will be able to use to talk to Susan. I would recommend this book because it is always important to find ways to communicate with others. At times it can be difficult to make new connections with people who don’t use the same communication process as we do. This book is great for teachers because it lets children know that they can still talk to someone who is hard of hearing if they take the time to learn some sign language of their own. As for parents, this book is good to read to their children because they can practice sign language at home.

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Wylaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Requested by student to be added to the list.

[Salima Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Max Learns Sign Language" is a children's book about a young boy named Max and his friend Susan. Susan is deaf and does not talk the way that Max does, instead she uses her hands to speak. Max is intrigued by Susan's way of talking and wants to learn sign language so that they can communicate. One day after school, he takes a class on Sign Language where his teacher gives him a book to take home so that he can learn signs. The next day, in the hallway, Max sees Susan and makes the sign for hello. After she responds, he signs for the word "friend"; Susan signs "friend" back to him. Later, Susan teaches Max new signs and they continue to play together and be friends.

This book relates well to my topic because it shows how someone took something he was unfamiliar with, educated himself on the topic, and in the end, made a friend. As a literacy teacher, I would use this book in the classroom to show my students that they can have different types of friends. This story features a friendship between a male and female student that are of different races, that communicate in different ways. Due to this variety, I would recommend this book to other teachers as well.

I think that the author and illustrator did a great job of conveying different types of friendships, while still focusing on one throughout the text. There wasn't much background information on the illustrator, but being that the author has a strong literary background I believe that the topic variety was intentional when writing the book.

[Sarah Lamb Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max Learns Sign Language is a beginner readers fictional book about a boy max who wants to learn sign language so he can talk to his friend Susan, who is deaf. This book shows that you can be friends even if you can talk with your voice to your friend. The plot is simple because it is for beginner readers but it is a great introduction to deaf people. When I was looking for books at my library this was the only book I found about deaf children.

[Takeisha Hannor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book to introduce to a deaf person who is struggling with this disability. It is age appropriate for all ages. I would definitely recommend this picture book, it has pictures to teach sign languages as well.

[Travis Ewing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travis liked when he went to sign language school

[ReadingWench · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can ignore the cheesey smiles in the illustartions, you will realize this is a great book for a child to learn about a deaf person.

AR 1.4