Alphabet Books Using Sign Language

Although sign language was developed for the hearing impaired, it is now commonly used with hearing toddlers and preschoolers to enhance their language skills before speech develops. Children can communicate at much earlier ages when taught simple signs. Signing using the manual alphabet (actually called fingerspelling) provides older children another avenue to learn their abc's. It is also a lot of fun for them to discover another "code" for letters and words.


The Handmade Alphabet
by Laura Rankin
Beautifully detailed illustrations of hands show the position for each letter in the manual alphabet. On each page the fingers interact with an object that begins with the letter shown. Asparagus is held in the hand showing the letter A; the G is cleverly shown by a gloved hand demonstrating the sign for G.

Handsigns: A Sign Language Alphabet
by Kathleen Fain
Another handsomely illustrated alphabet book, "Handsigns" shows a colorful picture filling the page accompanied by a small picture in the corner depicting the hand position for each letter. The animal representing each letter is not identified on the page, giving children a chance to do so. Inside the title page, the alphabet signs are pictured in one place, and in the back, a glossary gives information on each animal. I didn't think I'd find a book as attractive to both adults and children as "The Handmade Alphabet" (above), but this one makes the grade.

My ABC Signs of Animal Friends
by Ben Bahan
The cheerful illustrations keep children interested as they learn the letters, sounds and hand signs for each letter of the alphabet in this book. The pictures of both the animal and the hand position are cartoon-like. For each letter the animal demonstrates the sign with gloved fingers reminiscent of Mickey Mouse.



Story Props for Sign Language Alphabet Books