Title: Have You Ever Seen…? An American Sign Language (ASL) Handshape DVD/Book.
Authors: Adonia K. Smith and E. Lynn Jacobowitz
Illustrator: Tamara Davidson
Video Direction: James R. DeBee
Cultural Vignettes: Signed in ASL by Rosa Lee Gallimore
Signed in ASL by Deaf Children and KODAs of MD and TX
Publisher: ASL Rose
ISBN: 10: 0-976460-04
ISBN: 13: 978-0-9764640-6
ASL Rose http://www.aslrose.com/
American Society for Deaf Children’s The Endeavor, Summer 2010, page 10 & page 11
Reviewed by Dr. Cynthia Neese Bailes
Cynthia Neese Bailes, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Education, Gallaudet University
Fanciful, yet complex and informative, Have You Ever Seen…? isthe first of a series of children’s DVDs and books rooted in American Sign Language and Deaf Culture by Adonia K. Smith and E. Lynn Jacobowitz. A creative take on traditional alphabet books, each page and DVD chapter features one of forty-four ASL handshapes, followed by nonsensical questions sure to draw the attention of the intended school-aged audience. The questions are drawn directly from the handshape portrayed. For example, the signs horse and paint spring fromthe closed-3 handshape, and the question is: “Have you ever seen a horse painting?”
Tamara Davidson provides humorous illustrations to convey ASL rhymes, in this case a fanciful horse, eyebrows raised as in a grammatically correct ASL yes-no question, painting a picture. What at first glance appears to be an exclusive work of fantasy emerges as a genre of fantasy and nonfiction. This horse isn’t painting just any picture; he’s painting a picture of Laurent Clerc—an icon in Deaf culture. A charcoal drawing of Clerc is on the wall above the canvas, and a bulletin board behind the horse lists four Deaf artists. The accompanying text is full of interesting historical and cultural information: the reader/viewer goes on to learn that Clerc’s name sign—a closed 3 handshape twice brushing the cheek—is the outline of a scar on his face; that Clerc helped establish the first school for deaf children in the United States; that the late Deaf artist John Carlin drew the famous charcoal portrait of Clerc; that Gallaudet University named a dormitory after Carlin; and that there are many Deaf artists, who under the moniker De’VIA use a myriad of media to express the “Deaf Experience.”
The information is cleverly and creatively drawn directly from the featured handshapes, thus, forming a logical and predictable pattern throughout the DVD/book, making the viewing and reading both pleasurable and informative. The book would not be complete without the DVD. Actually, you could say that the book is an English companion to the DVD. Under the direction of James DeBee, each chapter of the DVD features Deaf and hearing children signing the fanciful questions. Their contribution lends a jovial sense of rhythm and predictable repetition. Native-signer Rosa Lee Gallimore follows; she conveys the cultural information in a relaxed, clear, and engaging signing style, with direct eye contact that draws in the viewer.
By expanding on the playful rhymes such as a pig flying, birds with fangs, and a rooster in a rocking chair,Gallimore conveys rich language intended to stimulate viewer curiosity. Indeed, both the DVD and book are viewer and reader friendly, with colorful illustrations and a balance between fun and facts. The factual information is backed by a reference page, as is expected in quality books of non-fiction. An especially attractive feature of the DVD is the extensions to the book it offers. For example, it features vignettes depicting the rich ASL storytelling tradition, whether with Gallimore retelling the age-old story of King Kong signing to the beautiful woman he has captured in his hand: Will you marry me? [Splat!] or with featured clips of well-known ASL storyteller Jacobowitz signing a number or A-Z story.
Here lies the beauty of this product: While the authors proclaim it a “handshape DVD/book,” it is actually much more. The ASL handshapes, with their whimsical drawings and rhythmical questions, could stand alone as an entertaining children’s book. Yet, the authors chose to situate them within the context of North American Deaf Culture, giving the reader and viewer as sense of this culture as a way of life. We learn about signed language, as well as Deaf traditions, rituals, art, values, and ways of living together. The DVD/book features historical information, short biographical information about a diverse number of Deaf people, information about how technology has changed Deaf Culture, and more. The DVD/book also dispels misunderstandings and myths about Deaf people and their language and culture, such as the long held view that ASL is inferior to English. In this case, they gently assert that while there is no research evidence to support this claim/belief, there is evidence of a relationship between strong language skills in ASL and English. The authors cover this wide scope of information in an effective format that allows the reader/viewer to take in as much as desired at any given time.
Have you ever seen…? is a fine ASL-English bilingual production. While it is targeted for a K-12 school-aged audience, its complexity lends itself most naturally to children from third grade and up. Yet, it has a bit of everything for a wider audience—both Deaf and hearing, young and old. A welcome addition to a market with slim pickings of DVDs and books suitable for children that reflect a Deaf world-view, it can be read and viewed in one sitting, or in sections at a time. Younger children may be most interested in the illustrated handshapes and accompanying comical illustrations, possibly leading to their own creations of catchy questions and rhymes. Older children will likely find the factual information mesmerizing, and may be compelled to reflect upon Deaf culture and further research topics of interest. After reading and viewing Have You Ever Seen…?, I find myself looking forward to seeing it again and again, whether for a laugh or to appreciate once again the richness of Deaf culture. And, I find myself looking forward to next DVD/book, published by ASL Rose (www.aslrose.com).
