You have started exploring the world of American Sign Language and Deaf culture. Whether you took lessons, met a Deaf person, or have a new family member with hearing loss – you want to learn more, but where?
With so many books out there, how would you know which is a good source? I’ve listed several books under different categories for easier referencing. Let’s get started!
ASL
Add these books to your ASL library for improving your signing skills and vocabulary.
With more than 500 different phrases, this book helps the beginner to express common everyday phrases. It has clear illustrations as well as well defined explanations for various meanings of a sign.
Make learning fun with games and puzzles for adults and kids to learn ASL.
This book will help learners get beyond the “one word – one meaning” thinking process. You get to practice how to stimulate conceptual vocabulary development and their application.
Deaf Culture
Deaf culture is a complex world and in order to participate in it we need to learn and understand it fully.
This classic collection brings deaf culture to life through personal experiences and practical day-to-day information.
This book explains it takes a lot more than “knowing ASL” to participate in the world of Deaf culture. It answers many ASL learners’ and various professionals’ questions about acceptance, etiquette, and Deaf peoples views of the “hearing world”.
This book illustrates the pitfalls which have been created for those communities by the medical concept of ‘deafness' and contrasts this the concept of “Deafhood”, a process by which every Deaf child, family and adult implicitly explains their existence in the world to themselves and each other.
Deaf Children
It takes more than ASL to help your Deaf child to “connect”. These books will help bridge the gaps.
This book helps to answer how parents and teachers can effectively support the language development and academic success of deaf and hard-of-hearing children?
Deaf children are not hearing children who can't hear, they are far more diverse than their hearing peers. This book explains extensively the variety of challenges deaf children face and how to help them cope.
Written by a hard of hearing mom, she shares her journey and advice for raising deaf and hard of hearing children.
Deaf History
In order to understand Deaf people we need to know more about their history and their struggles.
Tracks Deaf history in the United States, both chronologically and by important impactful subjects.
Covers the history of people’s views of deafness in education and their social participation, evolution of communication and changing attitudes.
A beautiful book of over 200 photographs, quotes and stories of 200 years of Deaf history.
Children’s Books
Maybe you want some books for young children to understand their Deaf peer or relative?
A fun graphic novel of a child going to school with a large hearing aid and their fun adventures.
Using simple, engaging text and full-color photos, readers learn what deafness is, how it can be caused, and what daily life is like for someone who can't hear.
Stories of a Deaf 7-year-old girl and her world.