This may be the first book cover that actually teaches how to letterspell “A B C” in American Sign Language! (click to enlarge)
Let’s start with unveiling the cover itself. It features a lenticular!
And it’s going on press this month! I’m so excited!
Why? Because it all began as a list of words on a spread sheet almost five years ago. Gallaudet University Press lined up a team of illustrators for their upcoming definitive American Sign Language reference (think Merriam-Webster, but for signing), aimed at the pre-school through grade 3 level. It had to be usable for hearing families as well as the deaf and hearing-impaired.
Page 1 from the Dictionary
One of the illustrators already on board was Debbie Tilley. When agent Richard Salzman discovered it was (a) Gallaudet first foray into children’s books and general trade; and (b) they expected Debbie to produce the layouts too, he recommended they contact me to pull it all together for them. It was a dream project for all of us!
392 pages of full color! It looks like a graphic comic, with over 1,000 word entries, fully illustrated. Plus it includes a DVD featuring a rainbow of children signing. There’s also a special feature on forming sentences.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll guide you on the process. It will be like a diary on the making of a children’s reference classic. . .
Spread from pages 238-239 (click to enlarge)
You will witness exclusive behind-the-scenes book making. Stay tuned. That’s why I’ve been away for so long. Been dictionary-ing…
