A mother and daughter spend a sunny day at the beach together where they swim, dance, build sandcastles, and, most importantly, communicate. But their communication is not spoken; rather, it is created by loving hands that use American Sign Language. Readers will learn how to sign 15 words using American Sign Language with the help of sidebars that are both instructive and playful. And the beautifully illustrated beach scenes will appeal both to the deaf community and to hearing parents and children, who will enjoy this gentle introduction to some basic words in ASL. Hands & Hearts is a picture book unlike any other, revealing the special bond between mother and child.
Donna Jo Napoli is a linguist and the award-winning author of over 50 books for young readers. She lives outside Philadelphia.
<b>Amy Bates</b> is a <i>New York Times </i>bestselling illustrator of numerous books for children. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her three children and husband. www.amybates.com.