Dancing hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language

 B      Bibliography: Que, J., & Marquez, C. (2023). Ill. by Fran Alvarez. Trans. by Karen Llagas. Dancing hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language. Library Ideas, LLC. ISBN: 9781797213323

          Plot Summary: A little girl, the narrator, notices her neighbors talk with their hands. She soon befriends their daughter, Mai, but they have difficulty communicating. That is until Mai teaches her new friend sign language, and through that,  they are able to get to know each much better.

         Critical Analysis: The use of sign language is beautifully described as "[t]heir hands move as if to music", hence the title.  The illustrations are simple yet effective in telling the story as the illustrator pays special attention to the characters' hands in order to clearly show the signs that are being used. Though the title specifies the use of Filipino sign language, the message of the book is relatable for anyone that reads it.  Communication is important to connect with others, and though some people may communicate in different ways, connection is possible regardless of those differences. Deaf readers can see themselves in the story, and other readers can gain a better understanding, and perhaps gain an interest in learning sign language. 

         Reviews: 

          School Library Journal: "This beautifully uncomplicated tale of friendship with positive disability representation is an excellent choice for story times and a first purchase for picture book collections."

         Kirkus Reviews: "A gentle and charming introduction to Filipino Sign Language."

         Awards: 

         Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book, 2024

         Connections:

         Use in an elementary classroom as a read aloud to introduce a short unit on sign language.

          Use in a lower elementary classroom as a read aloud to introduce a short unit on basic communication skills.

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