Summary
Nicholas' first day of school, where he learns his first signs and realizes that he can communicate with others using commonly understood signs.
Nicholas
Nicholas is a young Deaf boy facing his very first day of school. This first book in a planned series has been professionally edited and illustrated and is currently in layout. I hope to publish it by the end of 2026.
Nicholas is the only Deaf child in a hearing classroom. Fortunately, his teacher is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). With her help, he learns his first signs and is thrilled to discover that even a few basic signs allow him to begin connecting with the other children in his class and with his mother.
I taught Deaf preschool-aged children for many years. Nicholas was inspired by one of my students, a child who left a lasting impression on me.
Deafness does not mean that a child is broken or needs to be fixed. But being surrounded by people who do not share your language can be profoundly isolating. The problem is not who Nicholas is; it is the communication barrier separating him from the people around him.
A statement often attributed to Helen Keller captures that isolation:
“Blindness separates you from things. Deafness separates you from people.”
Nicholas is a story about beginning to bridge that separation—one sign at a time.
My previously published children’s books—I Don’t Like That!, Jasmine’s Heart, and Jacob and the Coronavirus—are available for purchase on Amazon by clicking the blue Amazon link and scrolling down to see my books. They are also available on Goodreads and in the iTunes Bookstore.
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