Friday, July 25, 2008

My Heart Glow

There’s a new book coming out that explains to children how American Sign Language got its start. Written by Emily Arnold McCully, My Heart Glow: Alice Cogswell, Thomas Gallaudet and the Birth of American Sign Language tells the true story of a deaf child, Alice Cogswell, and her teacher Thomas Gallaudet. She inspires him to help found the first permanent school for deaf children back in 1817. Gallaudet had seen sign languages among American Indians and traveled to France to look for the best teaching methods. The American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut helped with research. The illustrated book retails for $15.99.