Review of MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT

Millman, Isaac. 1998. MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT. New York: Frances Foster Books. ISBN 0374350671.

PLOT SUMMARY
Moses and his classmates are attending a concert, but the children won’t hear the music like most people, instead they will feel the vibrations through the balloons they hold in their laps! Moses and his classmates are deaf, so they “feel” sound through their feet or the vibrations of objects. After the concert, their teacher introduces the children to the percussionist, who also happens to be deaf and plays in her stocking feet so that she can follow the orchestra. She lets Moses and his friends play her instruments. When he returns home, Moses tells his parents he would also like to be a percussionist.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Isaac Millman has drawn upon his friendships with members of the deaf community to create this picture book. In order to ensure that the signs he includes in the illustrations are accurate, Millman showed his work to several teachers at New York City’s J.H.S. 47 School for the Deaf and let them evaluate his interpretations of the signs.

The author has taken the time to thoroughly investigate the subject of his work to better represent this particular community. He includes an author’s note describing his research, in addition to instructions explaining how to read the directionality symbols of the signs. The hand alphabet is also depicted at the end of the story. Throughout the book, Millman has included inset pictures of Moses demonstrating signs, step by step. These visual guides enable readers to practice these signs on their own and encourage them to learn more about American Sign Language. Millman has also subtly illustrated an interesting fact that adults will want to share with children. Since people with hearing loss need to use their hands to communicate, the children in the story do not tie their balloons to their wrists after the concert, as a hearing child might. Instead, Millman chooses to anchor the balloons to the children’s belt loops, baseball caps, shoulder straps, or hair ribbons, allowing the students freedom to sign.

Even though Millman has carefully researched ASL to create authentic illustrations for his story, the signs do not take away from the engaging plot or characters. The story of deaf students enjoying a concert by feeling the vibrations is sure to interest children. Some children might be uncomfortable around people with disabilities, but books like Moses Goes to a Concert can help children understand that having a disability doesn’t make a person all that different from anyone else. The children in the story look and act much like students in every school. Moses and his friends wear a variety of contemporary clothing and represent several difference ethnicities. These students play sports and games, spend time with friends, and communicate as much as their hearing peers. They may be deaf, but the children enjoy playing with the percussion instruments as much as any child would, given the chance. In fact, several of the children’s parents give them drums, to encourage their exploration of music.

Millman wisely chooses to include several adult role models for children with disabilities. Mr. Samuels, their teacher, and Ms. Elwyn, the percussionist, are both deaf. Even though they can not hear, these adults have successful careers they enjoy. All children need to understand that having a disability does not preclude people from having a happy, fulfilling life.

Teachers and librarians looking for a high quality picture book concerning children with disabilities will be pleased to share this selection with their students. The text and illustrations accurately portray the deaf community in a manner that shows readers that children are more alike than different, regardless of their abilities.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal comments, “Cheerful watercolor illustrations show the multiethnic children enjoying themselves at the concert, while smaller cartoon strips feature Moses’ additional comments in sign language. A page displaying the manual alphabet and a conversation in sign language in which Moses tells his parents about his day enhance the upbeat story.”

Publishers Weekly writes, “(The percussionist) lets the students play her instruments and, using American Sign Language (precisely illustrated in easy-to-read diagrams), explains how she worked hard to achieve her career goal. Back home, Moses tells his parents about his day, signing a message of universal value: "When you set your mind to it, you can become anything you want." An introductory note explains how to interpret the sign-language diagrams, which are integrated throughout the clear and colorful illustrations. Fiction and instruction make beautiful music together on these cheerful pages.”

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Moses-Goes-Concert/dp/0374453667

CONNECTIONS
Other books about children with hearing loss:
Heelan, Jamee Riggio. CAN YOU HEAR A RAINBOW?: THE STORY OF A DEAF BOY NAMED CHRIS. Illustrated by Nicola Simmonds. ISBN 1561452688
Lakin, Patricia. DAD AND ME IN THE MORNING. Illustrated by Robert C. Steele. ISBN 0807514195.
Millman, Isaac. MOSES GOES TO SCHOOL. ISBN 0374350698
Millman, Isaac. MOSES GOES TO THE CIRCUS. ISBN 0374350647
Millman, Isaac. MOSES SEES A PLAY. ISBN 0374350663

Submitted by Kim