MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT by Isaac Millman

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Millman, Isaac. 2002. MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN-10: 0374453667 ISBN-13: 978-0374453664

SUMMARY

Moses and his classmates are deaf. Their teacher, Mr. Samuels takes them on a field trip to a concert. He has a suitcase that holds a surprise for his students. At the concert they are given balloons from the suitcase to feel the vibrations of the music. After the concert they meet a percussionist that is deaf and plays music in her socks. She can feel the vibrations with her feet. The percussionist, Ms. Elwyn, lets the class try all her musical instruments. Ms. Elwyn is a friend of Mr. Samuels. Moses plans to work hard and become a percussionist too.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The book, MOSES GOES TO THE CONCERT, is the first in a series about Moses. The book includes an introduction to American Sign Language. The last page of the book includes the alphabet in sign language. The illustrations are lively and colorful watercolor paintings. The perspective and depth of the illustrations adds interest and gives a realistic impression of a concert experience. The book includes inserts of Moses signing words and sentences, "I feel vibrations," and "When you set your mind to it, you can become anything."

The story of Moses is helpful for children to understand the disability of being deaf. When the audience claps the deaf children wave their hands. The sign language included in the book is a good introduction for learning sign language. The book, MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT, inspires everyone to work hard to accomplish their goals. The story is relatable to children that are deaf. It helps readers to understand a little about deafness. It is appropriate for children age 4 – 10.

REVIEWS

From Publishers Weekly
The seemingly incongruous premise of this harmonious debut, a class of deaf children attends an orchestral concert, leads to a revelation for readers who may well have assumed that the ability to hear is a prerequisite for enjoying music. Holding balloons that their teacher passes out to help them "feel the music," Moses and his classmates are thrilled to pick up the vibrations. Afterward, they visit with the orchestra's deaf percussionist, who, intriguingly, performs in stocking feet so she, too, can feel the beat. She 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. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2?A group of deaf children is taken to a concert where the youngsters meet the percussionist, a friend of their teacher, and learn to their surprise that she is also deaf. She explains to Moses and his class how she became a percussionist even though she had lost her hearing and helps them understand that anything is possible with hard work and determination. She lets the children play on her instruments and feel the vibrations on balloons that their teacher has given them. 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. Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

CONNECTIONS

*Share books about deafness with the children. Teach the alphabet in sign language.

Millman, Isaac. 2003. Moses Goes to the Circus. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Language: English ISBN-10: 0374350647 ISBN-13: 978-0374350642


Millman, Isaac. 2004. Moses Sees a Play. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN-10: 0374350663 ISBN-13: 978-0374350666

Aseltine, Lorraine, Evelyn Mueller and Nancy Tait. 1986. I'm Deaf and It's Okay. Albert Whitman & Company ISBN-10: 0807534722 ISBN-13: 978-0807534724