Well, Here’s an Impromptu Post…
March 7th, 2012 by jules
I’m visiting this week (as a “special guest”) at a Highlights Foundation workshop in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Last night at dinner, my former career as a sign language interpreter came up, and before I knew it, the ever-effusive Katie Davis—who could probably talk a cat into a long, leisurely bath—had convinced me to interpret her latest picture book, Little Chicken’s Big Day, into American Sign Language, while she read it — all in the name of World Read-Aloud Day 2012, which is being celebrated today, in fact.
I haven’t interpreted in—gulp—nearly eight years (with the wonderful exception of having the opportunity to interpret for Walter Dean Myers’ 2009 Arbuthnot Honor Lecture at the Alex Haley Farm in East Tennessee). This is far from a perfect interpretation. There are even mistakes. I feel like I should point this out to any Deaf folks or interpreters watching. Did I mention it was very impromptu?
And it was fun. May you enjoy reading aloud today, if you’re so inclined.
I hope to be back tomorrow with actual picture book art. Until then …
I love love LOVE this! Thanks so much for posting.
*sniffle*
I love that book. And having you sign it – mistakes or no – was way too cool.
This is such a very cool thing for you guys to have done! And how wonderful to be fluent in sign! 🙂
Very nice!
Awwww – love it! thanks for posting!!
This Impromptu Post took my breath away. I have an impromptu post too-written by CS Lewis. It is as delightful as your posts are, Jules.:)
Lewis says,
“You must not believe all that authors tell you about how they write their books. This is not because they mean to tell lies. It is because a man writing a story is too excited about the story itself to sit back and notice how he is doing it.”
Simply memorable…it’s perfect
I love love this book! I can’t wait to share it with our grandson. It makes a perfect gift for Easter baskets! Peep, Peep, Little Chicken. Hear that Big Chicken? ;o)