According to the American Society of Deaf Children (ASDC), “Research shows that reading and signing stories together helps promote essential literacy skills for ALL children: deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing.” This page highlights some favorites! Just click on a book cover to enjoy the video read alouds in American Sign Language. To keep up-to-date on new releases and see a more complete listing, The ASDC maintains a running list of signed stories in their ASL Stories Directory. Use it to quickly find stories by a child’s age or by the book’s title. Also, join us for in-person storytimes with ASL interpretation!
In-Person Programs for Kids with ASL Interpretation
- Event: Foodie Friends
- Date & Time: Wednesday, February 05, 2:00pm
- Location: Beech Grove Branch
- Description: Read, play, learn, and make snacks! Children ages 3-5 will join Nutrition Services from the Marion County Public Health Department to explore colors found in healthy foods. This program will have ASL interpretation.
- Register Here
- Event: Healing Through Nature for Kids
- Date & Time: Friday, February 07, 4:00pm
- Location: College Avenue Branch
- Description: Learn about the greenhouse effect and enjoy making chemical reactions. Let’s use household items to learn how the atmosphere works! For kids ages 6-12. *Includes ASL interpretation
- Register Here
- Event: Play & Learn with Gymboree
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 12, 10:30am
- Location: Franklin Road Branch
- Description: Walking, running, or exploring: calling all “big kids!” More adventures come to life through imaginary play in this multi-age program with an expert from Gymboree! This program is intended for mobile children up to age 5! This program will have ASL interpretation.
- Register Here
Online Stories that are both Read Aloud and Signed (ASL):
Online Stories Signed (ASL) Only:
Where to Find More Video Read Alouds in American Sign Language:
- American Society for Deaf Children: ASL Stories Directory
- California School for the Deaf Video Sign Alouds for Children
- Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind: Video Storytelling for Families
- Rocky Mountain Deaf School: ASL Video Storytelling
- Rochester School for the Deaf: Video Storytimes
- Washington School for the Deaf: ASL Storytime
- Washington Reading Corps: Books in ASL
- Rocky Mountain Deaf School: ASL Video Storytelling for Toddlers
- Foundations for Literacy: ASL Stories
- ASL Stories Directory Hundreds of free videos of ASL retellings of favorite children’s books.
- #OperationASLStorytime on Youtube, Instagram and Twitter is a collection of children’s stories translated into American Sign Language (ASL).
Online and @Home Activities:
- Printable: ASL Activities Packet for Younger Children
- Printable: ASL Activities Packet for Older Children
- Art Lessons in ASL: How to Draw a Bear
- Art Lessons in ASL: How to Draw a Bat
- Art Lessons in ASL: How to Draw a Giraffe
- Art Lessons in ASL: How to Draw a Bacon
Sign with Me! Learn Basic Sign Language Together
Learning a second language is not only good for your brain, it also lets you communicate with a new group of people. American Sign Language (ASL) is spoken by around 1,000,000 people in the United States. Introduce your children to the world of signing with the books in this collection.
There are many holiday favorites to get your family in the holiday spirit from illustrated versions of the Bible to stories about family traditions to the silly antics of favorite book characters celebrating the holiday in their own unique way. Can Bad Kitty even get on Santa’s nice list? There are 25+ in all. That oughta last ya! 
Here are 50+ wonderful Hanukkah stories – so many you can read more than one each night! These selections come from The Sydney Taylor Book Award that recognizes the best Jewish children’s books each year, as well as the PJ Library, and the Association of Jewish Libraries.
It’s true, there’s no day like a snow day! Go out and play, and then cuddle up with some hot chocolate and a stack of these favorite winter tales. 
Many small children don’t find Halloween fun at all! The masks, the jumping out surprises and all the ghosts, vampires & scary looking pumpkins can be too many surprises for little trick-or-treaters. Here are several stories that can help kids manage their Halloween fears. If Arthur & Scaredy Squirrel can do it, so can your child!
Kids love dogs. Our librarians do too! When asked which book dogs are their favorite for story time, Harry the Dirty Dog and Bark, George won by a landslide! Here are some suggestions from them for little readers who can’t get enough puppy love. E-books and downloadable audiobooks are available.
These are not your average alphabet books. Behold the best picture books to spin entire stories out of the ABCs. Check out the charming and clever narratives! Marvel at the magnificent manifestations of metafiction! There’s fun for kids of all ages in these pages. 
Here is a selection of books for kids featuring personality plus cats (and one dog!) just as cool and groovy as Pete! “If you want to be cool, just be you!” ~ Pete 
They teach, play, protect, tease, feed, and adventure from dawn to dark. These picture book dads show how it’s done from sweet to ornery to laugh out loud! They are great fun for Father’s Day and every day!
This list contains stories and information books all about growing your own garden and then using what you grow…to eat!
From poignant to laugh-out-loud these picture book tributes to all kind of moms leave no doubt as to the true definition of unconditional love – mamas themselves. Perfect stories for Mother’s Day and every day.
Enjoy these e-book and audiobook favorites for kids that highlight Easter traditions from family dinners, reading a child’s version of the Easter story in the Bible, or attending Easter services to dyeing and hiding Easter eggs. 