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: Junior Paleontologist
- Date & Time: Friday, June 20, 11:00am
- Location: Lawrence Branch
- Description: Be a paleontologist for a day and learn about Indiana’s geologic history! Try your hand at finding, studying, and recreating fossils. This program is for kids ages 6-12. *This program includes ASL interpretation.
- Register Here
- Event: Geology Rocks!
- Date & Time: Friday, June 27, 4:00pm
- Location: Southport Branch
- Description: Go back in time and explore prehistoric creatures through fossils! Create your very own fossil impression and discover the wonders of geology. This program is for ages 6-12. *This program includes ASL interpretation.
- Register Here
- Event: Drag Story Time
- Date & Time: Saturday, June 28, 11:00am
- Location: Irvington Branch
- Description: Join us for a story time that celebrates diversity! Each program will contain educational and entertaining stories, songs, and dance that show we all belong. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are provided. All are welcome!
- No Registration Required.
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
Learn American Sign Language on ASLdeafined
Learn American Sign Language with video lessons from ASLdeafined. The content is for anyone who wishes to learn ASL, regardless of age. Login with your Library card number and create an account. A mobile app is available for Apple and Android. The login you use for the main site will be the same login for the mobile app.
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.