1001 Books in ASL

13 - Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka

2009-09-06T20:11:00.001-07:00

Yo! Yes! children book by Chris Rashcka in "free" ASL translation by cnkatz. For optimal effectiveness, hold the book the next to the video screen and enjoy them both. Do it in your homes with children, deaf or not. Or if you are learning ASL, you can observe how role shifting technique is critical in part to master ASL storytelling skills. If you are in a classroom, go to teachertube.com, get your account, and then view or download this video and use it for anything you deem best. The video at teachertube embedded below.

One big reversal mistake. I signed the story with both characters in my (signer's) view - not from the viewer's. Someday, I would be happy to redo this with costumes and with a dark and light skinned actors. Someday someday . . .

Musing on the impact videos in the internet have on education. Just wait a decade and we will find better quality videos in the internet which can be shown in classrooms equipped with LCD projector, smart boards, and a computer (even handheld IPod-like machines). Gallaudet, NTID, CSUN, and deaf institutions have websites which have huge catalogs of videos all digitized and disseminated via Google. Short clips of lectures in ASL on every school subject. Evaluation of skills done through videophone. ASL students at their terminals meeting and interacting in ASL in a virtual classroom is not so farfetched anymore. That is part of my vision of what the 21st century deaf education would be like. Every parent of newly diagnosed deaf babies have plenty of resources, all varied, to help them adjust and optimize their language environment for their deaf (and hearing) babies to thrive. Many benefits: classroom teachers, ASL students, and signers anywhere. The number of sign language users will exponentially grow.

Only Free translation version is done with this book due to its brevity and simplicity.

Open the book and click on the video - and enjoy . . .

1001booksinASL now in teachertube.com

2009-09-05T13:25:00.000-07:00

1001BooksinASL videos are now at teachertube.com where any schoolteachers and parents with deaf/hearing children can view/download inside their classrooms and homes! Spread the word. Inform teachers/parents you know with any students/children that they have this resource, completely free and accessible.

I got a couple of emails from teachers and librarians informing me that they can not access the 1001booksinasl videos at youtube (which I suspected long ago) and that their processes to allow certain youtube videos accessible in the school system can be cumbersome. With teachertube.com (they check their videos for appropriateness), now accessible at computer systems in schools, they can have access to quality ASL translations of children books.

To my amazement and delight, parents and teachers can even download the videos of the children books in ASL and use them in any way they wish. This is not possible at youtube.com. Hearing parents can put the videos from teachertube into the iPods of their deaf children. Yes, I can try to upload the videos to iTunes and distribute them freely. Imagination runs wild as we learn to use new technology still in constant change for better pedagogy for (deaf) education.

Teachers, parents, and librarians can use the videos in any way to promote literacy development in both hearing and deaf children. With time and better use of imovie/moviemaker software in our teachers' and children's lives will promote original ways of teaching and learning literacy - reading, writing and signing.

Visualize the near future, a deaf child with non-signing parents and internet access at home can view one thousand children books in ASL - in various modalities: signed, texted, and voiced.

Here is a video of Where the Wild Things Are in free ASL translation from teachertube. click on the video twice to go there. Or click those words below.

1001booksinasl At TeacherTube

11 - The Five Chinese Brothers by Bishop and Wiese

2008-04-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

I would like to post the three videoclips of three ASL translations of The Five Chinese Brothers by Bishop and Wiese with another laudatory message for the DeafRead team.

I think devoted users of DR should welcome DeafSide and see how it go. Over one year now, I enjoyed watching how DeafRead evolve by the topics being posted daily. Only four months ago, the first DeafRead conference had the zeitgeist feeling of great possibilities DR could bring to the Deaf community. Is that feeling still going strong, I begin to wonder. The vision of DeafRead as impartial aggregator remains intact - something I applaud and enjoy. I usually don't go into most posts being listed, only what strikes my fancy. I enjoyed everything being listed out there and I quickly skim. I think the adage of New York Times' "all the news fit to print" should apply to DeafRead's "all the deafblogs fit to post". DeafRead should be for anyone interested in "anything deaf". Of course, other people don't share my perceptions. Others look at DeafRead differently. We now have customized DeafRead enabling us to edit our content of DeafRead. Now this . . . DeafSide. . . , , , ; ; ; : : : ! ! ! ? ? ?

I knew that, with right capabilities and know-how, more people like Taylor and Jared will create aggregation websites like DR and DS. I expect future websites to be better than DeafRead in the internet cyberpspace and bring more communication and opportunities to deaf people and the deaf community. DeafSide? First, I applaud the concept of a new aggregator being automatically fed from DeafRead. However, I predict that they will change the title to something better. Side means anything "on the side". Side denotes to me not in the mainstream but on the side. Deaf community has many sides, I agree, but ASL and Deaf Culture should be the major side of the community itself, not just one side. I humbly think that the term, DeafSide, has some negative connotations to it. They will have to revise it. BUT an aggregation website solely on Deaf Culture, ASL, and related "D" topics that make up from being culturally deaf is an excellent concept. I am excited and look forward to it.

But the name? I propose several terms. DeafCenter as one option as mentioned by comments here and there. How about DeafCore? DeafCircle? DeafSomething? I find the acronym DC appealing because it is Deaf Community, Deaf Culture, Deaf Children, deaf circles and deaf centers all over. I think I am veering into the topic of my other website on deafhood and spirituality so I pause here. T3 and JE - fyi, DCize it.

Taylor and Jared, I can't enough thank you for beating your heads on soft walls trying to come up with better versions of a technological marvel you both have created around 2 years ago. You constantly try to improve DeafRead. You introduced to the deaf community the DeafRead Live Chat. And now DeafSide. Amazing . . . I wonder - all what you do right now, later joined by other "webgeeks" with your website inventing capabilities, could multiply together and morph into WHAT? DeafRead in 2010, 2017, and beyond. Keep up your good, honest, and noble work by banging your heads happily . . .

I digressed big time from the purpose of this website. Here is the 11th installment of 1001 Books in ASL. Enjoy the brotherhood exhibited in this Chinese folk tale. Click away . . .

Free ASL Translation - part A

Free Translation Part B

Literal ASL Translation - Part A

Literal ASL Translation Part B

Word for Word Translation Part A

Word for Word Translation Part B

10 - Curious George by H. A. Rey

2008-04-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

Three ASL translation versions of H. A. Rey's Curious George children book. Perfect for parents to show, along with the book, to their deaf and hearing children. Would ASL students stoop to view word for word translation or challenge themselves by following the free translation? Would some "ASLans" complain of the word for word translation or find it an excellent way to give proof of how literal or free translations are far superior to the word for word version? All, and more reasons, are why I do three or four versions - to let you compare for whatever reasons you to show the beauty and versatility of American Sign Language.

Enjoy the antics of the famous Curious George . . .

Free Translation (part A)

Free translation (part B)

Literal Translation (Part A)

Literal Translation (part B)

Word for word Translation (Part A)

Word for Word Translation (Part B)

9 - Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

2008-04-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

3 ASL translations of "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman.

I would like to post the clips here with a message about DeafRead. Returning from a national conference, I find the current mood of the Deaf community members increasing disapproving of DeafRead. I was told that DeafRead had lost its "D" center. I became disappointed in this because DeafRead was never exclusive from day one but always open to all. I made several public comments that the content of the DeafRead posts wax and wane with various topics. It is apparent that posts on pathological aspects of being deaf SEEM to dominate DeafRead. It is far from the truth. It is just that culturally deaf topics are not being posted much lately. "D" topics will need to be posted more. It seems to me that only when a national "D"eaf news break out, we see more culturally deaf posts.

I gratefully welcome the news of Tayler and Jared trying to find ways so that a certain group of deaf people could block seemingly irritating posts out of their tunnel-viewed sights. My message to those of you - PERSEVERE! BLOG more! Don't give up on DeafRead! FYI, DeafRead represents an excellent pulse (not complete, mind you) on the deaf community and serves as an interesting lightning rod for those "D" purists.

All right, here are three versions of my ASL translation of my favorite books from my early childhood. The free translation version is ten and half minutes long and YouTube rejected this length so I had to halve it. If you do not want to watch two separate clips, view the literal translation version. NOTE: if you want to view the clips at full screen, click on the clip twice and you will be taken to youtube and view it at full screen by clicking the icon at the bottom right corner.

Thank you and enjoy viewing the travails of a baby bird trying to find its mother. Click away . . .

Literal ASL Translation Version (above)

Word for word ASL translation version (above)

Free ASL Translation Version - Part A (above)

Free ASL Translation Version - Part B (above)

8 - The Story of Ferdinand by Leaf/Lawson

2008-04-08T06:08:00.000-07:00

As a person who is against physical and verbal violence in solving disputes, these ASL clips are posted here to thank to all "bulls" - soldiers all over the world who died fighting for peace. This story has powerful pacifist messages. Submit and live. Stop and smell the flowers. Make love, not war. The creators wrote/drew this story during the Spanish Civil War and just before World War 2.

Let me paste the current Wiki entry on this book. . . . "The Story of Ferdinand (1936) is the best-known work written by American author Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson . The children's book tells the story of a bull who would rather smell flowers than fight in bullfights. He sits in the middle of the bull ring failing to take heed of any of the provocations of the matador and others to fight. The book was released at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, and so was seen by many supporters of Francisco Franco as a pacifist book. It became a target of the right wing, being banned in many countries, and—perhaps because of that suppression—was promoted by many on the left. It was one of the few non-Communist books promoted in Soviet-occupied Poland. Leaf is said to have written the story on a whim in an afternoon in 1935, largely to provide his friend, illustrator Robert Lawson (then relatively unknown) a forum in which to showcase his talents. The story was also cited by many former critics of U.S. intervention in World War II after Pearl Harbor to explain their change of heart."

Ever since I first read it, I attack adversities in my life in the way Ferdinand behaved. Physical and verbal violence and hatred have no place in my/our lives, period.

Enjoy this story of Ferdinand, the bull who refused to fight.

Word for word translation

Free Translation A

Free Translation B

Literal translation A

Literal Translation B

I could go on and on, elaborating on this book. What Ferdinand can teach the deaf people community? The queers loved the book - take a look at the very last illustration of the book. Walt Disney made a cartoon out of it, check on this.

Pause and smell the flowers.

Make love, not war.

Submit and yield, there lies your treasure.

Participate joyfully in the sorrows of life.

Go in love and peace.

Let it go.

7 - There's A Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer

2008-04-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

An ASL (a mixture of free and literal) translation of a children book, "There's a Nightmare in My Closet" by Mercer Mayer.

This clip is posted with crossed-hands-over-heart "uncle-ly" thoughts to my nephew, Jason Katz, and niece, Breeann Katz. They were in my thoughts as I signed 23 children books into ASL in 1994 and 1995. It was with pride and joy that I gave them hand-crafted 23 tapes of children books in ASL. Now, they have grown, soon out of their father's nest, and I wish them all the best after graduation. I look forward standing by them as they proceed in the next many stages of life.

The first set in 1994, I signed only in one version, a mixture of free and literal translation. The second set, I did 12 books in three versions (word, literal, and free translation). That is why the video clips in this website have a various number of versions from one to four. In 2004, I re-signed Where the Wild Things Are in four version (the first of "1001" books here). When I have more time (probably in the summer), I will begin signing more books, hopefully in 4 versions, and post them.

Enjoy the boy's nightmarish descent into his closet clip here . . .

6 - Just a Daydream by Mercer Mayer

2008-04-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

An ASL (a mixture of free and literal) translation of Mercer Mayer's Just a Daydream children book.

This clip is posted with a two-handed sign of big thank-you to Dr. Jean Andrews, a professor exemplar at Lamar University, an author of deaf juvenile fiction, and also my good friend and former doctoral adviser. She saw my talent of signing children's books into ASL. She then bought a lot of blank VHS and 8mm videotapes, two sets of children books, and asked me to sign those books into ASL. She planned to use the first set of books and tapes with her research in families with deaf children and deaf education classrooms. The second set was for me to give to my deaf nephew and hearing niece. That was how I videotaped, in 1994 and 1995, the signing of 23 books into ASL, of which I have been posting them in this website. If not for Jean's buying the tapes and the books and thrusting them into my ASL hands, I probably would not have pursued my dream of translating 1001 books in ASL. Thank you, Jean.

Enjoy the daydreaming here . . .

5 - Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

2008-03-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

Three different ASL translations of Robert Munsch's children's book, "Love You Forever," signed by Charles Katz.

I would like to dedicate this post to my mother, Sophie, and to my two young daughters, Ashlyn and Sarah. This is a story about love from a mother to her son and the son later as a father to his daughter. This book is always special to my heart because of my love for my mother and my two daughters.

YouTube won't accept video clips above ten minutes in length so I had to break the free translation (12 minutes) into two halves - Part 1 and 2. If you do not want interruption, click on the literal translation, thank you.

Above is part 1 of the free ASL translation (from text and images) of the book.

Above is part 2 of the free ASL translation (from text and images) of the book.

Above is the literal translation (from text only) of the book.

Above is the word for word translation (signing each word) of the book.

4 - There's Something in My Attic by Mercer Mayer

2008-03-24T16:38:00.000-07:00

Three different ASL translations of a children book, "There's Something in My Attic" by Mercer Mayer. Perfect for librarians, classroom teachers, ASL specialists, and parents who want to expose children's books to their deaf and hearing students/children by showing various ways in re-signing the stories from the books. Enjoy the clips.

Above is a free translation version (from text and images).

Above is a literal translation version (from text alone).

Above is a word for word translation version (signing each word).

As you may notice the list on the right had changed. Some of my clips are more than 10 minutes long. YouTube accepts uploads of videoclips only up to ten minutes long. Will experiment around to see if I can upload longer than ten minutes clips. If not, then I will have to split the clips into halves. What do you think? Any experience uploading long clips to youtube? google video? other sites? Thank you.

3 - The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

2008-03-23T14:24:00.001-07:00

A children book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, is translated into three versions by Charles Katz.

One thing that needs to be mentioned is that you will see some ASL classifiers in the word for word version (or transliteration - from text to English sign order). This version was signed in 1995. I found it very interesting to notice that I inserted ASL classifiers in my straight English signing. It reflected a couple of things. I could not keep to just signing each word alone - too dry. It shows how natural ASL grammar filtered into my English sign order. When I sign more books, I will attempt to keep to word for word signing and save ASL classifiers for either free and/or literal translations.

Enjoy watching how the hungry caterpillar lick and chew its way to butterflyhood. Click away . . .

Above is a free translation (from text and images) of the book.

Above is a literal translation (only from the text) of the book.

Above is a word for word translation (signing each word - some ASL) of the book.

2 - The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats

2008-02-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

A children book, The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats, translated into ASL three ways by Charles Katz. In order below - free, literal, and word for word translations.

I got an email (see below) from a hearing 1st grade teacher in the DC area wanting to use the clips from 1001 Books in ASL in her classroom for her hearing students. This demonstrated the technological power of youtube and the blogs in diffusing the "image" of ASL into the hearing world. We, the Deaf in the field of ASL teaching, know that there are more and more non-native signers teaching or spreading ASL, probably to our discomfort. At least, the more the hearing world is picking up their dormant hands to express their thoughts and communicate in non-aural way.

above - freely translated into ASL (English text and images into ASL)

above - literally translated into ASL (only English text into ASL)

above - word for word translated (signing word for word - but you ll see some ASL signs in it - see for yourself)

**************

(Here is the paste from an email I got - put delightful warm smile in my heart)

Hello! I saw your videos on youtube and read your blog, and I just want to tell you that I think what you are doing is amazing! I'm so excited to see your translations and I will be using them in my classroom (if that's okay with you). :) Where are you from? I live near Washington, DC. I teach 1st grade, hearing kids, but we sign a LOT! I learned to sign from a close friend wen I was a kid, and I love to sign to my students. I might be teaching a kids ASL class to hearing kids this summer, and I'm excited to be able to show them your books. If I can make a suggestion (one of MY favorite books), you should add There's a Nightmare in my Closet by Mercer Mayer to your collection. Also, ANYTHING by Bill Peet, though his stories get very long and detailed, so i may take a lot of time to do 4 versions of his stories.

Thanks so much for providing such wonderful visually stimulating translations! You are a very talented storyteller and a joy to watch!

1 - Where the Wild Things Are

2007-12-16T18:34:00.000-08:00

Below are four different ASL translations by Charles Katz of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are.

Word for Word ASL Translation (signing the text word for word approximately)

Literal ASL Translation (translating only the text)

Free ASL Translation (translating text and pictures)

Visual Gestural Translation (text and pictures into visual gestures)

Intro to 1001 Books in ASL

2007-12-16T18:20:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody,

A new website of videoclips of 1001 children books translated into American Sign language by Charles Katz for parents, school libraries, and any other interested people and groups is here now. Now, parents have FREE resource on the internet to show ASL of children books to their deaf AND hearing children. A long time dream of mine to translate one thousand and one children books into ASL is now being realized thanks to vblog technology, computers, and youtube.

Each post will have between 2 to 4 ASL translations of a children book. They are word for word, literal, free, and visual gestural translations. Word for word is signing each word approximately. Literal is translating only the text into ASL. Free is translating the text and the images. Visual gestural is translating into something natural - visual gestural - old to us but something different for others. See for yourself.

The list at your right is the books being posted in order until 1001 books have been translated and posted.

Click here to go to youtube channel of 1001 Books in ASL