Sit & Sign
The library where I worked from August 2009 until February 2010 had a Sit & Sign program in place for babies through age 2. I didn't have any formal ASL training, but I picked up enough from my predecessor and my own research to continue the program.
Sit & Sign is all about repetition. My predecessor left a list of books she used.
Original Sit & Sign Books:
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
1, 2, 3 to the Zoo by Eric Carle
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
All of Baby Nose to Toes by Adler
Good Night Moon by Brown
All By Myself by Aliki
10 in the Bed by Cabrera
I've added several other books to the list
New Books for Sit & Sign:
Hello, Day! by Anita Lobel
Click, Clack, Splish, Splash: A Counting Adventure by Doreen Cronin
A word about signing and reading:
I try to emphasis no more than 2 concept groups in the books I read. Take 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo by Eric Carle for example. I sign the numbers and animals but not the colors. If I did all three, the children would be overwhelmed.
A Resolution:
I have several older children in the group (4-years-old) who have been with Sit & Sign since the program's creation. They are getting a bit bored with the repetition of the original books. Therefore, I have decided to emphasis one concept for each program (alphabet, colors, numbers, or animals) and pull in new books to refresh the program. Below are my lists for each concept area. They are always evolving.
Alphabet Books:
Animal Antics A to Z by Anita Lobel
Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack by Doreen Cronin
The Alphabet Keeper by Mary Murphy
The Z was Zapped by Chris Van Allsburg
The ABC Bunny by Wanda Gag
ABC: Letters in the Library by Brenda Farmer
Max's ABC by Rosemary Wells
The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z by Steve Martin & Roz Chast
On Market Street by Anita Lobel
Black and White Rabbit's ABC by Alan Baker
Color Books:
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
Cat's Colors by Jane Cabrera
Kitten Red, Yellow, Blue by Peter Catalanotto
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
A Piece of Chalk by Jennifer A. Ericsson
Red is a Dragon by Roseanne Thong
White Rabbit's Color Book by Alan Baker
Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Counting Books:
Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose by Leo & Diane Dillon (Note: Too long for a younger crowd)
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Jane Cabrera
Click, Clack, Splish, Splash: A Counting Adventure by Doreen Cronin
1, 2, 3 to the Zoo by Eric Carle
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
Two for the Zoo by Danna Smith
10 Black Dots by Donald Crews
Ten Apples Up On Top! by Theo LeSieg (Note: Too long for a younger crowd)
Zoo Day Ole! by Phillis Gershator
Hungry for Numbers by Etienne Delessert (J 513.211 Del)
One is a Drummer by Roseanne Thong (Note: my library doesn't have this title.)
Gray Rabbit's 1, 2, 3 by Alan Baker
Max Counts His Chickens by Rosemary Wells
Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins
Anno's Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
Animal Books:
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson
Whoo Goes There? by Jennifer Ericsson
Good Luck Bear by Greg Foley
Flip, Flap, Fly by Phyllis Root
Birds by Kevin Henkes
On the Farm by David Elliot
The Doghouse by Jan Thomas
What about holidays?
To add interest for the children, I will also incorporate additional signs around holidays. For example, at the program closest to Christmas, we may practice "please" and "thank you" as well as learning the signs for Christmas, Santa Claus, stocking, and so on.
Sign Language Resources