About the Author

Wilbur Monroe Leaf (aka Munro Leaf) (1905–1976) was an American author of children's literature who wrote and illustrated many books during his long career. His books were illustrated by a number of famous artists, including  Ludwig Bemelmans, Robert Lawson, and Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss). He is best known for The Story of Ferdinand (1936).
 
Robert Lawson (1892–1957) received his art training at the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts. His favorite medium, pen and ink, is used expressively and with detail in his black and white illustrations in The Story of Ferdinand (by Munro Leaf). In addition to illustrating many children's books, including Mr. Popper's Penguins, Robert Lawson also wrote and illustrated a number of his own books for children. In 1940, he was awarded the Caldecott Medal for his picture book illustrations in They Were Strong and Good and in 1944, he was awarded the Newbery Medal for his middle grade novel Rabbit Hill.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 5-These excellent videos, suitable for deaf or hearing children, combine the quality viewers have come to expect from Weston Woods with the American Sign Language (ASL) savvy of production company ASL Inside. Each program presents a popular children's book and uses the familiar format of picture-book pages translated to video, with some animation added. Signers Missy Keast and Manny Hernandez, both known in the signing community for their storytelling skills, appear in the foreground, translating the text on each page into ASL. Optional English text on screen and English voiceover make these videos completely accessible to all viewers. Additional features include a vocabulary section, which is arranged alphabetically by English translation and shows featured signs in isolation, and a 10-question quiz that assesses comprehension and memory. Additional classroom activities, flashcards, and worksheets are available online for each title. The series will appeal to multiple audiences: deaf children can access the stories in their native language while building English vocabulary and reading skills, and hearing youngsters can practice their English vocabulary while learning basic ASL.-Kathleen Kelly Macmillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.