Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman

Bibliography
Millman, Isaac. 1998. Moses Goes to a Concert. New York: Frances Foster Books.

ISBN: 0-374-35067-1

Summary
Moses and his classmates, all whom are deaf, attend a concert on a field trip from school. They feel the music through the balloons their teacher has brought from them. Then they are invited to meet the percussionist, who is also deaf.

Critical Analysis
Isaac Millman writes a fictional, yet informative, story about a Moses, a young boy that happens to be deaf. In the illustrations, Millman portrays his characters as a variety of ethnicities that reflect everyday life. The characters all attend a school for the deaf. The story takes place mainly at a concert, which is a perfect catalyst for discussion about the topic of deafness. The tone is upbeat making being deaf a fact of life for some, rather than a hardship of life.

Millman accurately explains and depicts being deaf throughout his story. There is an author's note at the beginning of the story explaining that people who are deaf communicate using sign language. Also, on most pages of the story there are sign-language diagrams explaining the hand movements for sign-language communication. Another example of accuracy is when he defines deafness by stating, Moses "can't hear the sounds he is making because he is deaf..." Instead of hearing, Moses feels vibrations through his hands and feet. Also, when the characters dialog in the story, Millman uses the appropriate term "signs" rather than "says" or "said." Words like says or said implies words being spoken. At the concert the children use balloons to experience the concert by feeling the vibrations. Additionally, the percussionist, who is also deaf feels the vibrations through her shoeless feet.

Millman's story is of good quality merit, portraying deafness accurately and informatively. However, it is a story that focuses on the disability and the disability is introduced before the character is. These are the only two cultural diverse weaknesses in the story. Millman does an excellent job of showing Moses' deafness as a difference rather than disabling trait. This is a perfect story to share with students when discussing differences. All children, with or without deafness, will be introduced to a Millman's ultimate message in this story: "When you set your mind to it, you can be become anything you want want..."

Review Excerpts
Kirkus Review reports, "The power of Millman's book comes from the simple fact that he levels the playing field; of course deaf children go to concerts, but conveying how they enjoy music removes yet one more barrier between those who can hear and those who cannot" (1998).

Booklist announces, "With clear line-and-watercolor pictures, the precise hand shapes, movements, and facial expressions of ASL are a natural part of the story. . . . Deaf children will welcome this joyful story that talks, without condescension, about the fun they have. Hearing kids, too, will want to learn some of the sign language. . . " (1998).

Reveiw excerpts accessed through Follett's Titlewave site at http://www.titlewave.com/.

Connections
Other Stories by Isaac Millman:

Moses Goes to School
Moses Goes to the Circus
Moses Sees a Play

A good accompaniment may be Anna's Silent World by Bernard Wolf