Signs Books

As one involved in this struggle over the last 25 years I agree this book is mandatory reading for anyone who wants to learn about the struggles related to accessibility. Congressman Edward J. Markey, Ranking Democrat, House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, stated, "Telecommunications technology can enable and ennoble the lives of millions, but only if our laws animate such technologies with human values to ensure universal access and inclusion. Karen Pelz Strauss, a tireless ally in expanding disability access to new technologies, presents a wonderful history about the inexorable march of innovation and the ongoing struggles to bring its wonders to all sectors of society." Former FCC Chairman William Kenard noted, "The lessons revealed in the pages of this book offer a compelling roadmap to those who are willing to take up this challenge in the decades to come." I am glad the author took the time to capture the struggle so others can learn.

This is a must read for anyone who is interested in access including regulators, advocates, educators, audiologists and parents. The book provides the fundamental underpinnings of a regulatory framework that drives regulation today. Ms. Peltz Strauss' insight into the battles and personalities that shaped FCC regulation make the book an incredible tool for those trying to adapt existing regulation to today's and future technological advances in access. These issues should not be forgotten or assumed to be resolved. This book provides a compelling picture of the challenges and the realization that FCC regulation is required for people with hearing loss to receive the functional equivalence of what everyone else takes for granted.

If you have ever considered the struggles of hearing-impaired people in securing access to basic telecommunications, you owe it to yourself to read this book. In fact, if you're just looking for a good story about the hard work of decent Americans who fought against all odds to improve the quality of life for millions of people, you will enjoy reading "A New Civil Right." Though it features a fast-paced narrative, it doubles as an instruction manual that begs to be studied by disability lawyers, activists and students alike. It contains principles for practical change and countless lessons in grassroots political activism that only a dynamic career in the field could confer.

As the hearing son of deaf parents, I am moved by the series of seemingly implausible victories that unfold in these pages on behalf of a population that was, for decades, shut out of American telecommunications. Were it not for the pioneering work of advocates --whose stories are capably told in this book-- my own parents would not be able to enjoy many of the benefits of modern technology that now enable them to communicate naturally with others from a distance. This is a work that every Deaf American, and every ally of Deaf America, should add to their bookshelf.

Not since Harry Lang wrote "A Phone of Our Own" has such a pioneering, authoratative account of telecommunications access for the deaf been presented to the public. With passion, humility, and an abiding respect for the Deaf community, this extraordinary work draws on the historical insight of Lang's story --without duplicating it-- to present one of the most compelling portraits of progress ever told in American history.

This book has a chapter titled, "David and Goliath." But, in fact on every page of this exciting book amazing successes and improbable achievements are detailed. Strauss shares the struggles of deaf and hard of hearing people to gain telecommunications access with such drama and clarity, making
"A New Civil Right" a fascinating book to read.

This book provides a comprehensive account of how laws were created to provide better telecommunications access for people with hearing loss. The author played an active role in the efforts to achieve this access, so the reporting is both authoritative and enjoyable--it is interspersed with personal and other stories that took place along the way. The many battles that the deaf and hard of hearing communities had to fight in order to win these rights are quite amazing, and the ultimate success is encouraging and very relevant to other efforts to gain civil rights. I would think anyone involved in communications, civil or disability rights, or grass roots advocacy would find this both enjoyable and valuable.

I have a strange relationship with my favorite books -- I kiss them all the time! Hell, I never said I was normal! The cover design... the touch... the fresh smell of the paper... the gratitude for what's within... It's a unique physical and emotional experience.

Blain's book it's definitively a book to kiss and tell! Like many lovers, most books cannot stand the test of time... but this one was born to walk with us throughout our life. As we walk this book, we soon become captured by the evocative power and grace of Blain's vision. Yet, there's no fixed path in this journey of discovery, "only" the inspiring guidelines from a shaman's mind...

The book cover reminds me of an exploding white diamond! So, I call this book the "Diamond Book". Then, the invitation is clear and it's my pleasure to quote the Pink Floyd: "Come on you raver, you seer of visions, Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!"

Yep, we don't need to cry to the dark moon anymore. This "crazy" diamond reflects its pure light through 360 suggestive angles of creative thinking that will further enhance our perception of any Astrological chart! In sum: If the Sabian Symbols are the poetry of Astrology, then Mr. Blain Bovee is one of the Sabian's greatest BARDS!"

This updated interpretation of degree-specific Sabian Symbols offers an uncanny insight into chart analysis.

Whether you're new to astrology or a professional astrologer, this powerful, thought-provoking book deserves a place among your most frequently used astrology books.

There have been a few books written in the last 10 years about the Sabian Symbols. Though each, in its own way, has relied on the genius of their creator, Marc Edmund Jones, several have liberally modified, "corrected" or altered the Jones symbol wording.

Enter "The Sabian Symbols & Astrological Analysis: The Original Symbols Fully Revealed" by Blain Bovee, a beautifully written look at the Sabian Symbols and their practical application as an illuminating tool in astrological analysis. Here is a book that brings Sabian symbol research to a new professional level. Bovee has chosen to work with the words of Marc Edmund Jones, noting that "Any alteration whatsoever risks deflecting the original genius of the Sabian Symbols, risks distorting, through interpretive assumptions, the intuitive integrity of how the Sabian Symbols came to be. I have discovered that the Sabian Symbols are richer and more internally consistent when the original wording is honored".

I highly recommend this book for several reasons. It is professional, fully attributed, erudite yet poetically sensitive. It has everything needed for practical application and advancement of understanding of the symbols. Bovee has organized the book in opposing symbol format which invites the reader to experience the interweaving of themes and shared motifs so important to a full illumination of the symbols. He also incorporates the fivefold cycle corresponding to five aspect relationships in astrology into his interpretations noting that through this cycle "one can easily detect an unfolding story, an unfolding of general themes throughout the text of consecutive degree-pairs". And, at last, here is a book that incorporates quick reference guides, one for the symbols themselves and one for useful keywords from both Jones and Bovee, both easily accessible at the back of the book making it very easy to use for practical purposes.

This is the must have book, whether you want to learn more about the Sabian Symbols as a practical tool for chart analysis or you just want to read for the sheer pleasure of enjoying the symbols for their own sake, and far outshines anything else that I have read. Bovee is a gifted writer whose work on the Sabian Symbols will surely stand the test of time. He deftly captures the essence of the symbols while leaving plenty of room for the reader to open to his or her own interpretations. His exploration of the meanings and background of the words held within each of the original symbols and his ability to take us on a journey through these beautiful symbols is unsurpassed. He intelligently, poetically and cogently demonstrates that they need no alteration or changes and are invaluable as presented by their originator. Bovee's book truly honours both the wonderful original symbols and the genius of Mark Edmund Jones.

I recently heard Blain Bovee quote Ralph Waldo Emerson--"Every word was once a poem". Reading Blain's book indulges the mind's need to infuse magic into words--as with poetry. I work as a professional astrologer,and I use this book daily. The language, his exploration of significant words used in each of the Symbol pairs opens up great possibility for the use of the Sabian Symbols. As an example, last week I prepared an electional chart for a weblaunch. When I had gotten it just right, I checked the Ascendant degree for its Sabian Symbol. The words for that particular degree unfolded the chart I had prepared so eloquently It took my breath away! This is a book for every astrologer's library--especially that part of the library that is within an arm's reach!

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"Besides guiding us carefully through the etymological backdrop of words, fine-tuning the incredible references that came out of the dark to Elsie Wheeler and Marc Edmund Jones, Bovee shows a style of relating symbolisms to personal awareness ... by following Bovee's lead-in, we learn large gulps of knowledge with every symbolism we study." Noel Tyl on "The Sabian Symbols & Astrological Analysis".

Astrology is the universal language of life and Blain Bovee's masterful work strikes at the very heart of our language, prompting us to spiral to even greater heights in our understanding and interpretation.

As the leaves of this book unfold, like the graceful and delicate petals of a lotus blossom each page leads us to the inner hidden beauty of a symbol's bloom like never before.

This rare, erudite and eminently practical masterpiece sets a whole new standard in current research and literature on the Sabian Symbols - indeed, it is the new classic, an essential "must have" for both aspiring and practicing astrologers, and in fact any individual pursuing a path of enlightenment.

For the first time Mr Bovee fully reveals how the inner dynamics of the symbols relate to one another cohesively within the astrological matrix, offering a practical process for applying the symbols to horoscope interpretation.
An accomplishment achieved only through his clearly demonstrated commitment to presenting the "original symbols" intact and holding to their essential and central truths that express universal themes of human collective thought throughout time - rather than the corrected, expanded, interpretively enhanced versions of others.

Be prepared ... your astrological skills will be rapidly and profoundly accelerated inspiring a newfound appreciation, insight and respect for the horoscope as a whole. Mine were, and this book is now my constant companion in all astrological work.

Drink deeply from this well-spring of wisdom for rarely, if ever, has an opportunity of this magnitude been presented to gain such a depth of perspective within a cohesive context - both practically and spiritually - of the Sabian Symbols in the astrological mandala.

Barbara Noble (Australia)

The word "Tour de Force" may not have been invented with Lily Tomlin specifically in mind, but she is one of the best people for whom this epithet should be used. I've seen her do this show live, twice, when it first came to Philadelphia, and enjoy repeating the experience via the video, and the book. She's an amazing performer, and this is an amazing piece of theater.

This play is just what my title says....very entertaining and if you are in the theatre world, guys, but especially girls, should look into a purchase of this play for potential monologues for auditions.

I'm in an arts/high school program, PCCA. I came in after all of the other students had already been there for over a year. This was the first piece I ever performed there. I did a section of it where Trudy is Trudy, in the beginning.

The character was so rich. So many different quirks. The audience loved it, so did the other performers who did the same piece. This is one funny script.

I wasn't nervous when i performed it at all. I just kept thinking how funny the script was, and that, not matter how terrible the acting, the audience would still enjoy the performing.

This one woman plays many characters, and will take you on a journey of laughter, and much more, and leave you smiling for long after you put it down...

Trudy the Bag Lady has made a life for herself on the streets, offering her own bits of wit and wisdom to the passers-by. Before she wound up on the streets, she was in and out of hospitals, receiving so much electro-shock therapy that she believes her nervous system has been re-wired and now tunes into the bio-rhythms of people around her.

Trudy takes us, along with her two alien companions, on a discovery trip to find out what it means to be human and imparting her own impressions on life. She tunes in a wide array of people, ranging from Agnus Angst, a 15-year-old punk performance artist; Agnus' grandparents Lud and Marie; Chrissy, a recently unemployed workout enthusiast; Lily, an actress currently performing a one-woman show; and many others, both men and women, gay and straight.

This play is full of marvelous insight into the human condition and life in the 1980's. This is very apparent in the incredible second act, in which we follow Lyn from the consciousness-raising times of the 1970's through her rise and fall in the business ranks of the 1980's and her turbulent family life. Also, all the characters, in one form or another, have some influence on the life of the other characters in the play, whether or not they actually meet: Lyn has an affair with Agnus's mother; Kate, a rich trendsetter, finds a suicide note left by Chrissy lying in the street; Trudy takes the aliens to see Lily's play in order to show them goosebumps.

The book also includes still images, from the stage production, of Lily Tomlin, many of which were shot by Annie Leibowitz. Jane Wagner also created some montages of Lily as the many characters in the play.

Full of wit, insight and tenderness, this play stands as a perfect glimpse into understanding society.

In 2002, when I was about to graduate high school, the seniors had to do one last book essay for school. My boss happened to have this book on his desk so I asked about it and he said that John Phillips himself had given him the book and I asked to read it.
I read it, and I loved it. I was excited to write an essay about this book but I didn't know where to start. Until I was answering the phones at work one day and my boss got a call from a John Phillips. So I asked if he was the John Phillips that wrote the book and he said yea and I told him that I liked the book so much that I was doing an essay about it at school and he seemed very happy to hear that. He offered to help me in any way, which I thought was very nice.
The book is well written and it has an amazing story. John Phillips is a brilliant writer and lawyer!

This is not just a story about a First Amendment battle to keep the klan in check. This is a story about who we are. In so many of the characters, I saw a little piece of myself - sometimes liking what I saw, sometimes not, but always reading on, to see which part of me pulled for which character. It's a great American story.

It took me a few weeks to read the book, because I've had such a very hectic schedule lately. But, Sign of the Cross is a sensational True-to-Life Drama that kept me anxiously turning each and every page. The book was extremely well-written and I think we need more books like this one, so that people in our society can be aware of what's going on in society (both historically and currently).

I would love to see the book adapted as a screen-play. I think it would make for a sensational film.

If you want true legal drama at its best, with insights into the inner workings of the Klan and the prosecutor who challenged it, this book will fascinate and captivate. First Amendment issues are eloquently presented by both sides. In this case, the Klan's freedom of speech is contrasted with a community's right to be free from fear. But can any one man perservere against an unwilling legal system and the most notorious terrorist groups in America?

John Phillips' Sign Of The Cross provides a prosecutor's true story of a trial against the Klan, and uses police records, courtroom proceedings and testimony in the course of relating Phillips' stormy legal battle against An involving history.

My son loves this book. he watches Signing Times and then when this book came, he hugged it. He knows Rachael, Alex and Leah from the tv show. It is a board book and so he is not able to tear the pages off. Sometimes I catch him (16 months old) reading the book himself and doing the signs. The pictures and words are colorful and big. I can see him using this book for a long time.

These sign time books are just what I was looking for to introduce sign language to my preschoolers. I like that they are board books so I can leave them out for the children to look at on their own after seeing them during circle time.

These books are the perfect companion for the Signing Time DVDs. My 2-year-old twins love to pick up and read these books. My 2 and 3-year-old nephews also love to read these books. There is the picture, the sign, and the word for the concepts on the DVDs. I have no doubt that these books will help my children as they learn to read words without pictures by them.

I purchased this book along with "My First Signs" and think both books are great. "Everyday Signs" contains the signs for 29 words (including hungry, apple, banana, cookie, like, don't like, etc.) I got these books so I could learn the signs and teach them to my six month old twins. This book is so colorful and user-friendly that my three year old throroughly enjoys looking at the pages and is now helping to teach the babies some of his favorite signs. These books have definitely been fun for my entire family and I will be giving them as baby shower gifts in the future!

We absolutely loved the "Signing Time" DVDs, so this seemed like a really good reinforcement for our toddler. The one draw-back to the DVDs was the "cartoony" backgrounds they put the actual children that are signing into. It, to me, is similar to having your child's picture taken at a professional studio with a cartoon or an illustrated holiday background.

With the board book, we found this to be the case as well. The pictures of the children signing were pretty good--considering that you saw a still pose of the sign. But the cartoon frog "Hopkins" and other "cutesy" pictures distracts from the book a bit.

Having said that, the signs are really good, and they are relevant things to a child's life--so the signs are some that you will be able to use immediately. Some people could possibly find it difficult to learn the signs without the DVDs, but that would be the case with ANY board book, or any book in general, really. I would say that, minus the cutesy little illustrations, this would be a better choice than some of the board books with only illustrations, since in the past with all five of our children, they have always been drawn to real life pictures as opposed to illustrations. Something similar on this vein would be "First Signs (Early Sign Language)" by Stanley Collins, and others, that show real photos that children can identify with.

Loved the book! I commend Ms. Lawson for sharing her life experiences. In a lot of ways I related. I recommend this easy read for all and I thank her for reaching out to her brothers and sisters.

As I read this book I could hear Ms. Lawson's voice. I found my self laughing, crying, and shaking my head. She said things that I know I said to myself, but was too scared to listen. Ms. Lawson's gift to speak for you is right on time! We won't listen to ourselves, so Ms. Lawson is speaking for us. Thank you Ms. Lawson, I'm listening.

Ms. Lawson is courageous for sharing her experience with readers who may have gone through similar situations. Her insight on the subject of dating and its pitfalls are on point. The passion she puts into her writing makes this an excellent read. Especially liked the self evaluation section which can be applied to a number of life's scenarios. Recommended for ages 14 and older.

This book was wonderful, joyful, and enlighting. I recommend this book be read by both genders and ages 16 and over.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a book that can be read by both male and female.

Warning Signs conveys superb counseling techniques for building self-esteem in treatment for alcohol and substance abuse. John Kelly, author and founder of ExtraCare Health Services, an outpatient counseling center in NJ, does a great job of informing parents in how to intervene and evaluate the need for therapy and treatment in children who might be abusing drugs or alcohol.

Marilyn Kelly

John Kelly makes key points when he reminds his readers that adolescents have not fully matured emotionally. Parents need to help their children through their emotional growth. Parents are helping their children when they keep a close watch on them and also when they provide behavioral boundaries such as strict curfews, appropriate activities and guidance in selecting friends.

The book is well written, with many case studies. It is a quick but important read.

This is a book that anyone can read and feel a sense of understanding about. Mr. Kelly hits the nail on the head w/ regards to self esteem and its relationship to the addictive process. I also like how he gives examples throughout the book as identifiers.

As a therapist in the addictions/eap field I have suggested this book on more that one occasion to individuals coming in to discuss the concerns for their children. It speaks to the lay person in common sense language and guides them on a path that can be difficult but will pay benefits in healthier family relations and children who will have improved skills to navigate the many obstacles to becoming productive individuals.

Warning Signs by John Kelly and Brian J. Karem is a must- read for parents in this demanding and fast paced world where nurture and love are essential for developing a healthy value system for childhood development.

Easy to read and chocked full of common sense based on years of counseling troubled children and their parents, Kelly gives practical advice and sets priorities where they should be. Those of us who have children intrinsically know we should spend time with them and that building self esteem pays untold dividends in the future. Our actions as well as our words convey messages that our children pick up on and listening to what they say is vital.

When something cataclysmic happens most of us turn to see if our loved ones are unharmed. As parents time invested with our children ought to be our first priority rather than the more superficial goals we chase each day. Thanks, John for the advice.

Frank Adamson Retired Chief of Criminal Investigations King County Sheriffs Department
Seattle, Washington.

EXCELLENT BOOK!!!!! Everyone in the world should read this book. Especially if you are a parent, teacher, or counselor.

Dr. John Kelly is a psychotherapist, a recovered addict, and a loving father of 3 sons.

Dr. Kelly teaches skills to parents, counselors and teachers on how to draw out the child's self-respect and confidence. It is a wonderful book that can be quickly read. It is a must for all people who will raise, counsel or teach children.

Dr. Kelly runs his own clinic that specializes in addictions and asserts convincingly that

1) The root cause of all addictions and most violence is low self-esteem. Long before the addictions begin (whether the addiction is alcohol, drugs, gambling, compulsive clean "freaks", craving excessive attention, codependent relationships, bulimia, anorexia, or overachieving, etc.) low self-esteem was firmly in place and began developing in early childhood. Whatever the addiction, a drink or purging, etc., is used to anesthetize the person's feelings of low self-esteem.

2) Symptoms of Low Self-Esteem can be manifested in children as young as 5 and 6 years old. Teens as young as 11 and 12 have been found to contemplate suicide b/c of low self-esteem.

3) Low self-esteem is epidemic in our society. Low Self-Esteem should be classified as a "disease" and is the largest health problem facing the United States. It hits well educated and poorly educated people as well as rich and poor individuals. It does not discriminate.

4) CHILDREN NEED TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS, ESPECIALLY FEELINGS OF ANGER. They need a healthy outlet to feel and express their pain. Anger is usually a companion of Low Self-Esteem. If internalized, the anger can lead to depression, or addictions, or psychosomatic illness, such as asthma, intense headaches, ulcers, hypertension, etc. It can also lead to violence as the child gets older. THE GREATEST SINGLE SOURCE OF ANGER AMONG MANY OF THE CHILDREN WHO BECAME DANGEROUS CRIMINALS IS THAT THEIR PARENTS (SPECIFICALLY FATHERS, FOR MOST BOYS) WERE NOT AROUND.

5) Proper vigilant parenting is essential in raising children who will possess high self-esteem. Recent studies have shown that on average, mothers spend 11 min/day of "quality time" with their children, and fathers 8 min/day. There is no such thing as "quality time". The "quality" is found in the "quantity of time" you spend with your children. Apathetic parents who put more emphasis on material wealth for their children forget that children "want" material things, but "need" parental "quality time"... Children NEED love, attention, interest, affection MORE than they need the newest Sony Playstation 2 or computers or computer games.

6) Boys need their fathers, and girls need their mothers. Children need both parents.

7) Parents should never yell at their children, nor physically, emotionally or sexually abuse their children. They must not be demanding "perfection," nor be an "enabling" parent, nor "apathetic".

GET THIS BOOK. YOU WON'T BE SORRY!!!

I brought this for my daughter when she was 2 and we are still reading it 3 or 4 times a week 2 years later.
The book has stayed a favorite because my daughter always notices something different each time she looks at it. The Book introduces many different types of vehicles, how they work and what they all do. It has sparked many coversations from how littering is bad for the planet to how sidewalks are made. It's a good read and a great learning tool too. A nice bonus is the many different road signs listed on the front and back book flaps!

I have a four year old son who received this book a a gift for his second birthday. He absolutely loves it. We still read it all the time. It makes a great gift too.

The first sentence sets up a rhyme and rhythm that I expected to continue through the book, but it does not, and I find the text a little awkward because of that. The subject matter is very popular and the book does an excellent job of describing tons of different vehicles and what they do. The illustration style is pleasant to look at, however, some of the objects the letter is highlighting are not prominent in the page. The"Keep Left" sign for the letter K is almost lost in all the other objects on the page. If you have a car and truck enthusiast it would be worth it to get this book. If you are looking for an excellent alphabet book, keep looking.

My two-year-old son loves this book. We checked and re-checked it out from the library for half a year before we finally got him his own copy. He can easily identify the 26 vehicles and road signs that appear in the book, and -- due to countless readings -- he has the text almost completely memorized. He "reads" it aloud before he goes to sleep, and we hear him "reading" it again first thing in the morning (he sleeps with it in his crib).

Thanks in large part to this book, he and his twin sister are quite alert in the car, pointing out logging trucks, jeeps, hook and ladder trucks... It helps keep us all happy when we're on the road.

My son simply cannot get enough of cars and trucks. Priddy's "My Big Truck Book" seems to have started it all. Later we got him DK's "My First Truck Board Book," and for his third birthday we will be giving him Dk's "Things That Go."

My son is nearly 2 and this is a book he chooses nightly to read. The various means of transportation thrill him. His vocabulary has grown from this book. He now points out all types of things from vans to tractors to the zamboni machine at the end of the book. A great book and something I would recomend.

How does the symbolism of mythology affect how we read charts for others? This book uncovers the twelve astrological types of individuals and their background in mythology. A great book if you want to thoroughly understand each sign.

Burt has done a masterful job writing about astrology from a mythical and Jungian perspective. She truly understands the signs of the zodiac and the issues they represent in our lives. Her comments on the natal sun progressing during the life cycle are especially illuminating. To my mind, this book is one of the classic texts of modern astrology. I return to it repeatedly for fresh insights about the celesial craft. It is, hands down, the most influential astrology text I have read in the past decade. Burt's volume ranks with Bob Hand's "Planets in Transit" as a treasured astrological resource. It deserves 6 stars.

I'm a professional Astrologer and have been teaching classes since 1978. I frequently recommend this book to my more advanced students who really want to learn about the deeper archetypal patterns in psychological astrology. A GREAT book!

I was very impressed by the depth of information this book provided. At times I felt almost overwhelmed because I thought there couldn't possibly be anymore to the mythology of this sign, and sure enough, there was! An unqualified yes to get this book for anyone seriously interested in Astrology, Mythology, or even Wholistic Psychology.

I loved this book and learned a lot from it. There is so much here that you won't get from an ordinary astrology book. The most interesting part of astrology (in my opinion), is its connection to mythology and how the various archetypal energies in astrology relate.

Fun for anyone who enjoys depth psychology, even if astrology isn't a major interest. For anyone interested in astrology, it's an absolute must.

These cards are durable, easy to understand, and a good value for the cost. They have been fun for us parents to learn, our son is too young yet, but we wanted to get comfortable with them first.

I purchased these cards over a different brand after reading all of the reviews about having to laminate the other cards. I think that these cards are plenty sturdy enough. My infant has put them in her mouth quite a bit and it is easy just to wipe them clean when she is done. They are very nice large cards with great pictures that my daughter gets very excited about and the explanation of how to do the sign is very easy to understand.

I love these flash cards. We started signing with my daughter when she was 5 months old; she did her first signs back at 10 months; now she's 18 months and still going strong with signing. We do not allow her to watch TV so we're reliant on what we can teach her, board books (which are mostly poorly designed when it comes to babies or very young toddlers), and now, these cards.

I LOVE these cards! The cards and big and fairly sturdy, and the words presented are a very good selection for babies. Here's how they are designed:

-- One one side, each card has a clear, colorful picture of the object being signed about, often with a baby (for example, "Light" shows a young toddler turning on a lamp).

-- On the back side, there is a picture of a woman performing the sign, and if needed, a brief text description of how to do the sign.

-- All cards show the ASL sign. A couple also show popular alternates for signs that are particularly difficult for babies, such as "help".

-- The word for each sign is printed in large, clear block letters on both sides of the card.

I have looked at tons and tons of board books and not been completely happy with any of them. but I love, love, LOVE these cards. They are wonderfully designed to be clear and attractive to very young signers, and are study enough that babies and toddlers can play with them without causing too much damage. My daughter has knelt or crawled on some of them more than once and they haven't really even been dented yet.

These cards definitely deserve two thumbs up.

I was given the whole kit, but want to be sure to mention these cards are GREAT. My daughter has enjoyed them from 3 mo and continues to use them at 16 mo! She's not big on signing, but these cards are fabulous for having fun saying first words. Worthwhile! ...And a lot less expensive than other similar card sets.

I really like these flashcards and the sign instructions are very easy to follow. Some of the pictures are a little bizarre for me, especially the milk picture (of a baby nursing but a real closup of the nipple in the mouth). The pictures are real photos as oppossed to illustrations and I think my son would enjoy cartoonish pictures over the photos but they are still a good purchase at the price and quality.