Category Archives: American Sign Language

New series from Familius Press: SIGN THE SEASONS!

April 1, 2026American Sign Language, board books, Resources for Teachers and Librarians, Sign the Seasons serieskathymacmillan

I am so excited to finally share my new board book series with the world!

Sign the Seasons introduces babies and toddlers to early communication through the sights and traditions of the seasons. Each book features 8 essential American Sign Language signs in a simple, story-driven context. With warm illustrations by Ekaterina Ladatko and clear signing instructions, children and caregivers can learn and practice together, turning everyday moments into opportunities for connection and language development. Perfect for families and early learning settings, the Sign the Seasons series blends seasonal fun with meaningful skill-building for little learners.

Sign the Seasons: Fall

Coming August 4, 2026

by Kathy MacMillan

Illustrated by Ekaterina Ladatko

ASL/Deaf Culture Advisor: Tanya Daniels

Early Childhood Education Advisor: Louise Rollins

Preorder now at Deaf Camps, Inc. Bookstore (autographed copies that support a great cause!) | Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Familius

Sign the Seasons: Winter

Coming November 3, 2026.

Sign the Seasons: Spring

Coming February 2027.

Sign the Seasons: Summer

Coming May 2027.

Register Now for Welcoming Deaf Patrons to Your Library

March 24, 2026American Sign Language, eCourses and Webinars, Professional Development, Resources for Teachers and Librarians, webinarskathymacmillan

Welcoming Deaf Patrons to Your Library

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 from 2-4 PM Eastern/1-3 PM Central/12-1 PM Mountain/11 AM-1 PM Pacific

Online session via Zoom (2-hour webinar). Includes recording access through May 2, 2026.

In this interactive overview, you’ll learn communication tips for interacting with deaf and hard of hearing patrons, information about American Sign Language and Deaf Culture, and even some basic ASL vocabulary to introduce yourself and help patrons navigate the library. Certificate of completion available with successful completion of post-test.

Pricing:

Individual: 80.00 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event)
Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.

Past attendees say:

“Kathy MacMillan’s workshop was phenomenal. She presented the material in a wonderfully engaging way. I will definitely put the materials she presented in this workshop in my daily work with our deaf patrons.” – Sarah Campbell, College of the Holy Cross Archives and Special Collections

“I appreciated the instructor’s clear communication and instruction, her openness to questions, the combination of hands-on practice/ASL language learning and English instruction, and the pacing of the workshop. It’s clear she put a lot of thought into including just the right amount of information in the allotted time frame, and keeping attendees engaged. I also very much appreciated the context for ASL and Deaf culture that was provided, helping attendees to further understand community perspectives. I will definitely use what I learned in the workshop and am inspired to keep learning.” – Janine M.

“Kathy MacMillan is not only an expert, but she’s kind and curious. The breadth of her knowledge and her patience with people new to Deaf culture and ASL makes a virtual learning environment more effective.” – Anonymous

Register now!

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Registration now open for these popular ALA eCourses for Librarians and Educators!

February 24, 2026American Sign Language, eCourses and Webinars, Resources for Teachers and Librarianskathymacmillan

Registration is now open for upcoming sessions of my popular eCourses through the American Library Association!

Continue reading Registration now open for these popular ALA eCourses for Librarians and Educators! →

Book now for Summer Reading 2026!

December 10, 2025American Sign Language, Resources for Teachers and Librarians, summer readingkathymacmillan

The Collaborative Summer Reading Theme for 2026 is: Unearth a Story/Desentierra una Historia.

Stories by Hand has you covered with a high-energy, interactive program for multiple age groups:

I Dig American Sign Language

Let’s dig deep and learn basic American Sign Language for dinosaurs, diggers, and the things we love through stories, songs, and more! Presented by Kathy MacMillan, author of the Little Hands Signing series and Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together.

This program can be presented as an all-ages program or adapted to a baby, toddler, preschooler, or school-age audience.

Indoor, outdoor, and online programs available.