Moses Goes to a Concert

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Millman, Isaac. 1998. Moses Goes To A Concert. Ill. Isaac Millman, New York, NY: Frances Foster Books. ISBN 9780374453664.

PLOT SUMMARY
Moses is going on a field trip with his classmates. They are just like all kids, except they are deaf. Mr. Samuels is taking Moses and his classmates to concert just for kids. Moses is excited about going to the concert because he loves music, especially the drums. As the children board the bus, they notice that their teacher is carrying a large black bag. The only thing Mr. Samuels will say is that is that it is a surprise. The children are lead into the first row of the performance hall where they are excited for the show to start. It is then that Mr. Samuels opens his black bag to reveal balloons. He passes out a balloon for each child to place into their laps so they can feel the vibrations of the music. This is not the only surprise, the children then notice that one of the percussionists is just wearing sock and that she, too is deaf. After the performance the children are invited on stage to experiment with instruments and they are able to ask her questions. The percussionist tells the children that she worked hard at becoming a percussionist because her “heart was set” on it and they too, could do anything they set their minds to.

Critical Analysis
Isaac Millman brings readers a welcoming tale of inspiration for people with challenges. In a lighthearted tale that promotes understanding by all. Many culture markers can be found in this story. Millman starts off his story with an author’s note that explaining to readers that most deaf people communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). He goes on to describe to his readers how sign language is composed and what movement or facial expressions mean. Is detailed Author’s Note also explains “How to read the arrows and symbols” of the hand motions. Millman has Moses explain to readers that he can not hear music , but he “can feel vibrations of the drum through his hands”. Children will connect to the main character when he tells his reader that he “takes off his shoes so he can feel it through his feet, too.”
With the help of the main character, Millman correctly conveys the message that even though children that are deaf, they too, have the same feelings that all children do. All children are curious; he shows this by “As the children climb onto the bus, they wonder what is inside Mr. Samuel’s black bag.” This makes all readers at ease. At the end of this story young readers will love to look at the hand alphabet and try to make the symbols.

Millman’s cartoon strip illustrations help add a personal touch as if Moses is telling a side story directly to the readers. This side story also gives the readers a chance to practice decoding the American Sign Language. Each water- colored page opens up a whole new world through his pictures of movement and facial expression, which is consistent with helping people understand the story.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Kirkus- “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”

Booklist - “This breakthrough picture book about a deaf child works so well that you wonder why there aren't lots more books like it.”

Other Books by Isaac Millman
Millman, Isaac. Moses Goes To School. ISBN 9780374350697.
Millman, Isaac. Moses Goes To The Circus. ISBN 9780374350642.