Come Sign with Us
Jan C. Hafer
Come Sign with Us
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Sign Language Activities for Children
by Jan C. Hafer
Illustrated by Paul M. Setzer
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Feel the quiet rhythm of hands moving in the air, each gesture telling a story without a single word spoken. Imagine learning to speak with your hands, sharing secrets and fun through American Sign Language. This is just the beginning of a whole new way to connect and understand the world around you.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Come Sign With Us is an engaging, fully illustrated guide designed to teach children ages 9-12 American Sign Language through more than 300 detailed drawings and 20 interactive lessons. It covers practical vocabulary with English and Spanish equivalents, cultural insights about the Deaf community, and encourages inclusive communication. The book is suitable for middle-grade readers interested in language learning and social awareness, with no content concerns.
Why we rated Come Sign with Us 10C
Come Sign with Us is written at a Level 5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Come Sign with Us works for readers up to grade 7.0.
We rate Come Sign with Us as 10C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Come Sign with Us explores social situations - special needs, games & activities - word games, language arts - general, and multicultural — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about social situations - special needs, games & activities - word games, language arts - general.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
- ISBN
- 9780613831512
- Publisher
- Turtleback
- Published
- January 2002
- Type
- Fiction