What is the sign for friend?
Judith E. Greenberg
What is the sign for friend?
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Judith E. Greenberg
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What if you could talk without making a sound? Imagine a world where your hands do all the talking! Shane uses sign language and a hearing aid to share his stories and make new friends, but how will he show everyone what friendship really means?
Quick Assessment
This picture book introduces young readers to the life of Shane, a deaf child who attends a mainstream school and communicates through sign language and a hearing aid. It offers a positive portrayal of Deaf culture and accessibility, making it suitable for children ages 5 to 8. Parents should know this book fosters understanding and inclusion without presenting any challenging content.
Why we rated What is the sign for friend? 7LS
What is the sign for friend? is written at a Level 2 reading level across 30 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What is the sign for friend? works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate What is the sign for friend? as 7LS ("Light — Social") 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, What is the sign for friend? explores disability representation, friendship, family, and multicultural — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about disability representation, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LS — Light — SocialNo 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
What is sign language?
Deborah Kent
What is sign language?
Deborah Kent
Discovering friendship
Sharona Kadish
Discovering friendship
Sharona Kadish
What to Do When You Meet a Deaf-Blind Person
American Foundation for the Blind.
What to Do When You Meet a Deaf-Blind Person
American Foundation for the Blind.
Sign language house
Betty G. Miller
Sign language house
Betty G. Miller
You Can Learn Sign Language!
Jackie Kramer
You Can Learn Sign Language!
Jackie Kramer
Sign language
Laura Greene
Sign language
Laura Greene
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0531049396
- Pages
- 30
- Publisher
- Franklin Watts
- Published
- 1985
- Type
- Fiction