The story of Ada and the Helpers is language rich and weaves the use of America Sign Language Alphabet throughout as the pages teach new vocabulary words related to this magical story. I really enjoyed how Ada met a diverse group of new friends along her journey and how they all found their strengths to form a bond to help each other. This book is a must for all families!!!
It is not often that a story about a disability is so well done. The illustrations by Melissa Fischer bring all the characters to life, especially Ada with her hearing aids and tutu. What I found so wonderful about Ada and the Helpers by Travis D. Peterson is that it features Ada and her disability but does not focus exclusively on that. She understands her challenges and realizes that everyone needs helpers of some kind. I also loved that each page spread included a word spelled out in ASL and that diverse hands were used in each word and in the chart at the end! What an important message to convey to kids right now - “let’s help others too.” Hopefully, this is not the last we will see of Ada and her friends!
A children’s book by Travis D. Peterson and richly illustrated by Melissa Fischer, Ada is a fox who does not hear well but wears “helpers” bought by her parents. Peterson was born and raised in Wilmington, so he now joins the growing list of good authors from our literary state. Ada enters a dance contest, and on her way to the contest, meets a mole who can’t see well, a bird who stutters, and a snake who doesn’t know how to climb a tree to reach the tasty apples. Ada helps them all find a way to use what skills they have to reach their goals. They all follow Ada to the dance contest as her new friends, and encourage Ada, who is very nervous.
Two vital lessons of this book are that everyone has something they do well, and we should celebrate the goodness of others. Ada and the Helpers is beautifully written in rhyme while the illustrations make the pages come alive. A bonus is that Ada and her family use American Sign Language to communicate, and each page features a key word with the sign for each letter. An extra bonus is the book jacket opens into a poster with the sign for all the letters of the alphabet. And the signs are in many skin tones. Absolutely a wonderful addition!
Ada and the Helpers is one of my favorite children’s books I have ever read, and it is now on my great nieces' and nephews’ Christmas list.
