BOOGIE BASS, SIGN LANGUAGE STAR

Third grader Boogie Bass isn’t good at anything until he starts a sign language program, where he finally gets a chance to shine.

During a four-week after-school program, Boogie and his friends begin learning American Sign Language and prepare to put on a show for students from a school for the Deaf as a final project. Also, Boogie needs to fix his baby brother’s stuffed dog, which he accidentally allowed their real dog to chew. This subplot does not intersect significantly with the sign language plot except as a means to make Boogie feel bad about himself. Unfortunately, his lack of confidence does not make him an approachable character; instead, Boogie comes off as a sad sack, that dark cloud of a friend who can’t let a conversation pass without mentioning their shortcomings, though readers might blame this on his hypercritical mother. The author has clearly been exposed to Deaf culture and makes a valiant effort to educate readers. In fact, the text has the preachy tone of an elementary reader. While none of the information folded into the story is factually incorrect, the Deaf characters ultimately exist as props to support the hearing characters’ growth. Their language is praised for its usefulness to hearing people. Boogie is White; his best friend, Nolan, is Indian American; and his two other friends are Vera, who’s Black, and Nixie, who’s White.

Clears the low bar for children’s books about ASL and Deafness.