Renda Gauwitz, president of the CICIL board, said the goal was to encourage literacy in hearing-impaired children.

"English is a second language for deaf children," she said just before story time began. "They can't hear (English). Their language is signed. It's not the same."

By encouraging the children to read, Gauwitz is hoping to improve their vocabulary and writing, much like any other child.

So Miller, a deaf mother of four hearing children, was asked to sign stories to the children, including "Little Red Riding Hood" and, her personal favorite, "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.

"Reading is important," she said through Gauwitz. "My mother read a book to me that I enjoyed my whole life. I'd like to return the favor."

Miller also invited the children, some barely old enough to walk, to sign along with her, as Gauwitz interpreted for the hearing audience. During "The Three Little Pigs," the children puffed up their cheeks and blew mightily to help the wolf blow down the houses, much to their parents' delight.

After each story came to a close, the group stretched out their arms, waving their hands and wriggling their fingers as a show of their appreciation.

Norwood resident Gail Gillan, a mother of four, brought her brood with her to not only encourage reading, but also to learn sign language.

Her son, 4-year-old Jacob, is hard of hearing, and the family is still in the process of learning American Sign Language, she said.

"He's a normal child, other than hearing-impaired," she said. "He enjoys reading and looking at the pictures, too, just like the hearing children."

The next "Sign Language Storytelling" will be at 2 p.m. May 20 at Barnes and Noble. Gauwitz will also be handing out punch cards to hearing-impaired classrooms.

Children who bring the card with them to the story time will receive a free book, "I'm Deaf and That's Okay" by Lorraine Aseltine, Evelyn Mueller and Nancy Tait.

By Haley Murray
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/031906/TRI_B99N59TN.053.shtml