Signs of Friendship

Two best friends, one deaf and one hearing, grow a garden and make room for a new friend in this heartwarming picture book perfect for fans of Apryl Stott and Kaz Windness.

Sally and Sonia met when they were very small. As they grew, their friendship grew, too. And when they realized Sonia struggled to hear, they learned sign language together. One day, Sally has an idea: to plant a garden with her best friend.

But when a new neighbor named Dev moves in with his puppy, Sonia spends so much time with them that she doesn’t seem to remember Sally at all. Can Sally find a way to share her feelings with Sonia—and maybe even welcome Dev as a new friend?

Annie Silvestro is a lover of books and the author of Bunny’s Book Club, Mice Skating, Butterflies on the First Day of School, Signs of Friendship, and Bravo, Little Bird!, among other titles. Annie lives with her family by the beach in New Jersey. Visit her at AnnieSilvestro.com.

Ziyue Chen—pronounced Zzz-yuair, a.k.a. Angeline—lives with her husband and two children in Singapore. Dabbling in art was her form of escape from the struggles and confusion of growing up deaf. This led her to discover the beauty of how art communicates with the viewer. She has illustrated several children’s books, including Butterfly on the Wind by Adam Pottle and Signs of Friendship by Annie Silvestro. Learn more at ZiyueChen.com.

"The alliterative, rhythmic text makes for an ideal read-aloud...Characters’ matter-of-fact attitude toward Sonia’s deafness is refreshing, and Chen, herself deaf, clearly depicts their American Sign Language signs in sunny, expressive cartoon illustrations. A warm, inclusive take on friendship and conflict resolution." -Kirkus Reviews