Rating: 
Summary: Great book to start signing with!
Review: This was my first sign book. That it shows the origins of the signs makes them easier to understand, perform and remember.There's plenty of information here if you would like to communicate with a deaf or hearing impaired child or adult. A wonderful way to show someone you care.
Rating: 
Summary: Old, out dated, and NOT ASL
Review: This was the book used in my first "ASL" class. This book is not about American Sign Language... it is about sign based on signed english. The one thing I will give the book is that it is categorized by topic area. I wish more sign books did this. Negatives: Many signs are signed english The signs are outdated or from a regional area that is not applicable to most signers. The Index is inaccruate -- signs included in the book are not found in the index. Several signs are not accurate. (I spent a LOT of time crossing out signs and trying to write new descrpitions on how to sign them.) There are better books -- find them!
Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous textbook for classroom teaching and for reference
Review: This was the text I used in my first sign language class. When I first took sign language, it was beeing taught as Siglish (Signed English) and this was the perfect text for beginners. Lottie Riekehof has done an excellent job of assembling the best signs for beginners and each lesson contains enough variety to keep students engaged. This text should not be used to teach yourself sign language, however. While I consult this book for a refresher and a reference, I can't imagine how I'd be signing if I hadn't had a real human instructor explain the idiosynchrocies of signing. Signing is much more than the hands, the entire face and body are needed in expressing not only emotion, but meaning... the signs for "shy" and "prostitute," for example, are very similar looking and could not be properly distinguished by a text alone. If you're starting a study group or a class, or even if you're taking a class and using a different text, this is a great book to have on your reference shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Best sign book on the market
Review: This, along with Signing Illustrated, is the best resource book I have found for either self-instruction, or group
instruction. It is broken down in to twenty-five categories
of vocabulary, all of which are comprehensive and complete.
It can be used as both an instructional and a reference manual for vocabulary. (Includes some grammar)
Rating: 
Summary: Good explanations; Could use better graphics
Review: We teach approximately 350 students a year sign language. We currently use the Joy of Signing book for that purpose. Although some signs vary (especially regional signs), we have found the book to contain the necessary words for basic communication with the deaf.
The origins used with each word that attempt to explain where the word came from is excellent. It helps students learn and retain that word better and faster. The graphics attempting to show the signs are many time average at best. The places that explain items that are best learned from doing (i.e. facial expressions, 'meanings' of words, etc.) are also a great help.
The Campus Church, Pensacola Christian College
Rating: 
Summary: Signs depicted no longer in frequent use
Review: While many of us revered and learned to sign with this book in the 80's, the lack of updating will hamper anyone trying to learn on their own. Many of the signs (especially those in the chapter on familial relationships) are simply no longer used. The book does contain an extensive (and still current!) section on religious signs, an area not covered by many sign manuals.
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