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From Nita’s Food Signs to ASL Storytime: Kathy MacMillan’s Mission to Connect Through American Sign Language
- Kathleen Marcath
- Oct 6
- 11 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Meet Kathy MacMillan—author, ASL interpreter, librarian, educator, and storyteller.
by Kathleen Marcath
Through her books and training, Kathy brings American Sign Language (ASL) and storytelling together in ways that are practical, accessible to all, and magical, sparking imagination and wonder.
Kathy began her career as a librarian with a Master’s degree in Library Science. While working in a public library, she met a Deaf kindergarten teacher who inspired her to learn American Sign Language. That connection sparked a journey that led to a second degree in ASL interpreting and a position at the Maryland School for the Deaf as their Library/Media Specialist. In the summers, Kathy began offering interactive storytelling programs that taught basic ASL to children and families—programs filled with joy, laughter, and a deep sense of connection.
Her very first professional resource, Try Your Hand at This! Easy Ways to Incorporate Sign Language into Your Programs, opened the door for librarians and educators to bring signing into their storytimes.
Get inspired by Kathy as she signs her introduction and talks about Nita’s Food Signs — a celebration of language, family, and belonging.
But even before all of that, Kathy spent her childhood summers inventing magical worlds and characters with her cousin. They mailed letters back and forth, building stories and dreaming up adventures. It turns out, those playful beginnings were the early sparks of a storytelling career that would one day inspire thousands.
Board Book Spotlight: Nita’s Food Signs
Kathy’s newest release, Nita’s Food Signs, is the third title in the beloved Little Hands Signing series from Familius Press—and it’s just as sweet as it sounds.
This delightful board book introduces 10 everyday food signs in ASL, from bananas to bread…from morning to night with a cookie for dessert! Each sturdy page includes a tab your child can pull to reveal step-by-step instructions for making the sign.
The beautiful illustrations by Ekaterina Ladatko will delight you and your child, enhancing the experience as you explore the story of Nita’s day, covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Perfect for ages 1–3, Nita’s Food Signs is more than just a board book—it’s a hands-on language experience that turns mealtime into a moment of connection.
With a fantastic slide-out feature and a sturdy design that can withstand the wear and tear of little hands, this book will be a treasured keepsake for future generations. The beautiful illustrations will surely delight both you and your child as you enjoy this engaging learning adventure together.
ASL Picture Books asks:
Kathy, this series is truly unique! I’d love to know more about the inspiration behind Nita’s Food Signs. Is this the final book in the series, or can we expect more in the future? What has been your favorite aspect of creating this story, and how do you hope it resonates with young readers?
Additionally, are there any challenges you faced during the creative process that you’d like to share?
I’m happy to report that there is definitely at least one more book in the series (Nita’s Family Signs)—and hopefully lots more after that! The original contract with Familius covered the first four books, but there are lots more possibilities beyond those.
My favorite part of this series is that the books focus on family stories that show how Nita is fully engaged in family life because she can communicate. So many books about signing with young children just focus on a laundry list of signs, but I wanted to show how children can truly be a part of family life if they have communication access. Nita isn’t just passively watching her parents sign—she’s asking questions, asserting her preferences, and even teasing Mom and Dad sometimes!
The most challenging part of the creative process for these books is working with the illustrator. In most board book/picture book situations, the author would only see the final illustrations and have limited opportunities to provide feedback. I am very fortunate that the editors at Familius Press understood from the beginning that there would need to be a lot more layers of involvement in this series. I see the sketches at several stages, so I can give feedback on the way the signs are depicted, and we also have both an ASL/Deaf Culture Advisor and an Early Childhood Education Advisor (who is also a native ASL user) who evaluate the illustrations and descriptions of the signs, as well as how the book supports young learners.
ASL Picture Books Continued:
I'm really excited to hear how the Nita series resonates with readers! I'm curious, do your readers tend to be a mix of d/Deaf and hearing families, or is there a more even balance between the two? I appreciate your insights!
It really is a balance of D/deaf and hearing readers. Of course, they are using the book in different ways—D/deaf caregivers tend to focus more on the stories and the Deaf representation in them, while hearing caregivers are using the books to learn the signs with their children. I really wanted to create a series that would appeal to a wide range of readers. (In case you were wondering: Nita is Deaf, Daddy is a CODA, and Mommy is hearing and learning to sign.)
Coming Soon:
Kathy also shared that she’s working on a new four-book series called Sign the Seasons, which will highlight seasonal ASL vocabulary for young learners. Keep your eye on her website and Familius Press for updates!
We asked:
What will the format of the Sign the Seasons books be? More like a picture book or an ASL dictionary for kids? When will the first be released?
Sign the Seasons is a board book series, each focusing on an adventure in a different season and teaching basic signs to go with it. I’ve seen the illustrations for the first two books already, and they are fabulous! The series is scheduled for publication in 2027.
Understanding the importance of ASL Training for Library Staff
From her first book to today, Kathy has remained a passionate advocate for inclusive library programming. Her training helps librarians and educators learn to use ASL with confidence—whether during storytime, at the circulation desk, or when serving Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons in any setting.
Kathy, you now offer several courses and webinars for library staff. Can you tell us more about those? How are they seeing the community respond to having this special knowledge of ASL?
● How often are they offered each year?
● Are they used in both public and school libraries?
● Do you see participation from Deaf education programs or primarily mainstream libraries?
Each of my American Library Association eCourses are offered once a year, and they continue to be extremely popular! My webinars vary depending on demand, but the Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff beginning and intermediate series are usually offered in the spring and fall. Recording access for many of my past webinars is also available. The eCourses and webinars are designed to complement one another, with the eCourses providing broad, asynchronous instruction, while the webinars provide live, interactive practice.
You can find more information about how they work here: FAQ: eCourses and Webinars.
While I certainly do have many K-12 and university librarians in my trainings, the vast majority of attendees are public librarians. My trainings are geared to mainstream libraries, not Deaf education programs. My dream is that a D/deaf person could walk into any library in the U.S. or Canada and meet someone at the service desk who knows to say “deaf or hard-of-hearing” instead of “hearing impaired” and can communicate about the basics of the library interaction using ASL, as well as various communication techniques.
Overview of Kathy’s ASL Trainings
eCourses (via ALA Editions)
● Self-paced, 12-week access
● Includes: ASL for Library Staff, Levels 1 & 2 and ASL for Storytime
● Features vocabulary instruction, Deaf culture insights, and accessibility tools
Webinars (Live on Zoom)
● Real-time, interactive sessions
● Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff series: Beginner, Intermediate, Review
● Little Hands Signing in Storytime series: Themed storytime vocabulary and presentation techniques
Which Training Is Right for You?
Kathy didn't know as a child where her playfulness, imagination, her stories and plays shared with her cousin would take her. American Sign Language is an amazing, fun, and powerful untapped resource waiting to be discovered, explored, and used in unrealized ways. Located in Maryland, Kathy’s reach goes far and wide, expanding every year.
ASL Picture Books wanted to know:
Kathy, you’ve taught various ASL classes over the years. Who typically enrolls in these classes? Do some library systems require their staff to take them? Among your learners, are there specific training sessions that parents or caregivers particularly enjoy or find helpful?
I’ve taught classes for many different audiences. Some of my programs are geared to caregivers and families, and in those, it’s very important to me to engage every member of the family, including siblings—after all, communication is a family affair!
I also offer trainings for library staff and educators. Many are open access, where anyone can register. But yes, I do often have library systems or associations book private trainings for their own staff.
My live programs for families at libraries are the ones that parents and caregivers tend to enjoy the most. Sometimes, I will get a request to do a workshop only for parents without the kids, but I always prefer family programs; something about seeing the way their children respond to signing and get so involved so quickly really inspires caregivers to keep going!
Fun fact: my Little Hands Signing in Storytime webinars, which feature demo storytimes, were originally designed as online professional development that library staff could attend with their kids alongside them during the pandemic.
We Wanted to Know:
What is on the horizon for future education and fun? Do you have a structured system for designing, creating, and testing these new programs? It would be interesting to learn how you ensure that the classes meet the needs of your learners!
I always solicit feedback from attendees and adapt my classes as I go. Flexibility and adapting to audience needs is a huge part of my presentation philosophy. There simply aren’t many people addressing the training needs of library staff when it comes to ASL-related topics, so when I see a gap, I try to fill it.
For example, I offer a one-shot webinar titled, Welcoming Deaf Patrons to Your Library. In presenting that, it became clear that people wanted to know more about technologies and accommodations, so I developed a follow-up webinar called Providing Accommodations for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Patrons at Your Library.
We’d Love to Hear From You!
Have you taken one of Kathy’s ASL classes or webinars? We’re interested to hear about your journey! How many classes have you enjoyed so far, and which ones are you excited to sign up for next? Your experiences and insights can inspire others, so feel free to share in the comments or tag us on social media @aslpicturebooks and @kathys_quill. Let’s keep learning (and signing!) together!
Representation Matters
Kathy, your website features an incredible list of books that reflect Deaf culture and community—by Deaf authors, CODAs, and hearing allies alike. It’s a powerful reminder that storytime and library shelves should reflect all children and families.
How have you seen representation of Deaf and signing families grow in library collections over the years?
I started reviewing ASL materials for ASL Access and School Library Journal back in the early 2000s, and the ASL materials landscape was fairly bleak back then. There were a few trusted publishers creating materials, like DawnSignPress, but there were also an insufferable number of hearing people creating so-called “baby sign” videos that often included breathtakingly wrong information. (I’ll never forget reviewing a video that featured someone attempting to sign BIG, but starting the sign with the fingers and thumbs touching, and having to figure out how to explain that it actually meant something quite unprintable the way they signed it. If you know you know…)
I’m happy to report that the situation is vastly different now! Publishers have finally realized that they need to make sure the people writing about ASL actually, you know, know ASL. Honestly there are so many great resources out there now that I often have trouble keeping the lists on my website updated. It’s a wonderful problem to have, and I look forward to even more representation from D/deaf authors in publishing!
More to Explore
Kathy’s work goes far beyond board books and training sessions. She’s published more than a dozen books across all age levels—from picture books and middle grade nonfiction to young adult fantasy and educational resources.
We wanted to know:
How do you find time to write, teach, present, and advocate for ASL and literacy? Of all the roles you play—author, interpreter, educator, advocate—what’s the one that fills your heart the most?
The different areas of my work ebb and flow throughout the year. For example, in the summer I am doing a lot of summer reading programming in libraries, and in the spring and fall I am doing more trainings. All year long I am interpreting and writing. On a practical level, some of my work, like programs and trainings, get scheduled far in advance, while other parts, like interpreting and editing, fill in the gaps. The combination of different roles allows me to make sure the bills are getting paid!
As for which is my favorite: all of them! Honestly, they all go together. My interpreting work informs my writing, and my writing fuels my children’s programming, and my work with kids and families inspires my trainings, and so on.
When we’re young, we’re given the message that we have to choose one thing to be when we grow up. But I’m so lucky, because I got to take my favorite parts of different jobs and fuse them into one fulfilling career that combines all my favorite things: kids and families, books and libraries, and ASL and Deaf Culture.
Ready to Learn and Sign?
Are you a librarian, educator, or parent ready to bring more ASL into your storytimes or services?
✨ Check out Kathy MacMillan’s newest board book: Nita’s Food Signs
✨ Explore her full list of eCourses and webinars
✨ Visit KathyMacMillan.com for updates and resources
✨ Tag us in your ASL storytime moments—we’d love to see them!
Which training or book sounds right for you?
Let us know in the comments or tag @aslpicturebooks and @kathys_quill with your storytime sign!
Keep the Journey Going
We hope you enjoyed learning about Kathy's mission and feel inspired to keep signing with the children in your life. Fill your bookshelves with inclusive books, sign up for a class or author visit with Kathy or one of the many featured authors. You’re doing a fantastic job opening a world of communication for the children in your community! Before you go, here are some ways to continue your ASL adventure:
Read Next: Dive into another inspiring post on our blog to keep learning and celebrating Deaf culture.
Author Visits: Book an author visit to bring the magic of ASL to your school or library and inspire your community.
Freebie: Get your free printable ASL Alphabet Chart in the ASL Starter Kit to practice with your little ones – a fun resource to hang on the fridge or classroom wall.
Join Our Community: Sign up for our newsletter to receive tips, free resources, and uplifting stories straight to your inbox.
Meet the Author: Kathleen Marcath
Kathleen Marcath is the award-winning author of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me and the founder of ASL Picture Books. She’s on a mission to share the joy of bilingual (ASL and English) education, creating stories that help children and families discover the limitless potential of ASL.
Stay in Touch: Follow Kathleen on Facebook and Instagram, or visit ASLPictureBooks.com for more resources and community updates.
Bring the Joy of ASL to Your School!Want Kathleen to visit your school or library? Inspire young minds with stories, sign language, and the limitless potential of ASL! 👉 Learn more about Author Visits here. |
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