"Sweet Signs of Success"
By Norma Walsh

Moms know better than anyone that there is truth in the saying, “necessity is the mother of invention.” Such was the case when Tanya Kuza, a member of the West Bloomfield/Orchard Lake, MI, MOMS Club Chapter, sought to teach some simple sign language to her then-pre-verbal son, Matthew.

Tanya’s educational background is in elementary education, and she is also certified in technological education. When Matthew was born, Tanya says, she, like many moms, had a case of “first-time parent syndrome,” causing her to worry about his hitting milestones on time.

Also, like many of us, she found trying to communicate with a pre-verbal child frustrating, and wished she had a better understanding of the needs Matthew was trying to express.

A lot of articles and parenting books recommended using sign language to communicate with your baby,” Tanya recalls, “but there was no easy way to learn it. Books just weren’t there, or if they were, they were more for use in an academic setting rather than for a person to learn …easily. There were classes, but I didn’t have time to go to a class. What mom does?”

Tanya had joined her MOMS Club chapter when Matthew was just four months old, and soon afterward became its Membership Vice President, when she was pregnant with Timothy. Another year later, she took the helm as President when she was pregnant with Andrew.

Through her chapter, she met fellow member Katarzyna Adilman, a mom of two who holds degrees in early childhood education and art education. Together, Tanya and Katarzyna talked about designing the book “Everyday Signs for the New Baby” that parents and children could use together to learn sign language.

Soon the visual process began, and Tanya and Katarzyna worked during special scheduled play dates whereupon Tanya would watch the kids while Kasia drew. It took two years to accomplish it accurately with the help of Diana M. Campbell and Nancy Mosher to edit the book. Diana is a deaf adult who works as an interpreter and drama instructor in the local school district, and is the mother of hearing children who learned and used American Sign Language from birth as their first language.

Nancy has been the supervisor of the school districts deaf/hard of hearing program for over ten years, and believes that “early, effective communication is the key to success for both hearing and deaf children.”

When the project, titled “Everyday Signs for the Newborn Baby,” was complete, Tanya began submitting queries and samples to dozens of publishers, meeting with repeated rejection.

They don’t think there is a market for this,” says Tanya, “but I know otherwise. I searched for a book like this to use with my kids and couldn’t find one. So I wrote one. Other moms want this information, too, and want an easy way to learn it and begin using it that is also fun!”

So, in addition to creating the book, Tanya created a publishing business, called In Motion Books, which will put out a series of 11 American Sign Language books for children of various ages.

Now the mother of three (son A.J. is ten months old; big brothers Tim and Matthew are now 3 and 5 years old, respectively), Tanya is grateful for the assistance and support she has received all around.

The moms in my chapter were incredibly encouraging. They know that people don’t have time to go to a class to learn sign language, but really want to help their babies learn to express themselves," she remembers. "They thought the book was a great idea.

"My husband helped me out a lot; I was able to work at night while he took over the bedtime duties," she notes, adding with a laugh, "and my parents really like having another author in the family.” Tanya’s father has completed his manuscript.

Katarzyna’s illustrations are clear, simple, and perfect for this book’s age group,” Tanya says. The signs are easy to imitate and use in your everyday routines. And the lift-the-flap format is fun for both children and parents; it really keeps them engaged.”

One creative element Tanya and Katarzyna included in their book was turning the book’s front cover into a 4”x6” frame in which parents can put a photo of their child, making it a special item that a baby recognizes as “mine.”

I have three books completed, and eight more to go,” says Tanya, “and I am as excited about each one as I was about the first.”

“The journey of the past five years has been busy, challenging and wonderful,” Tanya says. Her children are her inspiration. “I never would have had the opportunity to even be creative enough to write, let alone write a book about American Sign Language, if it were not for having the privilege of staying at home to care for my three sons to inspire me to even think of going this far.”

Distribution of the books is the next big hurdle for Tanya. “Everyday Signs for the Newborn Baby” is currently available on www.amazon.com, but can only be found by a search for the exact title.

Tanya is in the submission process with many retail outlets to have the book carried in their physical stores. She is also donating a number of copies to local libraries and
organizations, and selling the book directly through her publishing website, www.awaytoread.com.

Norma Walsh is a freelance writer living and working on the South Shore of Massachusetts; and a member of MOMSClub International.  www.normawalsh.com

If you get one of Tanya's books, tell us what you think! Send your reviews to: MOMSClub@aol.com and put "Book Review" in the subject line.