Kathy MacMillan of Stories By Hand will present two story times for young children at the Kent Island Branch of the Queen Anne’s County Free Library this fall.

On Friday, September 28 at 9:45 and 11:00 A.M., MacMillan presents “Little Hands Signing: Baby’s Signing Day,” which gives an overview of useful signs to use throughout a typical day and introduces the benefits of signing with children from birth to age 2. MacMillan combines age-appropriate signs and activities with solid information for caregivers. The 25-minute story time will be followed by a play session for babies with a Q&A session for adults.

While QACPS are closed on Thursday, October 18, MacMillan will present “Flying Fingers of Fall” at 10:30 a.m. Children from ages 2-6 will learn basic American Sign Language through tales of falling leaves, squirrels, pumpkins and more as MacMillan leads 40 minutes of stories and songs that teach about communicating with our hands and eyes.

Stories By Hand provides interactive, high-energy performances introducing basic American Sign Language to kids of all ages. Research shows that signing with young children can reduce frustration for both adult and child, increase children’s IQ, stimulate language learning, enhance bonding, and raise children’s self-esteem.

Kathy MacMillan is an American Sign Language interpreter, instructor, consultant, writer and signing storyteller. She has worked in both school and public libraries in Maryland and as a children’s performer at Paramount’s Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA. Since founding Stories by Hand, MacMillan has presented American Sign Language programs for thousands of children and parents in public libraries throughout Maryland and Virginia. She has also published several story time resource books for librarians and educators.

The programs are free of charge and made possible by a donation from the Sinsky-Kresser-Racusin Memorial Foundation.

The library is located at 200 Library Circle in Stevensville. No registration is required for these story times.