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The Printer
As a boy, my father learned to speak with his hands. As a man, he learned how to turn lead-type letters into words and sentences. My father loved being a printer.
Each day in 1940s New York a young boy watches as his father goes to work in the noisy newspaper printing factory. But the boy's father only feels the machines' loud pounding and rumbling as vibrations through the soles of his shoes. He is deaf. Although his father communicates with a few other deaf printers through his hands, he feels largely ignored by his hearing co-workers. But when a silent deadly fire erupts, it is up to the father to warn and save his coworkers, even when they cannot hear him over the printers.
Myron Uhlberg draws on his own experiences as the hearing son of deaf parents to create this dramatic, evocative story that reflects a respect for deaf culture and the unique gifts each individual possesses. Historical details are deftly rendered and brought to life in Henri Sørensen's extraordinary paintings that dramatize and illuminate the powerful text.
Each day in 1940s New York a young boy watches as his father goes to work in the noisy newspaper printing factory. But the boy's father only feels the machines' loud pounding and rumbling as vibrations through the soles of his shoes. He is deaf. Although his father communicates with a few other deaf printers through his hands, he feels largely ignored by his hearing co-workers. But when a silent deadly fire erupts, it is up to the father to warn and save his coworkers, even when they cannot hear him over the printers.
Myron Uhlberg draws on his own experiences as the hearing son of deaf parents to create this dramatic, evocative story that reflects a respect for deaf culture and the unique gifts each individual possesses. Historical details are deftly rendered and brought to life in Henri Sørensen's extraordinary paintings that dramatize and illuminate the powerful text.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Myron Uhlberg
12 books45 followersMyron Uhlberg is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of a number of children’s books. He recently published a memoir of his life in Brooklyn, New York, growing up the oldest hearing son of deaf parents. He lives with his wife in Santa Monica and Palm Springs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 20, 2017
I wish it had just BEEN the real story. I didn't need fake excitement to care about it!
December 8, 2017
Main character has to literally save all of their lives before his coworkers will bother to learn how to say the most basic things in ASL, like "thank you".
December 10, 2012
The author writes a realistic story of a child whose father is deaf. The deaf father works to support the family at the local large-town newspaper as a printer. Printing presses are very large and very loud machines. The father is not the only deaf employee working the printing presses. It is a good job for the deaf since the machines are so loud. But the deaf can feel the rumbling of the machines vibrating in the floors of the building.
The son is obviously very proud of his father and the fact that his father prints the newspaper. He describes the hat that his father creates daily out of the day's newsprint. It is called a four corner hat and all the printers wear them.
The day of the story involves the dad discovering a fire has broken out in the building. He must alert the others but he can not speak or shout to alert them (this is indicative of many totally deaf because their lack of hearing has impaired their speaking ability). He "speaks" with his hands to other deaf workers who eventually get the message conveyed along to the hearing workers.
Much is lost in the building but all escape with their lives. The story is fiction but is based on a real newspaper fire and is written based on experiences of the author's own. The author Myron Uhlberg is the child of two non-hearing parents.
There are End notes at the end of the book that give insight into the real life of the deaf and the world of printing. There are even instructions for folding your own four-corner hat out of newspaper.
This story is good for introducing young readers to the world of the deaf individuals with whom they might someday interact. It will give a foundation of understanding and respect for them as constructive members of society who contribute to the world in which we live.
The illustrations are boldly painted in subtle tones and beautifully illustrate the people, the place, and the pivotal action of the story.
Author & Illustrator: Myron Uhlberg is the author of several picture books. A retired businessman, he lives in California. Henri Sorensen has illustrated over twenty books for children, including The Yellow Star, The Printer, and Christmas in the Trenches. He is also the author-illustrator of two children's books, New Hope and Your First Step. Sorensen lives in Denmark.
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of The Printer by Peachtree Publishing on behalf of the author to facilitate an honest review.
The son is obviously very proud of his father and the fact that his father prints the newspaper. He describes the hat that his father creates daily out of the day's newsprint. It is called a four corner hat and all the printers wear them.
The day of the story involves the dad discovering a fire has broken out in the building. He must alert the others but he can not speak or shout to alert them (this is indicative of many totally deaf because their lack of hearing has impaired their speaking ability). He "speaks" with his hands to other deaf workers who eventually get the message conveyed along to the hearing workers.
Much is lost in the building but all escape with their lives. The story is fiction but is based on a real newspaper fire and is written based on experiences of the author's own. The author Myron Uhlberg is the child of two non-hearing parents.
There are End notes at the end of the book that give insight into the real life of the deaf and the world of printing. There are even instructions for folding your own four-corner hat out of newspaper.
This story is good for introducing young readers to the world of the deaf individuals with whom they might someday interact. It will give a foundation of understanding and respect for them as constructive members of society who contribute to the world in which we live.
The illustrations are boldly painted in subtle tones and beautifully illustrate the people, the place, and the pivotal action of the story.
Author & Illustrator: Myron Uhlberg is the author of several picture books. A retired businessman, he lives in California. Henri Sorensen has illustrated over twenty books for children, including The Yellow Star, The Printer, and Christmas in the Trenches. He is also the author-illustrator of two children's books, New Hope and Your First Step. Sorensen lives in Denmark.
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of The Printer by Peachtree Publishing on behalf of the author to facilitate an honest review.
September 24, 2020
The newspaper printing business during the mid 20th Century was a noisy business. Not surprisingly, it attracted a considerable deaf labor force. Author Myron Uhlberg’s deaf father was a printer for the New York Daily News, and tells his father’s story in this beautifully contrived picture book.
On one memorable day in 1940, while the printing presses were loudly churning out the daily newspaper, a fire broke out in the plant. The noise level was too great for anyone to hear cries of “Fire!” However, Mr. Uhlberg, the first printer to see the fire, was able to warn the other deaf workers with American Sign Language, so that every man in the plant reached safety in time.
Author Myron Uhlberg and illustrator Henri Sorensen do a superb job of recording a 1940 fire at the New York Daily News where every printer was saved thanks to a quick thinking deaf man.
According to the National Institute on Deafness, approximately one million people are deaf and about 37.5 million adults aged 18 and over report trouble hearing. Authors and illustrators like Myron Uhlberg, Henri Sorensen, and Colin Bootman provide young readers an awareness of the problems people have with hearing loss.
I lost my hearing to a virus twenty-five years ago. Since then my entire life was turned upside down forcing me from one career and into another. The worst was the social alienation. So when you confront a deaf or hard-of-hearing individual, look right at them, speak slowly and clearly so they have the opportunity to read your lips and understand that someone out there really cares.
On one memorable day in 1940, while the printing presses were loudly churning out the daily newspaper, a fire broke out in the plant. The noise level was too great for anyone to hear cries of “Fire!” However, Mr. Uhlberg, the first printer to see the fire, was able to warn the other deaf workers with American Sign Language, so that every man in the plant reached safety in time.
Author Myron Uhlberg and illustrator Henri Sorensen do a superb job of recording a 1940 fire at the New York Daily News where every printer was saved thanks to a quick thinking deaf man.
According to the National Institute on Deafness, approximately one million people are deaf and about 37.5 million adults aged 18 and over report trouble hearing. Authors and illustrators like Myron Uhlberg, Henri Sorensen, and Colin Bootman provide young readers an awareness of the problems people have with hearing loss.
I lost my hearing to a virus twenty-five years ago. Since then my entire life was turned upside down forcing me from one career and into another. The worst was the social alienation. So when you confront a deaf or hard-of-hearing individual, look right at them, speak slowly and clearly so they have the opportunity to read your lips and understand that someone out there really cares.
November 26, 2019
This is picture book was written by a CODA which means Child Of a Deaf Adult, the child usually can hear. This is a story about his father and has bits of his connection to him. This depicts a loving father and successful Deaf man. It shows his courage, bravery, and loyalty to his fellow workers. I will not spoil why.
Printing newspapers has been one of the most popular professions for Deaf people especially during World War two when most hearing men went overseas to fight. Also, before that during the Great Depression printing was one of the highest paid professions at the time despite the slumped economy.
I liked learning about why printers wore these newspaper hats. I didn't know that there was a functional purpose to this hat. Apparently, it protected the worker's hair from the particles of ink sprayed into the air.
Printing newspapers has been one of the most popular professions for Deaf people especially during World War two when most hearing men went overseas to fight. Also, before that during the Great Depression printing was one of the highest paid professions at the time despite the slumped economy.
I liked learning about why printers wore these newspaper hats. I didn't know that there was a functional purpose to this hat. Apparently, it protected the worker's hair from the particles of ink sprayed into the air.
February 4, 2021
In the past Deaf children were mistakenly not considered as educatable as hearing children. They were often trained to work with their hands. Setting the type on a linotype machine was one such job, It was considered an excellent job for deaf people because the noise of the linotype machines wouldn't bother them.
The Printer tells a story of deaf workers being able to spread the warning of fire despite the noise from machines using ASL and alerting hearing co-workers to the danger.
The author's, Myron Uhlberg, father, was a deaf linotype printer. The story is fiction based on growing up with deaf parents.
Tags: Parents -- Children -- Fathers -- Sons -- deaf -- people with disabilities -- fire -- danger -- ASL
November 18, 2019
This was a real-life story of a deaf printer who was able to save his coworkers from a fire that started in the printing press. The printer's coworkers didn't treat the printer as kindly as they should have, except after he was able to alert everyone of the fire. This book features disability but portrays it as a strength, showing how the printer overcame his challenges with his coworkers. The author describes his father being deaf but being able to feel vibrations and thumps. This is a great addition to your library to show diversity and inclusion.
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April 13, 2023Nice story about a deaf printer/linotyper and his deaf co-workers who save the entire printing plant staff from a fire by getting the hearing workers' attentions.
Marred by the fact that while the author's father *was* a deaf printing-plant worker, the fire part and the co-workers' gratitude is fictional.
Illustrations are beautifully based on extensive research on the NY Daily News printing plant in the 1940s. (Might be lovely for a share-along with grandparents and grandchildren, or a union day) Also gives specific instructions for making a printmaker's newspaper hat.
Marred by the fact that while the author's father *was* a deaf printing-plant worker, the fire part and the co-workers' gratitude is fictional.
Illustrations are beautifully based on extensive research on the NY Daily News printing plant in the 1940s. (Might be lovely for a share-along with grandparents and grandchildren, or a union day) Also gives specific instructions for making a printmaker's newspaper hat.
January 29, 2019
Superb book, Its is very infromative for all the reader.I can also refer this link https://www.123hpcomoj4650.com/ for more information regarding printer.
Want to read
December 5, 20192a;soidwurjaqskfwel23mwlkdjswqksadxcmrf dncfjhbey3ilk.rh3uqijehdrbdhdhdhdhrhcbwjejhdjenhf rbhfhrghthereen THE PRINTER IS STUIPD
March 5, 2008
This is a good story about a deaf-mute printer who notices that the building is on fire but does not know how to alert everyone to get out of the building. Apparently there are other deaf-mutes there, so he jumps up on top of some big piece of machinery and signs to them to alert everyone around them. Then all the deaf people make sure everyone else is out, and they leave last. It was a great story except this part seemed a bit awkward. Maybe I'm sheltered but I've just never been around so many deaf people at one time that they could come together and save the day like that; not to mention that the sign for fire is pretty freakin' obvious and all he had to do once he got everyone's attention was point, so why is this all Chain of Deaf Dudes Save The Day?
Anyway, so everyone gets out alive, and once the printer is reopened, all the coworkers who formerly ignored or made fun of him greet him warmly with sign language that they've learned in his honor.
I give it four stars because it's a good story and I'm all about breaking down barriers, but this one felt a little too staged.
Anyway, so everyone gets out alive, and once the printer is reopened, all the coworkers who formerly ignored or made fun of him greet him warmly with sign language that they've learned in his honor.
I give it four stars because it's a good story and I'm all about breaking down barriers, but this one felt a little too staged.
February 25, 2015
This book is quite diverse in many ways. The only round characters in the book are the little boy and his father. His father happens to be deaf and it shows the struggle of living without the ability to hear or speak. This book is touching and unique because there are not many like it. This would be appropriate for grade levels 3-5 for a read aloud. This would be a great book to read during teaching about dissabilities and how people deal with them in everyday situations. The book doesn't have much thought provoking vocabulary but does have compound sentence structure.
September 29, 2014
This slice of history is worth reading on many levels. it reveals a time when printing presses ruled the media, when they were often run by those profoundly deaf due to the massive sound they produced, and a time when "normal" and "handicapped" were not politically incorrect terms. This offers readers of any age an insight into the blatant bullying that adults can and did display, as well as the integrity and courage that makes people rise above abuse to do what is right.
March 3, 2011
The story of Myron Uhlbergs father, who was deaf, and his work in the turn of the century printing industry. The story and illustrations are wonderful and the Author's Note and printers hat folding directions make it a great book about an industry that I'm afraid will be only a part of history very soon.
November 15, 2016
The author tells the story of his father. His father worked at a printing press and was deaf. There were others that worked there that were deaf also. They used sign language to communicate to each other. Because of sign they could communicate over the loud sounds of the printers. Which saved the day when a fire broke out. Acrylic paint.
September 13, 2008
I tear up every time I get to the part where the hearing co-workers thank the deaf men who saved their lives. I'm also touched by the truth behind the fiction--how much Myron Uhlberg adored and admired his own deaf father, a printer.
October 29, 2009
Not bad. The narrator's father is a deaf printer working for a newspaper. When a fire breaks out, he has to warn his coworkers. There's additional information in the back about growing up deaf, ASL, newspaper printing, and how to make a printer's hat out of newspaper.
August 4, 2011
Age:
Grades 8--YA
Genre:
Realistic fiction
Diversity
Deaf
Illustrations:
Drawings faded.
Personal response:
Good lesson about father and son and communicating with sign langauge.
Curricular or programming connections:
learning to sign.
Grades 8--YA
Genre:
Realistic fiction
Diversity
Deaf
Illustrations:
Drawings faded.
Personal response:
Good lesson about father and son and communicating with sign langauge.
Curricular or programming connections:
learning to sign.
August 31, 2016
This unique picture book presents the tale of a deaf printer who, through the use of American Sign Language, is able to communicate with other deaf printers over the roar of the printing presses, and save their hearing counterparts from a fire.
October 17, 2015
I loved the illustrations, and the story was great. I liked the explanation in the back about deaf people working as printers, and the author's admiration for his father who worked as a printer. Very cute.
January 4, 2009
Awesome book....I can only hope my son, the only hearing son of deaf parents , will feel the same way about his parents and his siblings, growing up in a bi-lingual world.
June 25, 2011
Great Book!
January 30, 2012
A good story to use when discussing people with disabilities, such as being deaf, and how people can overcome these and still do the things that others can.
April 14, 2012
Nice story about a little boy who idolizes his deaf father, a man who works in a printing press. The pictures are a bit dark for my taste.
June 14, 2012
Good book for empathy.
June 14, 2012
Beautiful pictures about a man working at a newspaper printing press who is deaf. Not true, but based on some facts.
March 21, 2013
A picture book that would go along with Wonderstruck. It would be good to use with historical fiction themes.
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April 11, 2013I have a student with a mother who signs. It would be a nice addition to any library where kids have the chance to connect and read a relatable story.
August 6, 2014
Myron's Deaf father is a hero when he warns everyone that the composing room is on fire.
April 6, 2017
1. No awards
2. 4-8 years
3. A deaf printer loves his job although he sometimes has a difficulty getting along with his coworkers. One day, the printer spots a fire flickering in a corner of the pressroom, he tries so hard to let everyone know with his hands sign and stays until everyone in the building escapes. After no worker has been hurt, coworkers come up to him and say "thank you" in sign language.
4. I like how the illustrations have very realistic visuals. This book teaches children what printers do and it carries a important lesson that people with disabilities are as strong as others.
5. Read-aloud, individual reading time
2. 4-8 years
3. A deaf printer loves his job although he sometimes has a difficulty getting along with his coworkers. One day, the printer spots a fire flickering in a corner of the pressroom, he tries so hard to let everyone know with his hands sign and stays until everyone in the building escapes. After no worker has been hurt, coworkers come up to him and say "thank you" in sign language.
4. I like how the illustrations have very realistic visuals. This book teaches children what printers do and it carries a important lesson that people with disabilities are as strong as others.
5. Read-aloud, individual reading time
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews