Pictured: Kentrell Martin and his son, Kasey, reads books and teaches children to sign at aurhor visits across the country. Photo courtesy of CDS.

On April 28, the children of Community Day School in Sarasota were treated to an interactive author visit from Kentrell Martin, creator of Shelly’s Adventures, and his son, Kasey. The visit was part of Janis Kaplan Author’s Day at CDS–a cherished tradition honoring the life and legacy of a devoted elementary teacher whose love of learning continues to shape the CDS community.

Shelly’s Adventures is a children’s book series developed to help bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing communities. The collection is centered on Shelly, a young girl with a deaf father. Throughout the series, Shelly teaches her friends American Sign Language (ASL) so they can communicate with her dad. Each story follows Shelly and her friends on everyday adventures, where they learn fun facts along with new signs tied to what they encounter.

Martin was inspired by his experience growing up with a deaf brother. Seeing how deaf individuals were often misunderstood, he made it his mission to promote inclusivity and awareness of Deaf culture. His goal is to show children that deaf people are no different from anyone else—communication barriers simply require a different language.

Since 2015, Martin has visited more than 300 schools nationwide, delivering interactive presentations that combine reading and hands-on ASL instruction. During these visits, he guides students through foundational signs, including numbers, colors, animals and the alphabet. By the end of each session, students are often able to hold simple signed conversations. Martin typically teaches 60 to 90 words per presentation and incorporates activities like “silent signing time” to reinforce learning.

"I often ask students, if they met someone who didn’t share their language, would that make the person different or strange?” Martine explains. “Then I explain that it's no different for people who are deaf. Through my author visits, I want children to understand that deaf people aren’t different from them—there’s simply a communication barrier, and it’s one that can absolutely be overcome.”

While Martin’s brother is not directly involved in the project, Shelly’s Adventures has become a family effort. His wife and sons contribute to the books and occasionally join him during school visits. Martin notes that students of all ages respond enthusiastically to both the stories and ASL, reflecting a growing interest in sign language education across the country.

“Janis Kaplan Author’s Day is one of the most meaningful traditions at CDS, and Kentrell and Kasey brought it to life in a powerful way," says Head of School Dan Caeser. "They showed our students that storytelling can open doors to understanding, connection and empathy, and gave them tools to communicate in ways that truly matter.”

Pictured: Kentrell Martin and his son, Kasey, reads books and teaches children to sign at aurhor visits across the country. Photo courtesy of CDS.

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