Friday, 11 April 2008

OPAL DUNN

OPAL DUNN is a well known language specialist , a person who recognized and started promoting teaching languages to young learners, plurilingualizm and multicultural approach - long before it became fashionable and popular in Europe. Everything I have learned about real books, as well as my determination in putting the idea into practice - I owe to her. She is the most wonderful human being I have ever met. All her picture books are GREAT!
I would like to recommend her wonderful book of games - which would come very handy while working with multicultural stories. It is about games from all over the world, each one accompanied by a rhyme and clear instructions.

Thursday, 10 April 2008

WHOEVER YOU ARE


Mem Fox is my favourite author and I love all her books. I share her educational philosophy. She wrote a wonderful book for teachers - Reading Magic. Whoever You Are is a perfect book to start multicultural topic with young learners and we will make a poster as a follow up activity.

Wednesday, 9 April 2008

HANDA'S SURPRISE

This is probably the most popular multicultural book both in British mainstream education and all around Europe among teachers of English to young learners. Lovely illustrations and simple predictable pattern makes the book a treasure.

Monday, 7 April 2008

BORREGUITA and the COYOTE

This book is a lively retelling of a Mexican folk tale. What makes it unique is chunks of Spanish language, that children acquire naturally and keep repeating. Perfect for plurilingual and multicultural teaching of English to young learners.

Thursday, 3 April 2008

THE OLD WOMAN and the RED PUMPKIN


As the ancients said, Inter duos combatentes tertius vincit.
Where two fight - third one wins this could be a title of this Bengali folk tale. It is wonderfully illustarted by Rachel Merriman.

Wednesday, 2 April 2008

HAIRS - PELITOS

This wonderful story is a piece of art and a gift for your kids.
It is in English and Spanish.It combines a celebration of individuality and of the bonds within families. The wonderful illustration remind me of great years I spent in Mexico as they carry Frida Kahlo's emotional style. I was afraid it will be a bit difficult visually for Polish kids but they love it.

TIDDALIK the FROG

Tiddalik the frog has drunk all the water in Australia. The other animals are very worried. It is a very nice Australian Aboriginal myth. The Water-holding frogs do exist. They have many interesting qualities and characteristics which can only be found in Australia, which makes it that much precious. It is a very good story for CLIL - connecting it to water cycle, animals (adaptation), Australia and others topics.