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In This Issue:
• Feature Article: Interactive Storytelling
• Language Lizard Update:
Start planning for World Folk Tales and Fables Week!
• Product Review: Buri and the Marrow
• Lizard Recommends: Dual Language Development & Disorders (Handbook)
• *Subscriber Special Offer*:
10 % discount on Buri and the Marrow book and audio CD
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Dear Reader:
It has been a rough winter in the Northeast and we are really looking forward to spring!
The first Monday of spring is the start of World Folk Tales and Fables Week (March 21-27). This is a great time to encourage children to explore the cultural background and lessons learned from folk tales, fables, myths and legends from around the world.
In my family, we have used a number of books in Language Lizard's World Folktales collections to do this. For instance, Dragon's Tears is a beautiful Chinese tale illustrated by a master of Chinese brush art; Lion Fables includes a Tibetan fable showing how a small mouse saves the life of a strong lion; and The Giant Turnip is a humorous retelling of the classic Russian tale, The Enormous Turnip. The Myths and Legends collection (Pandora's Box, Isis and Osiris, Beowulf, The Children of Lir) can be a good starting point for older children to explore various cultures.
One of our favorite stories is the Bengali folktale, Buri and the Marrow, which is reviewed below and offered at a discount to readers. It is also used in the lesson plan entitled "Language, Customs, Culture in India", which can be downloaded at no cost from our website at http://www.languagelizard.com/lessonplans.htm. Don’t hesitate to use any of the lesson plans on our website to help you explore different cultures and folktales with your students.
And don't miss this issue’s article, Interactive Storytelling, by Sandee McHugh-McBride. This article emphasizes how great stories can help children discover their world, spur imagination, and motivate risk-taking and participation.
Happy reading!
Anneke Forzani
President and Founder
Language Lizard, LLC
P.S. Language Lizard is (finally) joining the social media revolution! We invite you to follow us on Twitter, where we will share great information and offer short-term special offers to followers. Don't forget to tell your friends!
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Book Review: Buri and the Marrow
By Henriette Barkow
Illustrated by Lizzie Finlay
Ages: 3-7 Paperback
Dimensions: 10.9w x 9.2h inches
Review by Maureen Pugh
For me, this traditional Bengali folktale presented a question, right from the start. After all, the title comprised four words, of which I only understood two! Apparently, I can be forgiven the first as it is the Bengali word Buri, which means “old woman.” I looked up “marrow,” and found an appropriate meaning hiding a bit down amongst the other definitions I was more familiar with. Apparently, it is an elongated type of squash, with a dark green skin and whitish flesh. So right away, I had learned something new.
Now, in reality I don’t think these squash grow to the size of a person, but in this story, they do. With a little “willing suspension of disbelief” we find that in her attempt to avoid the unwelcome attentions of the hungry fox, lion, and tiger, Buri actually hides herself inside a marrow. These three scoundrels have promised to eat Buri on her way home from a visit with her daughter. Buri’s plan is to remain hidden in the marrow and roll from her daughter’s house to her home without being eaten.
This plan works well for the lion and the tiger, but the fox is not outfoxed. Buri’s powers of persuasion kick in as she begs fox to let her see her house once more. Incredibly, he agrees, but once near her house, she calls her dogs which chase him away. Poor fox is left with only marrow for his tea, and never troubles her again.
This folktale reminded me of a cross between the Three Billy Goats Gruff (don’t eat me, I’m too skinny) and Little Red Riding Hood (being accosted on a trip through the woods). It is different enough, however, to feel fresh for children and adults alike.
The illustrations, by award-winning illustrator Lizzie Finlay, are colorful and expressive. I particularly liked one picture of Buri eating a veritable feast at her daughters. The food depicted is traditional Indian or Bengali food (naan, biryani, etc.), which looks pretty tasty, and might be of interest to young readers.
Buri and the Marrow is available in English with Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese-Traditional, Farsi, Gujarati, Panjabi, Polish, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Buri and the Marrow is also available on audio CD in English with Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, French, Serbo-Croat, Somali, Spanish, Turkish and Urdu. All these languages are on one CD. |
If you’re interested in purchasing this book, please visit the webpage at: http://www.languagelizard.com/Buri-and-the-Marrow-p/buri.htm
*Special Subscriber Offer*: 10% Discount on Buri and the Marrow book and Audio CD
Through April 15th, 2011, we are offering a 10% Discount on Buri and the Marrow book as well as the Audio CD (see book review above for more information). Simply apply Coupon Code CCS-Buri upon checkout to receive the discount. NOTE: the book and audio CD are sold separately.
To see the difficulty level of these and other Language Lizard books, please visit our “Book Suggestions” page at http://www.languagelizard.com/images/Childrens_Bilingual_Books.pdf
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Feature Article:
Interactive Storytelling
By Sandee McHugh McBride
Reading to young children is one of the most enjoyable activities for me! The smiles on their faces and the twinkles in their eyes brighten my day. This happy feeling is contagious and goes far in the quest of motivating children. An exciting tale allows learners to enthusiastically discover the world around them. It allows students the opportunity to take risks with language, the pathway to knowledge. This is not always an easy task for second language learners; but once they get absorbed in the lively adventures of a good story with engaging illustrations, they put aside their hesitation and self-consciousness with the English language and begin participating in the fun.
It seems that we all have a favorite story, and in my first grade class last year it was one particular book: Walking Through the Jungle/Caminando por la jungle. The children loved to hear the story and chant along with the words, whether we read in English or Spanish. Debbie Harter’s story about a little girl taking a walk through animal habitats delighted the children. The vivid pictures captured their attention and the rhythm of the words played tunes in their minds.
As I begin to read aloud to them, “Walking through the jungle, what do you see?”, they spot the colorful illustration of a lion roaring and, in unison, inform me that it’s a “lion” that we see. I continue with, “I think I see a lion,” and the students repeat the refrain together, “chasing after me.” As the story progresses, the students enjoy themselves as they learn about animals and where they live, calling out the names of the animals they recognize. They laugh with pleasure as they chant the refrains.
Walking Through the Jungle captivated the children’s hearts and minds. Their resulting enthusiasm helped guide their writing and motivated even the most hesitant of students. Their writing creations were often humorous, one choosing to use her imagination to create a story about a child coming across various birds in the park. Another wrote about marine animals in the ocean, while a third student wrote about his adventures with pets in the pet store. Most included a repeating refrain much like the author used. They all incorporated beautiful, colorful illustrations. But, more importantly, the students looked forward to working on their writing each day, and eagerly shared their creations with classmates. They proudly displayed their accomplishments for all to see. What an enjoyable learning experience!
Sandee McHugh-McBride has a Masters Degree in Education, with a specialty in English as Second Language (ESL). She has taught ESL in elementary school for over 25 years and teaches for the GraduateSchool of Education at Rutgers. She has presented workshops throughout New Jersey dealing with the education of English/Dual Language Learners. |
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A Favorite Quote
"A different language is a different vision of life." ~Federico Fellini, Italian film maker
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Lizard Recommends
Dual Language Development & Disorders: A Handbook on Bilingualism and Second Language Learning, 2nd Edition
Editors: Johanne Paradis, PhD, Fred Genesee, Martha B. Crago
This book dispels many myths about dual language development and answers key questions that might arise as you work with children and their parents. Student profiles, definitions of key terms, and "clinical implications" sections for selected chapters make this a valuable reference for in-practice SLPs and educators, an accessible resource for parents, and an ideal textbook for graduate students. As teachers work with bilingual children and second language learners, they will find this book gives them the clear information they need to make critical decisions. (Excerpted from EducationResourcesInformationCenter Abstract)
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About Language Lizard
Language Lizard, LLC aims to enrich children's lives with language and culture. The Company believes that children will be inspired to learn languages and connect with other cultures if they are exposed to fun and creative learning materials early in their lives.
Language Lizard currently offers award-winning dual-language children's products in over 40 languages. To find out more about our company and products, or to sign up for this FREE e-newsletter, please visit www.LanguageLizard.com.
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