Children’s Bestsellers - Helping Youngsters Learn Foreign Languages

By Sue Copas

Whatever our generation, all of us will doubtless remember popular books from our childhood. These bestsellers, at their core, are all characterised by their ability to hold us captivated with their plot for endless hours, to retain their popularity for several generations and now…to help children learn foreign languages.

The value of using storybooks to pass on educational information and indeed, the value of storytelling as an educational aid has long been recognized by teachers. As a consequence, the use of children’s books as an aid for teaching foreign languages and as an aid for foreign children to learn English has increased greatly in recent years.

The methodology in using this recourse is to create a natural and holistic acquisition-rich environment which can incorporate subsidiary activities arising from the text, and thus engage different learning styles and multiple intelligences. This methodological corpus can and often is, used as a supplement to a teacher’s core materials or can be used to form a sort of stand alone mini-syllabus. Used thus, a story will provide the starting point and structured context for developing a range of related learning activities.

Some of the internationally cited benefits of using children’s literature are:

• They encourage active participation.
• They encourage co-operation between pupils.
• They bring authentic language input into the lessons by teaching natural occurring structures.
• They help in breaking down the language barrier and thus encourage children to use the language being learned.
• They assist children to gain authentic knowledge of the correct usage of grammar by demonstrating naturally occurring linguistic structures.
• They illustrate cross-cultural differences and similarities.

The children are not the only ones to benefit from language teaching based on a foundation of bestselling stories…feedback has shown that the teachers themselves gain a measure of personal and professional development. Implementing a story based methodology involves creativity, classroom management skills and flexibility and the active requirement to exercise these skills enhances abilities thus:

• Fosters the ability to appraise a storybook in very short order and assess its suitability for teaching languages.
• Enhances the ability to create the necessary support material for a storybook and to cross-link it to other areas of the curriculum.

As the benefits of this medium of teaching are becoming ever more established, an ever wider selection of children’s bestsellers are being submitted to agencies for language translation. Here is a small selection of children’s favorites that are already being used for such teaching: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Little Red Hen and The Pied Piper. With a heavy hitting arsenal of favorites like these, language instruction for youngsters can only benefit.

Sue Copas is the Account Manager of Lingo24 translations agency, a provider of high quality language translation service in UK.

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The Art of Children’s Books

By Dwayne Whiting

Children’s books are not always about the words and the morals. Sometimes children’s books are about the illustration.

Contrary to popular belief, most children’s book illustrators are actually hired by the publishing company rather than the author of the book. Sometimes this can be upsetting for prospective children’s book writers that really wanted to illustrate their book according to their own visions.

Sadly, most publishers have artists they already like to use. So if you are a children’s book writer that badly wants to illustrate their own book, you are left with only a few options:

Option 1 - Self publish

It’s an incredibly difficult process, but self publishing may be one of the only ways to publish your children’s book with your own illustrations. Selling them can be an arduous task, though the internet does provide a way for you to try to sell your story.

Companies that allow you to self publish are available almost anywhere, though they often charge hefty fees in order to allow you to print your work. Often times this method is best when you have a lot of time to dedicate to marketing the book and money to dedicate to its printing. Still, this may be the best option for those that simply don’t want to find another provider.

Option 2 - Show the publisher that you are an artist

It may be difficult to self-publish, but it is even more difficult to convince a publishing house that you are both a writer and an artist - especially when they don’t know you. When you first send a manuscript, these companies do not want to receive manuscript after manuscript filled with unprofessional illustrations clogging up their mailbox and wasting paper.

But that does not mean it is impossible. If you perfect your images to show these publishers that you truly are the artist meant to take the lead on the work, you can get your work published together. If it is your first time publishing, however, be sure and expect a few extra rejections than you would normally get. The busiest publishers will not even look at a manuscript if it appears that a lot of superfluous paperwork has arrived with it.

Option 3 - Design the templates for the art, but allow the publisher to find the illustrator themselves

Before you assume you are the best person to illustrate the work, consider for a moment: Are you really the best artist for the work? Or do you simply have a vision you want to portray? If it is the former, consider options 1 or 2, but if, like most people, it is the latter - consider drawing out rough sketches of your visions but allowing the publisher to do what they do best. These sketches should be professional, as always, but at least you are not imposing something on the publishing company that they may not be happy with.

Option 4 - Illustrate?

For some people, publishing a children’s book is a goal not because of the story, but because of the illustration. In these cases, why not consider sending in samples to publishing companies and becoming just an illustrator instead? If you prefer to paint or draw and children’s book storylines are less important, becoming an illustrator is always an option. And, once your foot is in the door, you can always come out with a children’s book of your own someday.

These days, "Children’s books" have become synonymous with "colorful illustration." Because of this, many people want to publish a children’s book with their own illustrations. If this is the case for you, consider one of these three options. You may not get exactly what you want, but you can still be a children’s book creator regardless.

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Children’s Bible Stories

By Susan Slobac

Children’s Bible stories can be an indispensable tool for teaching young children important lessons they should apply to their daily lives. Since it is often hard for children and young adults to grasp the full meaning of daily or weekly Bible readings, children’s Bible stories can be used to help boil down the critical information. This enables them to more easily internalize the teachings of Christ and continue to grow in their faith as they grow themselves.

If your church offers catechism classes or special services for children, your kids may have already heard many children’s versions of the most well known Bible stories and passages. If not, then it is up to you to start sharing these stories and lessons with them yourself. Until recent years, the most popular methods have been to read to the children’s stories at bedtime or even recount the Bible stories from memory. Today, there are several more options you can choose from, including audio Bibles, Bibles on CD and even MP3 Bibles.

Although you may have never thought about it, a children’s audio Bible is an excellent and very easy way for your kids to hear all the wonderful stories brought to us from the Old and New Testament. You can play a Bible on CD for your children as a fun activity during the day, or play a kid’s Bible as a way to relax them before bedtime. There are many parents who even begin teaching their children to read by playing an audio Bible while following along with them in a printed version.

If you have children that use the computer or MP3 players to listen to their music, you can buy MP3 Bibles that they can load onto their PC or iPod. If they have an iPod or MP3 player, they can listen to the Bible while they are walking to school or taking the bus. They could also listen to it on headphones while doing their daily chores or winding down for the night. If your child loves to play on the computer, there are many free audio Bible downloads and games you can get online that they can listen to and play with whenever they would like.

With the growing popularity of the kids Bible on CD and the mp3 Bible there are now so many convenient ways to integrate children’s Bible stories into your children’s lives that the hardest decision will be picking the methods that work the best for your child’s capabilities and needs. No matter what you choose, you will be enriching your child’s life with the lessons that matter most.

Susan Slobac shares bible stories for kids with her family. She has found the Bible on CD is a great way to encourage her kids to listen to the Bible. Free audio Bible downloads is another way her familiy uses for obtaining the MP3 Bible.

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The Colour Of Literature

By Sean Tarquini

The study of literature is a study of the origin of the ideas. Ideas that make up the resources of modern writers. I took literature courses and I am now an accomplished author but no one else could have taken the exact mix of courses that I took or had the same teachers.

I consider myself to be a letter writer of contemporary literature and so do 10,000 other writers but we all have different backgrounds. Are there any standards set to be a contemporary writer? Can there be? The answer is no.

There are no standards set for the imagination, but like music there are beats that are better than the other. There are melodies more appropriate at times more wanting than another. There lies the perfection. We want our imagination to bloom, mere thoughts, to fit into the language of men. It can be a poem, it can be either a short story, a novel, or poetic prose. The category one falls under when we write are like the different types of glasses we use for drinks served at a reception: wine, brandy, champagne, or beer. The type of glass served makes the drink more palatable; much like the categories of writing which hold a story as it needs to be interpreted.

Each writer of all disciplines or levels has something to offer. It is the out pouring of the spirit that is important, looking for the top ten is not meant to be, writing is an art form and it represents one of the greatest accomplishments of mankind. It holds the thoughts of men who lived thousands of years ago, as well as, it is the wine that we all share to live in this world, to communicate in this world and even to save this world.

Sean Tarquini received a liberal education at York University, Canada and other sources in general and has been writing for 14 years, he works on literature and audio/visual presentations. His books are available at http://www.amazon.com
and http://www.mobipocket.com

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Baby And Children Books

By Priyanka Arora

It may be very confusing to choose an excellent book for your baby or toddler. You may come in a situation where you are having a hard time deciding on which book store can provide the best books for your kid. Or you may have been wondering on the quantity of books that your children should acquire. Here are some guidelines that you can follow in order for your children to learn to love reading at an early stage.

As you browse for books on stores or the internet, you may encounter a number of selections. Even libraries provide books which are excellent for your children. Be aware also of book sales or garage sales so you can get cheaper cost on these books.

If you will try to search for children’s book on the internet you may locate more than 200 thousand of resources associated with book sellers and clubs for children. If you will join some children’s club, you may be given a catalog for you to make selections of baby or children’s books and these will be transported straight to your residence. You may find that these books are very affordable and surely the kids will enjoy reading them. Allow your children to choose the books that they want to be delivered to your home.

Stimulate your children to read books even if they just pretend to be reading it the images and colors can be encouraging and sooner they will learn to read by themselves. You can start teaching your baby to read as early as 9 months. Sooner, you will find out that they are enjoying reading books.

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Magical Dolphins And Surfing Cats

By Lani Lowell

Hawaiian Children’s Books celebrate the magic experienced by the keikis(children) of Hawaii. Hawaiian Surf and Dolphin Magic is the newest original Hawaiian Children’s book for adults and children alikw who are enchanted by the natural magic of Hawaii.

Magic Dolphins can be real or imaginary- both “species ” enchant humans who are sensitive and open to the Magic dolphin’s loving vibrations. Many of the Magic Dolphin teachings are revealed in the Hawaiian Children’s book series, beginning with Hawaiian Surf and Dolphin Magic.

Hawaiian Surfing is quite different from surfing and bodysurfing anywhere else in the world. Hawaiian Surfing has a special magic to it as it is the place where the art and sport of surfing began. Nalu is the word for Hawaiian Surfing.This word holds the secrets of meditation; the secrets to the magic of Hawaiian Surfing.

Order Secrets of a Kahuna Bodysurfer:A Spiritual Adventure Guide Book and Cards by Lani E.Lowell to learn more about Hawaiian Surfing.

Kauai’s Magical Secrets are expeienced strongly by those who visit it’s magical shores from around the globe. The profound secrets are now exquisitively captured in a wonderous book series by author Lani E. Lowell. Now Kauai’s Magical Secrets can be revealed and experienced anywhere in the world.

About The Author

Lani Lowell is an author of children’s books and a spiritual counselor/astrologer.

http://www.xlibris.com/HawaiianSurfandDolphinMagic.html

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Children’s Versions of the Audio Bible

By Susan Slobac

Children have been likened to sponges, in that when they are very young they are able to learn and pick up, or soak up, a huge amount of information. If you want to make a lasting impression on your chidren it makes sense to introduce your children to Bible stories early on. TOne easy way to do that is to offer your children a vele has created an he audio Bibrsion of the Bible that they can listen to long before they enter school and learn how to read, which is called the audio Bible. Kid’s Bibles are available as Children’s Bible Stories on audio CD, and in audio Bible mp3 format.

For children who are predominantly auditory learners, who learn by hearing, an audio Bible is the way to go to share God’s Word with them. These great children’s versions of the Bible come in easy to understand language that reflects the Bible stories accurately, but in a way that children can understand.

Kids can listen to the audio Bible from home computers with speaker systems, or in other playback devices, such as DVD or CD players. You can get children’s Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments on an easy to play audio CD, along with great songs for them to sing along with.

Children’s versions of the Bible and Bible stories and songs are also available in mp3 format as well. You can even find digital audio files of the children’s Bible available on the Internet in the form of podcasts. What this means is that for a small subscription fee, you can have daily programs of presentations of the children’s audio bible sent directly to your home personal computer, where you children can listen to them.

These wonderful podcasts can also be downloaded onto an mp3 player and listened to anytime your child has time. Children have busy lives, with school, sports, arts, and other activities, so finding time for one more activity, even a beneficial one, can be difficult. With a podcast of children’s Bible stories downloaded onto a tiny mp3 player, however, bringing the Word of God into your child’s life has now gotten much simpler. The easily portable mp3 version can go with your child everywhere he or she does, and can be listened to anytime your child has a free moment in his or her busy schedule.

It takes a while for a child to mature enough so that he or she is ready to be taught to read. For many years the Bible was only available in a written form, but now through digital technology has brought the audio Bible to life. The audio Bible is easy accessible online for you and your children to listen to, and grow in the grace of God as a result.

Susan Slobac encourages her children to listen to children’s Bible stories on audio cd. It has become easy for her to share the Bible with her children using the audio Bible. There are many formats of the audio Bible available including the audio Bible mp3 format and the audio Bible on CD.

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