This week, I had this experience while exploring the International Children's Digital Library! This free (again, how did I miss this?) online resource connects children to over 4,600 books in over 60 different languages. Whether students are ESL (English as a Second Language) learners, or a class is exploring other cultures or examining folktales from around the world, this site has countless potential uses in elementary school libraries and classrooms!
The interface is so child friendly to use with its simple (pictorial) search buttons and features that allows children to drill down to resources by specific language, targeted age, type of character, length of story, keyword, and even by the color of the cover (if that is all they can remember about the book they've read and are trying to relocate it). Many library OPAC's could take cues from this well designed children's site!
For my Information Technologies in Educational Organizations class this week, we were asked to read and briefly annotate three books found on the site and share them using a social networking site such as Goodreads. Here are the three stories that I found beginning with my favorite one:
Title: Taming the Taniwha
Author: Tim Tipene
Illustrator: Henry Campbell
Publishing Date: 2001
Publisher Location: New Zealand
Publisher: Huia Publishers
Languages available: English & Maori
Tama, a young boy is trying to deal with a very mean "taniwha" at school who steals his lunch and rips up his paintings. Tama seeks the advice of his extended family about how to tame this mean-spirited creature. In the end, Tama learns that sometimes even the meanest taniwha (a Maori reference to a mythological monster) needs a friend. This is a sweet tale of how one boy deals with a bully. This book is from the country of New Zealand where the indigenous Maori tribe often refer to a mythological monster of the sea they call the "taniwha." The beautiful artwork and the beautiful lesson will quickly make this book a favorite!
Goodreads Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/432389999
Title: The Boy Without a Name [El nino sin nombre]
Author: Idries Shah
Illustrator: Mona Caron
Translator: Rita Wirkala
Publishing Date: 2007
Publisher Location: United States
Publisher: Hoopoe Books
Languages available: English, Dari, Pashto (Audio available in English & Spanish)
This fairytale tells the story of an boy whose parents were told by a wise man not to give him a name. The wise man explained that their son was very important and that one day he would give him a gift only after he gives him his name. It is a story that shows the rewards of patience and obedience. One of the unique features of the book is that the text is written both in English and Spanish on each page. For classrooms with both English and Spanish speakers, this book may be a fun way to partner read, or assist struggling ESL readers. There is also an optional audio version that can be played along with the book which is engaging and draws the reader into the story.
Goodreads Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/432392336
Author: Barry Louis Polisar
Illustrator: David Clark
Publishing Date: 1994
Publisher Location: Silver Spring, MD
Publisher: Rainbow Morning Music
Languages available: English
For parents looking to invoke better manners in their tween-age children, this book is, ahem, not for you. If your looking to have fun with your child, or looking for a way to get a 10-13 year old reluctant reader to enjoy the rewards of a humorous book, then this might just be the book you are looking for. Don't Do That!, is a funny tongue-in-cheek look at everything from table manners to nose etiquette, as well as sage advice for "What to do when your parents do dumb things."
Goodreads Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/432395468
Shannon, three great reviews. It's interesting that you and Jenny chose the same book to review from among the 1000's of books on ICDL! Taming the Taniwaw sounds delightful and I look forward to reading it now.
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