Raising Readers :: children’s literature review

If you are a parent who speaks a second language – or a third or a fourth – speak it, sing it, read it, write it to your children.  If you don’t speak another language, find someone who does and ask them to speak it, sing it, read it, write it to your children.  As a Spanish teacher, the most common thing I hear from parents is “I really wish I had stuck with (fill in forgotten foreign language here).”  It honestly seems to be a principal regret of most people who tossed it out after their 2 semesters in college like calculus or organic chemistry.  Not to detract from any other area of academics – I am a proponent of most things academic – but, in my opinion, bilingualism is the most important skill after literacy in the native language.  Whether that ruffles your feathers or not, it’s the direction in which the world is headed.  Be flexible or be left behind.  And, yeah, I feel kinda strongly about it. 

If you’re nervous, a good way to start is to read!  Suprise.  Another children’s literature review.  Baby S and I have been reading this one lately – La mariquita malhumorada by Eric Carle. This grouchy ladybug doesn’t want to share her breakfast of aphids, thus deciding to fly around the world picking fights with creatures who are bigger than her. She finally meets her match, is quite humbled, and graciously received back at the breakfast table by her nice ladybug friend. A subtle tale of learned humility and forgiveness translated into Spanish for your little readers. Dale! Leaselo a sus ninos!