Review of "The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition"
Review of "The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition"
by Valerie Laud, illustrated by Valentin Latushkin
Ekadoo Inc., August 2005
Hardcover, 96 pages
ISBN: 0974738700
Recommended Ages: 1 - 8
Review by Sherri Allen:
"The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition" is an excellent tool to use when you want to help your young child learn Spanish. Although it's called a dictionary, this book contains more than just words and their translations. The words are provided in English, followed by their Spanish translations. Then, the words are actually used in a sentence, first in English, then translated into Spanish. Each word is accompanied by a picture that illustrates its meaning.
By including sentences and not just presenting a list of words and their translations, "The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition" will teach your child the basics of Spanish grammar and help him develop conversational skills so he can actually use the words he learns. The colorful pictures will attract your child's attention and provide visual reinforcement of the words presented, thereby increasing his retention
of what he's learned.
"The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition" includes several pages with collections of related words and pictures (such as dinosaurs, fruit and shapes) that are presented in English without an accompanying Spanish translation. There's also a page of English irregular verbs that doesn't provide Spanish translations. While the pictures on the "collection" pages are attractive and the conjugation of irregular verbs is very useful, it seems a little odd that Spanish translations weren't included.
Overall, "The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition" is engaging, easy to read and more than just another English-Spanish dictionary. It is an effective resource that will accomplish its goal, as defined by its publisher, to "expand children's unique abilities to pick up languages, boost their conversational skills, vocabulary and enrich imagination."
About the Author
Sherri Allen is the editor of an award-winning website devoted to topics such as family, food, garden, house&home and money. For free articles, information, tips, recipes, reviews and coloring pages, visit http://www.SherriAllen.com/
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