Chopsy Baby is reviewing… Bilingual children’s books from JaJaJa

These days, children are learning languages earlier than ever. You have the much advertised Muzzy programme, reception aged children learning French in after school clubs and even young babies taking part in German nursery rhyme sessions.

To help younger children get an early flavour for languages, Genevieve Yusuf and Suzanne Wilson have created a series of stories written in English, but with foreign language vocabulary neatly placed at appropriate points.

The books are similar in style and read to a child’s school reading book. There are an average of one – two words in Spanish on each page, adding to the context of the story. The vocabulary blends in seamlessly and will not be difficult for a young child – aged from around four years and above – to get their head around.

As well as helping children to read and understand the concept of different languages at an early age, it may also help them bypass any fears about going on holiday abroad.

Lucy and Lucia Play Hide And Seek, includes words for swimming pool, help, thank you, friend, water and the numbers one to ten in Spanish.

Phillip and Felipe Become Best Amigos, includes supermarket, ice cream, yes, no I am not OK, police, mum and best friend, also in Spanish.

The books are aimed at children age from birth to seven years of age. They would be perfect for children aged around four years.

Reviewed by…
Michelle Hatterson read the books with her five year old daughter Connie.

Michelle says: “I am keen for Connie to enjoy languages when she does them at school. I never got on with languages and hated them. I am really keen that my daughter doesn’t struggle or get the same hang ups. I am thinking that this is the perfect age to make languages not a big deal. We have been reading the two books and getting on well. Connie enjoys finding the Spanish words. Because they are in orange they stand out of the rest of the black words. I am now Mama and her best friend at school is now amigo.”

You can buy from…

£4.50
www.jajaja-books.com/