I should have called this post, “Frog and Toad, Improved and Wherever Else That Train of Thought Leads Me”. Because, I’ll warn you ahead of time, I do some stream of consciousness rambling as one topic leads to another:
I didn’t think Frog and Toad could get any better. When I read those books, there is some serious code switching going on! They have the coolest friendship, and when I read about it, I always feel grateful because I have known (and still do) what it is to have friendships like theirs. However, even though I wouldn’t have thought you could make Frog and Toad even more likeable to me, I must admit that there is something very appealing about Sapo y Sepo Inseparables. It makes me want to buy the Spanish version, even though I speak Portuguese, not Spanish.
Speaking of which, The Cat in the Hat in Latin makes me wish I spoke Latin! Here’s a fun review of the Latin version (you have to scroll down the page as the first half of the review is about the movie.)
It almost makes me want to teach my kids Latin. But, I guess that is one of the ideas I’ll not get around to, as I actually have Hey Andrew, Teach Me Some Greek book 3 that I picked up from a used curriculum sale, and I’m more confident teaching my kids something I sort of know than something I don’t know at all (I know there’s always the philosophy of “learn it together”. However, when I know NOTHING of the subject at hand, I feel like it’s the blind leading the blind).
As for Andrew, well, he’s four years old, so, from what I gather, books one and two are really, really basic and repetitive–mainly focusing on the alphabet. And then the alphabet again. I think Andrew sings a Greek alphabet song on an accompanying CD with book 1. If anyone is actually interested in using this series with older children, there is a review of the alphabet at the beginning of Book 3, so even if you don’t know any Greek, I think you could start at that level without a problem. In any case, the workbook I have looks fun (I like workbooks anyway, although I realize there are people who believe that workbook and fun have to be opposites) and I’m looking forward to trying it out with one or more of my kids.
Another thing tipping the scales in favor of teaching my kids Greek is that I want them to be able to sing with understanding Lingamish’s Greek Song, “Axios”. Maybe since Lingamish is all about making Greek learning fun, he’ll be the one to translate Frog and Toad or The Cat in the Hat into Greek. With Suzanne’s editing and proofing help, I think those would be some great additions to the LLIFE (Language Learning is Fun-damental & Easy) approach to 2nd language acquisition!
Love it. Pooh is also available in Latin.
It’s funny to think about the people that are Winnie-the-Pooh Translators! Can you imagine being the child of a person who loves Latin AND Winnie the Pooh enough to be an expert in both?
Do you speak Latin? Or understand it, or whatever it is that people do with Latin?
“Frog and Toad” and “Owl” were some of my favorite books to read to my boys when they were younger. Arnold Lobel is great. Have you ever read his “Grasshopper” book, too? Great stuff.
Now you’ve got me wanting to pick up “Sapo y Sepo” and “The Cat in the Hat in Latin” as well!
Oh, one more thing. My oldest son actually taught himself to read with “Frog and Toad.” We had taught him some phonics, and he was just beginning to get it. Anyways, we went on a long road trip, and I picked up the Frog and Toad treasury book for the trip. I read him the first couple stories and then took a break. He loved the stories so much, he didn’t want to stop. He started applying his phonics for the first time and read through the whole book that trip!
Ray, Literacy is really amazing, isn’t it? Every single time I see it happen, I am amazed. No matter how young or old, how easy or hard, to watch someone learn to read in their own unique way is incredible.
I have read the other Arnold Lobel books. It amazes me how he can tell a story very simply and have it reflect so much of human nature and personality quirks (at least mine–Owl at Home is so much like me, it is amazing!) A book for older children along that same lines is The End of the Beginning by Avi. It affects me in the same way as Frog, Toad and Owl do. My preteen children have asked me to check it out multiple times, and usually I read it out loud with them and they each read it to themselves before we return it. It’s both hilarious and profound. Some reviewers find it sappy and slow, but our family loves it.