A book in every home, and then some –

We read A Book in Every Home, and Then Some (an article by the consistently amazing David Bornstein of the NY Times) last week (May 16). But we felt its content so  important to publishers, consumers, and educators, we just had to mention it here again to make sure  that you had a chance to read it.  A follow-up piece, Publishers as Partners in Literacy, was run on May 20 (that Friday) and we encourage you to read that as well.  However, if you read nothing else, please read the footnote which we are publishing here.

The following content falls under the copyright of the NY Times!

Excerpted from: A Book in Every Home, and Then Some

By DAVID BORNSTEIN

. . . .

FOOTNOTE:

[1] A study of close to 3,000 children in Germany found that the number of books in the home strongly predicted reading achievement — even after controlling for the parents’ education levels and income. And a massive, longitudinal study examining the educational attainment of 70,000 students from 27 countries found, surprisingly, that having lots of books in the home was as good a predictor of children’s educational attainment as parents’ education levels. In fact, access to books was more predictive than the father’s occupation or the family’s standard of living. The greatest impact of book access was seen among the least educated and poorest families.

Animated Alphabet

Too often in the holidays parents go for the cheap breakable “now” gift. This year  go for the “always” gift. A great book.  To that end, we recommend Marie Angel’s An Animated Alphabet.  A beautiful book that any parent can use to teach children about the natural world and their ABC’s.

Miniaturist painter Marie Angel working in the tradition of Medieval calligraphers creates a whole new level to the art of the  Abecedarium.

Almost thirty years ago, Marie Angel was commissioned by Philip Hofer of the Houghton Library, Harvard University, to create a new animated Alphabet. Harvard published the work however only in black-and-white.

Here it is reproduced as it should be: in full color. All twenty-eight drawings (every letter, plus title and colophon pages), printed in this small bijou of a book. A jewel not only for collectors of alphabet books but for also for any child.

Printed by Godine, — and no we are never afraid at FAB to recommend a great book by another publisher —  you’ll be able to explore more of the book through the magic of Google previews if you visit their site: http://www.godine.com/isbn.asp?isbn=1567920233

Softcover, 64 pages
ISBN 1-56792-023-3
978-1-56792-023-9
1996, $12.95

And while you’re picking up this treasure for you child, pick yourself up a copy of Nature Illuminated, a 16th-century Abecedarium fit for a king, Rudolph II to be exact.

Available through J. Paul Getty Museum
64 pages, hardcover
ISBN 978-0-89236-472-5
1997, $14.95

http://www.getty.edu/bookstore/titles/nature.html

Local Lad makes good

Roland Frieshlad is a local man who recently translated the poetic German children’s tale (no pun intended) Haschenschule by Albert Sixtus & Fritz Koch-Gotha into English.

Rabbit School is one of those books young children will love and remember well into adulthood.  It’s beautiful pictures by Koch-Gotha, and memorable rhymes by Sixtus,  now made accessible by Frieshlad:

Almost seven! Don’t delay! Each one’s backpack, dark or pale, Bounces o’er a bunny tail.

make this a sure to please Christmas present for 4 and ups.

The story is simple. It’s the first day of school for two young bunnies living in the deep in the woods. A beloved old schoolteacher teaches them everything a good rabbit should know, including how to avoid the dangerous red fox who lurks in the forest.

First published in 1924, the book’s been a classic in German ever since.  It’s still in print in fact.  Sweden, Italy, and Rome (yes, there’s a Latin version!), have all enjoyed this little book. But now for the first time, it’s available in English — thanks to one Ventura dad that loved it so much, he translated it for his son (in 1996) back when he was in kindergarden.

It’s the best kind of book, loved by generations!  Start a new tradition this Christmas, give a great old book, that’s new to Americans!

Available everywhere, it’s the product of Godine. HB $14.99  ISBN 1567923836