Language Lizard Bilingual Children's Books~Inspiring Kids through Language~Review and Giveaway!

Having raised my children immersed in the unique cultural context of the arctic was exciting! Exposing my children to various cultures has always been a parenting goal of mine. Perhaps it is the anthropologist in me that gives me the sense that exposure to a variety of cultures will ultimately foster awareness, and acceptance and deter prejudice. As an anthropologist and as an educator I am well aware of the significance of language to identity and cultural understanding. Language is like the outward expression of cultural identity and as Rita Mae Brown once stated "Language is a road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going."

Because language is such a defining part of culture I was thrilled when my children began to use not only English but the Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun words and phrases they heard being used around them by the Inuit people we lived amongst! Language Lizard is a company which has been created with the thrill of language learning in mind and is inspiring kids through language!

In Canada we have two official languages English and French. I have a French Canadian background and though I do not speak fluent French and I chose not to enroll my children in a French or French Immersion school I would love to expose them further to the French language which in essence is part of their inherited cultural background. Having at minimum a working knowledge of basic French is an asset to Canadians just as in the United States Spanish is a vary useful language to grasp. Here's where Language Lizard can be an invaluable resource!

French is taught in most Canadian schools and my children's school is no exception but because we live in a rural community the school does not employ a separate, specialized French language teacher. I've decided the best way for my children to gain exposure to more French and perhaps other languages is to find resources they can use here at home. Language Lizard is a wonderful source of Dual-language books in English and your choice of 45 other languages. That's right, bilingual books in French and English are only one option. Spanish, Greek, Italian, Japanese are just a few of the many language options Language Lizard offers to customers!

I received the book Boucle d'or et les trois ours for review also known in English as Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the classic folktale most of us know and love. With vibrant illustrations sporting quaint details from Goldilocks wild golden curls to her tiny footprints on the three bears' beds illustrator Louise Daykin brings this cherished tale to life. Retold by Kate Clynes and French translation by Gwennola Orio-Glaunec this version of Goldilocks and the three Bears is unique in it's rhyming side commentary warning Goldilocks of her mis-steps through out the adventure!

"Arrete Boucle d'or, tu ne peux pas te promener et
fouiner dans la maison de quelqu'un d'autre."
"Hang on Goldilocks, you can't just roam,
And snoop around someone else's home."

My 5 year old daughter was charmed by the tale and curious as well as fascinated by the French translation. I found reading a line of the French then the Corresponding English worked very well and the way different fonts are used to differentiate the two languages makes the book easy to follow.

I am extremely excited to share Language Lizard with my friends and relatives whose children attend French immersion schools. A friend of mine often discusses her frustration when reading in French with her child. She is not fluent in French herself and often finds the task daunting but with these Bilingual books reading with her children can become a far more enjoyable experience!

A great resource for preserving a child's heritage, for raising bilingual children or for just creating a fun learning experience fostering respect of diversity Language Lizard offers you exciting beautifully illustrated books, CDs, and posters ideal for you! I'd recommend Language Lizard products to teachers and parents everywhere!

Language Lizard is offering Northern Mama readers a 10% Discount code from now until December 4th on "Goldilocks and The Three Bears" and on the Celebrating Festivals Christmas book I will be reviewing in November entitled "Marek and Alice's Christmas". CODE: NM2009

I also have a French-English Binlingual copy of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" to give one lucky Northern Mama reader!

To Enter:

• Follow Northern Mama {via Google Friends Connect}, Be a Northern Mama Facebook Fan, or Be a Northern Mama Subscriber {Required}

Extra Entries:

• Visit Language Lizard and tell me one of the languages not mentioned here their bilingual books come in.
• Subscribe to Language Lizard's great, Free E-newsletter

Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes November 1st, 2009 10:00pm MT. Read Giveaway Rules for further details.