#365PictureBooks 64. Back-To-Front Bob by Belinda Ellis

Ellis, B. (2014). Back-To-Front Bob. Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic.

ISBN: 9781775431831
Pages: 32
Age Level: Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction
Rating: 4 stars

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Bob flips out over words.
In fact, he's head-over-heels crazy about them.
Especially the ones that read the same forwards and backwards ... like BOB!

Belinda Ellis presents us with the first in a series of books about the joys of word games and the quirks that can be a (big) part of our language.  Told in a humorous way, they invite children to 'play' with the words themselves, and maybe come up with some of their own palindromes.

The illustrations in this book are predominantly focusing on the 'words'.  These large, sometimes colourful, words each have an image of Bob in various thoughtful poses, as well as the occasional extra illustration.  It's very well done, as it keeps your attention on the main focus of the story ... the words!

This is a great book to add to your collection.  We have a copy in our Picture Books for kids and parents to enjoy, and a copy in our Teacher Resources for staff to use during literacy lessons in class.  It is a great way of showing kids that they can have fun with words, and that 'language is a very wondrous thing'.

I got my copy of Back-To-Front Bob from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 37. Te Reo Singalong Book 7 He aha tenei? [& CD] by Sharon Holt, illustrated by Deborah Hinde

Holt, S., & Hinde, D. (2014). He aha tenei? (What is this?) [& CD]. Hamilton, New Zealand: The Writing Bug.

ISBN: 9780473285906
Pages: 24
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6 / Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Book / NZ Fiction / Te Reo Maori
Rating: 5 stars

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Titiro mai!

He aha tenei?

He mumutawa tena.

Titiro mai!

He aha tenei?

He mumutawa tena.

Me tiaki ...

He taonga!

Look! What is this?

That is a ladybug

Look! What is this?

That is a ladybug.

Be gentle.  It's special! 

Book 7 in Sharon Holt's Te Reo Singalong series is all about the sentence structure of asking the question "What is this?".  Her books are all in Te Reo Maori, with an English translation at the end, and include a CD.  There are also guitar chords if you wish to play the song for children to keep to the rhyme.  There is also a list of 10 activities at the end to try with children.

The rhyme is simple and catchy and a fantastic way for children to learn Te Reo Maori, whether in a school or home environment.  The accompanying CD makes it easy for whanau, family and teachers to learn the rhyme and pronunciation themselves if they are not Te Reo Maori speakers.

The illustrations make it easy to understand what the question is asking.  The are very realistic, almost photo-like, in their depiction.  The main focus of a child and the bug they are asking about are central to the image, with the background done in an out-of-focus fuzzy way.

It teaches Te Reo Maori to children (and adults) in an easy to remember rhyme.  Students around Year 6 may find it to simplistic - probably due to the illustrations, however if they have no knowledge of Te Reo Maori it is a great way to learn.

This is a fantastic series of books to have.  Our Te Reo teacher uses them regularly with all our classes.  I am really pleased that I purchased the original set at the 2013 SLANZA conference in Wellington, and I make a point of getting each new one when it comes out.

Te Reo Singalong Awards:

Winner Maori Language Awards 2013 

Finalist Maori Language Awards 2012 

Other titles in the series:

Maranga Mai!

Kei te Peke Ahau

Anei Ke!

Me Haere!

E hia nga moe?

Matariki

I got my copy of He aha tenei? from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.