Review of "The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition"
Review of "The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition"
by Valerie Laud, illustrated by Valentin Latushkin
Ekadoo Inc., August 2005 Hardcover, 96 pages ISBN: 0974738700
Recommended Ages: 1 - 8
Review by Sherri Allen:
"The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition" is an
excellent tool to use when you want to help your young child
learn Spanish. Although it's called a dictionary, this book
contains more than just words and their translations. The words
are provided in English, followed by their Spanish translations.
Then, the words are actually used in a sentence, first in
English, then translated into Spanish. Each word is accompanied
by a picture that illustrates its meaning.
By including sentences and not just presenting a list of words
and their translations, "The Picture Book Dictionary
English-Spanish Edition" will teach your child the basics of
Spanish grammar and help him develop conversational skills so he
can actually use the words he learns. The colorful pictures will
attract your child's attention and provide visual reinforcement
of the words presented, thereby increasing his retention of what
he's learned.
"The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition" includes
several pages with collections of related words and pictures
(such as dinosaurs, fruit and shapes) that are presented in
English without an accompanying Spanish translation. There's
also a page of English irregular verbs that doesn't provide
Spanish translations. While the pictures on the "collection"
pages are attractive and the conjugation of irregular verbs is
very useful, it seems a little odd that Spanish translations
weren't included.
Overall, "The Picture Book Dictionary English-Spanish Edition"
is engaging, easy to read and more than just another
English-Spanish dictionary. It is an effective resource that
will accomplish its goal, as defined by its publisher, to
"expand children's unique abilities to pick up languages, boost
their conversational skills, vocabulary and enrich imagination."