A Monster is Hiding/El Monstruo Escondido (Spanish Edition) [Paperback]

Bianca Cowan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1999 | Age Level: 5 and up

This bilingual English/Spanish story and unique artwork come together to carefully deal with a universal fear experienced by young children.

Repetitive phrases and sparsely placed text enhance language acquisition making the book an excellent choice for ESL programs.

The book fills a need for parents wanting their child to become familiar with mom or dad's native language or just insightful parents who recognize the value of a second language for their children.

While your child enjoys this story in English, he or she will quickly learn the Spanish text. This is due to the use of repetitive words and phrases, the sparse placement of text on a page and the use of vibrant illustrations to cement vocabulary comprehension. The book also includes an English / Spanish glossary for further assistance.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

El primer lingo de AlterLingo A Monster is Hiding / El Monstruo Escondido ya se encuentra disponible!

Reunete con una pequena nina que enfrenta los temores que todo nino experimenta: el miedo que un monstruo se esconda bajo su cama! Cuando la nina pasa la noche entera con su monstruo, descubre que no hay motivo para temerle y, asi , los dos se hacen amigos. La Dra. Joan Wink, profesora de credenciales bilingues y programas de postgrado en la California State University, Stanislaus, senala que "el cuento es encantador, reafirmante y enriquecedor para todos los ninos. La. Dra. Ruth T. Dumas, profesora asistente de primera educacion infantil en la University of North Alabama, califica al libro de "delicioso" y apunta que sus "frases repetitivas rapidamente significaran un apoyo para el lector de la traduccion al ingles o al espanol".

Join a little girl as she faces a fear that every child experiences: the worry that a monster is hiding under her bed! As the child spends an evening with her monster, she finds that there is no reason to fear him, and the two become friends.

Dr. Joan Wink, professor of bilingual / multilingual credential and graduate programs at California State University, Stanislaus, says "the story is charming, affirming and nurturing for all children."

Dr. Ruth T. Dumas, assistant professor of early childhood education at the University of North Alabama, calls the book, "delightful" and notes that its "repetitive phrases will quickly assist the reader in the use of the English or Spanish translation."

About the Author

Bianca Cowan graduated Cum Laude from the University of Utah with a BA in English and minor in Spanish. Bianca also lived and studied at Escuela Internacional in Acala de Henares - near Madrid, Spain.

Bianca's love for elementary age children started with her days spent teaching at Edison Elementary in Salt Lake City.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: O'Hollow Pub (August 15, 1999)
• Language: Spanish
• ISBN-10: 0966964535
• ISBN-13: 978-0966964530
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great bedtime story book for kids, August 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Monster is Hiding/El Monstruo Escondido (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

A Monster is Hiding/El Monstruo Escondido is a charming story of a child who fears that a monster is hiding under her bed. The illustrations are unique in that the illustrator chose to bring the child directly into the world of the story with a cut-paper, watercolor, and photograph collage using photos of an actual child.

The creatures that the child first imagines under her bed are angular, with large menacing mouths and sharp claws. Their bodies are made from the same patterns as the bedding, suggesting that the monsters are the imaginings of the child seeing various shadows and shapes in the dim light of her bedroom. As the story progresses and the child confronts her fear, the angles and colors soften. The real monster is kind and more human in aspect, and therefore is nothing for the child (or anyone else) to fear. This also suggests that dreams can be molded and controlled by the dreamer--resulting in happy dreams rather than nightmares.

Another aspect of this book is its Spanish-English bilingual presentation. With the engaging story, it also presents a comfortable vocabulary that assists a parent in teaching a second language to their child. This kind of book is a marvelous opportunity to introduce a different language while children are still in their language forming stage--where the introduction of a second language is both natural and easily learned. (It can also help parents who are also learning a second language, whether English or Spanish.)

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible.., September 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Monster is Hiding/El Monstruo Escondido (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

I really like the direction the author uses to involve children to read, not only in English but as well in Spanish. It just gives kids that extra education they need.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful bilingual spanish childrens book :-), August 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Monster is Hiding/El Monstruo Escondido (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

This book invoked some great conversation with my children. They thoroughly enjoyed the read. I am pleased that someone has written a book like "A Monster is Hiding". It has helped them with their understanding of other cultures.