Fresh Approaches: New Editions and Reissues
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Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 7/9/2008 2:27:00 PM
Read & Wonder…and Now Listen
Candlewick recently launched “Read, Listen, & Wonder,” a new multimedia series that pairs titles from the much-lauded “Read & Wonder” line with accompanying audio CDs. Illustrated with eye-catching visuals in a diverse array of artistic styles, these nature-themed picture books have a knack for presenting factual information with a narrative flair, introducing the animal world in a way that both captivates and enlightens young readers (K-Gr 3). Each CD features a read-aloud version of the text complete with music and sound effects, an “All About…” segment presenting additional facts, and a read-along rendering with page-turning prompts. The volumes are published in paperback, with a front-cover fold-over that includes a plastic CD pocket.
According to Associate Editor Andrea Tompa, the company is launching a multimedia program this year with the introduction of Candlewick Audio and Candlewick Storybook Animations: “the ‘Read, Listen, & Wonders’ seemed like a natural addition…. These are very kid-friendly and classroom-friendly, and we’re really excited about the response we’ve been getting so far.” Titles that have been “proven as perennial favorites” [were chosen] to kick the series off, but we hope to eventually produce all of the ‘Read & Wonders’ in an audio format.”
These “Read & Wonder” entries are not short on pedigree. Tompa points out that “the first 11 books in the audio series have more than 20 awards among them, including a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award for Nicola Davies’s Surprising Sharks (2003), a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year citation for Vivian French’s Growing Frogs (2000), a National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children for Martin Jenkins’s The Emperor’s Egg (2002), and an IRA Teachers’ Choice Award for Davies’s One Tiny Turtle (2001).”
The CD narration, which is done by Alan Marriott of Bob the Builder fame, is crisp and vivacious. According to Tompa, “We listened to several samples before hearing Alan Marriott, but as soon as we heard his voice we knew that he had the kid-friendly, approachable manner that we wanted for the series. Each ‘Read and Wonder’ title has a different narrative style—from the young child’s voice narrating Growing Frogs to the atmospheric poetry of Janni Howker’s Walk with a Wolf (1998)—and Alan Marriott has been able to successfully adapt his reading to each one.”
The “All About…” portion of the CD allows children to listen to and assimilate additional background material about the highlighted critter while revisiting the book’s pages. Tompa explains that these pieces were all written by Nicola Davies, “a zoologist and the author of many nonfiction books for kids.” In the ‘Read and Wonder’ series, “the main story is accompanied by informational sidebars which give more advanced readers further information about the featured animal. We wanted to duplicate that experience in the audio format, allowing kids to learn more about the animal without interrupting the main story. While some of the information in the ‘All About...’ segments can also be found in the sidebars of the book, Davies has researched the animals further and created a complete and cohesive factual segment for each one.”
With its inviting approach and multisensory appeal, the “Read, Listen, & Wonder” series will be a surefire hit for home use and also makes a natural choice for classrooms. According to Sharon Hancock, Director of School and Library Marketing at Candlewick: “‘Read, Listen, & Wonder’ books focus on subjects with strong appeal to children who are at a reading level where most nonfiction texts are too challenging. By providing teachers and librarians with audio versions these books can be used with students who need reading practice or with small groups who are interested in learning more about a subject.”
After the release of 11 titles in 2008, Candlewick plans to publish four titles per year. Go to their Web site to browse or download a catalog.
Pub Info
DAVIES, Nicola. Bat Loves the Night: illus. by Sarah Fox-Davies. ISBN 978-0-7636-3863-4.
_____. Big Blue Whale. illus. by Nick Maland. ISBN 978-0-7636-3822-1.
_____. One Tiny Turtle. illus. by Jane Chapman. ISBN 978-0-7636-3834-4.
_____. Surprising Sharks. illus. by James Croft. ISBN 978-0-7636-3837-5.
FRENCH, Vivian. Growing Frogs. illus. by Alison Bartlett. ISBN 978-0-7636-3831-3.
HANSARD, Peter. A Field Full of Horses. illus. by Kenneth Lilly. ISBN 978-0-7636-3828-3.
Available Fall 2008:
DOWSON, Nick. Tigress. illus. by Jane Chapman. ISBN 978-0-7636-3872-6.
HOWKER, Janni. Walk with a Wolf. illus. by Sarah Fox-Davies. ISBN 978-0-7636-3875-7.
JENKINS, Martin. The Emperor’s Egg. illus. by Jane Chapman. ISBN 978-0-7636-3825-2.
KING-SMITH, Dick. All Pigs Are Beautiful. illus. by Anita Jeram. ISBN 978-0-7636-3866-5.
WALLACE, Karen. Gentle Giant Octopus. illus. by Mike Bostock. ISBN 978-0-7636-3869-6.
ea vol: Candlewick. 2008. pap. with CD. $8.99.
