Did you know February 21, 2011 is International Mother Language Day?
Join people all around the world celebrating on the 21st. Sponsored by UNESCO, an agency of the United Nations, the first International Mother Language Day was celebrated in 2000. It’s purpose is “to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism” as stated on the UN’s page
here.
National Foreign Language Week is March 7 – 13, 2011. First celebrated in 1957, National Foreign Language Week is sponsored by
Alpha Mu Gamma. This year’s theme is “Languages Make the World Go ‘Round.” The week’s purpose is to emphasize the importance of studying a language other than your first language.
I just finished
No Such Thing as Dragons by Philip Reeve. Ansel (10) has been mute since his mother passed away three years ago. His father eagerly arranges for Ansel to serve Johannes Brock, a reasonably successful dragon hunter. Brock confides in Ansel that there really are no such things as dragons, but there is the fear of dragons so he always has work. This trip, though, he might be wrong.
Very wrong. People and animals have disappeared and the townsfolk of the mountainous village are desperate for help. More death is on the way. Excellent storytelling with a (mostly) sympathetic cast. Sure to be popular with boys and reluctant readers. Aimed at grades 4-7, it has 186 pages.
(This book is from the library, but the Nebraska Library Commission does receive free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
