I chose Preschool picture books which was a bit of a surprise choice but which I think are under-discussed but are incedibly important for a child's learning and here are some of the elements to take note of.
We will have mulled apple juice which is quite delicious made with cinnaon sticks, orange rind and ginger at least.
Though it might seem that there is not much to discuss the following are just some of the subjects that all successful books cover - obviously not all in each book but many in most.
1. storyline - must make sense
2. rhythm
3. rhyme
4. counting
5. unusual word - what does that mean?
6. happy ending - baddies never win - no nightmares
7. tension - anticipatory - think how even tiny babies react to peekaboo
8. interaction with child - either - eg where's spot? or where shall we look now? could our dog fit into a basket
9. pictures exactly same as story - 7 ducklings must not be 6 in picture
10. hidden things in the pictures
11. like all good stories three sections, beginning, middle and end - a bit like a three course meal, ending with a satisfactory pudding
12. humour
13. fact or fiction?
14. anthropomorphising?
15. colour
16. size of font and what font? serif or non-serif
17. size of page, card cover, paper cover, gloss or matt, etc
18. morality - may be hidden but almost always there
19. educative - something the child would not have known
20. the cover - does it reflect the story - is it enticing
21. courage/bravery esp in face of bully, stronger adversary
22. adventure - firing imagination - possibilities
23. sadness, suffering comes later when this can be discussed further - eg the snowman which just melts away.
24 probably the most important feature is empathy
Meanwhile Trump has taken Venezuela President Maduro into jail in New York in an attack on Caracas. Who knows what will happen now. Will Putin try to capture Zelenski or Xi claim Taiwan?
Countries are now so interconnected and the powerful so powerful and greedy are we heading for these big men just overrunning other countries because they can. Maduro may indeed be an awful drug lord elected illegitimatly but now the precedent has been set we can but wait. He has also threatened Iran, Greenland and Panama.
Where I have booked to go next month.
I have been learning French on Duolingo for about a year and a half and am now a bit bored with it.