Difference between revisions of "My Mummy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres by Amelie Julien and Gustyawan"

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I came late to learning a foreign language, coming from a family who believed that foreigners were just people who were being difficult about speaking the English language which they obviously understood.  I then had to learn French at school by reciting verbs, which, in many ways just reinforced the family view.  I do so wish that I had been introduced to the language - any language - in this way, with humour and relevance.
 
I came late to learning a foreign language, coming from a family who believed that foreigners were just people who were being difficult about speaking the English language which they obviously understood.  I then had to learn French at school by reciting verbs, which, in many ways just reinforced the family view.  I do so wish that I had been introduced to the language - any language - in this way, with humour and relevance.
  
If you're in the US and worried that children have a ''mommy'' rather than a ''mummy'' then you can relax as there's an American edition of the book called [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1686751680?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag06-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1686751680 My Mommy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres].
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If you're in the US and worried that children have a ''mommy'' rather than a ''mummy'' then you can relax as there's an American edition of the book called [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1686751680?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag06-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1686751680 My Mommy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres]. (There's a further link to Amazon.com at the bottom of the page.)
  
 
Young readers will obviously need some help with pronunciation, but it will be valuable to realise that words in a foreign language do not always appear in the same order as they do in English, and that they are not necessarily an exact translation: language is about ''meaning'' rather than being a robotic process where one word is substituted for another.  It's a delightful book for a child who is just beginning to learn French.
 
Young readers will obviously need some help with pronunciation, but it will be valuable to realise that words in a foreign language do not always appear in the same order as they do in English, and that they are not necessarily an exact translation: language is about ''meaning'' rather than being a robotic process where one word is substituted for another.  It's a delightful book for a child who is just beginning to learn French.

Revision as of 16:39, 27 November 2019


My Mummy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres by Amelie Julien and Gustyawan

1686751680.jpg
Buy My Mummy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres by Amelie Julien and Gustyawan at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Category: For Sharing
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Reviewed by Sue Magee
Summary: A delightful story about just how weird a mother can be - delivered in English and French. What better way to learn a language?
Buy? Yes Borrow? Yes
Pages: 27 Date: August 2019
Publisher: Independently published
ISBN: 978-1686792625

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Which child doesn't think that there mother is, well, weird? It might be that in the morning their mother doesn't like speaking much, when every self-respecting child knows that that is when you're at your brightest with lots to say? Why then does Mummy stick her fingers in her ears? Then there's doing yoga in front of the television, which could be worrying if it wasn't so funny. We won't go into too much detail about what goes on in the bathroom and the colour changes which have occured when Mummy emerges and frankly, the less said the better about her reactions to your artistic efforts on the wall. I mean, what else would you use paint for?

We won't go into too much detail about how Mummy studies labels in supermarkets as though they're absolutely fascinating or her dreadful habit of hiding vegetables in pasta. What a silly place to put them! And why put sweets right at the back of the cupboard when they're so difficult to get at?

On the other hand, even a boy who has worked out just how weird his mother really is will know where to go when he has a problem. Who else tells you that they're proud of you and kisses you? Every mum is one of a kind.

Isn't that just a gorgeous story? It's so true and gives wonderful opportunities to discuss why some things happen, but that's not even half the story about this brilliant picture book. The illustrations are perfect for the story, subtly adding to the text and injecting a nice dollop of humour. But then there's even more.

On each double-page spread you get two sentences in English - and then they're repeated in clear, modern French and written by a native speaker of the language!

I came late to learning a foreign language, coming from a family who believed that foreigners were just people who were being difficult about speaking the English language which they obviously understood. I then had to learn French at school by reciting verbs, which, in many ways just reinforced the family view. I do so wish that I had been introduced to the language - any language - in this way, with humour and relevance.

If you're in the US and worried that children have a mommy rather than a mummy then you can relax as there's an American edition of the book called My Mommy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres. (There's a further link to Amazon.com at the bottom of the page.)

Young readers will obviously need some help with pronunciation, but it will be valuable to realise that words in a foreign language do not always appear in the same order as they do in English, and that they are not necessarily an exact translation: language is about meaning rather than being a robotic process where one word is substituted for another. It's a delightful book for a child who is just beginning to learn French.

And what child is not going to be delighted at the thought of telling his French teacher Ma maman fait des choses bizarres parfois? I'm sure the school will be completely understanding!

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

A young child learning French will also enjoy Mr Chicken Goes To Paris by Leigh Hobbs.

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Buy My Mummy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres by Amelie Julien and Gustyawan at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy My Mummy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres by Amelie Julien and Gustyawan at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
Buy My Mummy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres by Amelie Julien and Gustyawan at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy My Mummy does weird things / Maman fait des choses bizarres by Amelie Julien and Gustyawan at Amazon.com.

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