Notizzettel Buch und CD







Vera Trachmann AUTHOR

Vera Trachmann


The author, Vera Trachmann, was born on 5th February 1951 in Forbach in the north of the Black Forest in Germany. She and her husband have lived in Rheine since autumn 1974, where they run the Falken pharmacy that they set up together. As a trained teacher, Vera Trachmann studied interesting, informative literature for children and teenagers in great detail, but for years did not have the time to do any writing herself. Then a chance event came to her assistance in the form of a blackbird that built a nest on her windowsill and proceeded to sit on its eggs.

Vera Trachmann seized the opportunity and used her photographs and notes to produce a wonderful book called "The Little Blackbirds" ("Hallo! Wir sind die Amselkinder"). Friends in the USA encouraged her to have the text translated into English. So the idea of bilingual non-fiction children’s books in German and English with fascinating, real-life photographs was born. It has remained a hallmark of the Schlauberger publishing house, which she and her husband set up in 2007, to this day. “The Little Blackbirds” was followed by more non-fiction books for children and young people: “Buzz and the Honeybees” and “Clacky the White Stork”, and there are more books in the pipeline.








Rezenionen REVIEW

6th October 2010: Review by teachers’ association BLLV - Mittelfranken: The Little Blackbirds


Which countries to blackbirds live in? What happens once a blackbird has built its nest? How many eggs does the mother blackbird lay? Who sits on the eggs? What happens once the baby birds hatch? What do they eat? Readers will find the answers to all these questions and more in this bilingual non-fiction book.

A map inside the front and back covers of The Little Blackbirds. The Little Blackbirds shows where blackbirds live around the world and what they are called in other countries. In the eight chapters that follow, the left-hand column of green text describes in German how the baby blackbirds live and are raised. The English translation is printed in blue text on the right-hand side. The author addresses her readers in the foreword and at frequent intervals throughout the book, involving them directly in the subject-matter. Blackbirds and their nesting behaviour are explained competently in a way that children will understand. The text is characterised by varied sentence structure, expressive vocabulary and clear explanations of the subject-matter. The explanations are impressively illustrated with large-format photographs of excellent quality.

This is a high-quality, well-thought-out non-fiction book on a topic that children are still able to observe at close range, particularly those that live in the countryside.

The book is impressive both in terms of content and design, thanks to the clear layout. It also encourages language learning at an early age because it is written in two languages. It is certain to prove useful in primary school English classes as well.








Inhalt Inhalt

Inhalt CONTENT

The Little Blackbirds


Written perceptively, this Schlauberger book holds up a mirror to nature, letting us see at close range how the baby blackbirds grow into adults. Readers can follow every step of the little blackbirds’ development – from the mother blackbird building her nest, laying her eggs and feeding her babies, to the young birds flying the nest and becoming independent. Small children will love looking at the pictures and having the book read to them, while primary school children will enjoy reading it for themselves and will be able to make use of their new-found general knowledge in class. Written in English and German, the book encourages language learning at an early age. The Little Blackbirds has been approved as a school book in parts of Germany.




ORDER

The Little Blackbirds



1st edition published: 2007
2nd edition published: 2009

Binding: Hardcover
Format: 30 x 24,5 cm
Pages: 50
Price: 16,95 Euro
ISBN: 978-3-00-019789-5

Language: Bilingual (DE/ENG)
Author: Vera Trachmann
Translation: R. Mendy
For ages: 4 - 10 years