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.
REVIEW
5th October 2010: Review by teachers’ association BLLV - Mittelfranken: Clacky the White Stork
Clacky the White Stork has landed safely back at Stork Castle after a dangerous 10 000 km flight. He tidies up and eventually Birdy, his dream partner, arrives too. She soon lays her eggs and both of them are kept busy protecting them from the fox and other enemies. And then two baby storks hatch that need to be fed and protected. Twelve months later, the young ones make their first flights and learn to catch food for themselves. In August they fly off to Africa, their winter quarters, before Clacky and Birdy follow separately in September.
A foreword introduces the reader to the importance of storks in fairytales and in different cultures before Clacky starts to recount his story of a year in the life of a stork in the first person. The text is displayed in two columns – the left-hand column containing the German text is translated into English in the right-hand column.
Infobox mit weiterführenden, fundierten naturwissenschaftlichen Sachinformationen zum Thema ergänzen die Erzählung in regelmäßigen Abständen. Als Informationsquelle für ein entsprechendes Unterrichtsthema sind sie sehr gut geeignet.
The small “Smartypants” text boxes providing background information about the life of storks are also bilingual. The inside covers show the migration paths of storks and explain what they are called in other countries. The entire book is illustrated with colour photographs of storks.
The beautiful photographs include clear images of the baby storks, which are rarely seen in the wild. Clacky tells his story in a very engaging manner – the reader likes him immediately – and also reminds us of the need for environmental conservation, although without preaching. The informative background facts complement the story. The text has been translated into very good English of a high standard. The German part of the book is very suitable for reading aloud to preschool children or for being read by primary school children, and can also be used to improve children’s command English once they are familiar with the German text.
CONTENT
Clacky the White Stork
In this Schlauberger book, Clacky the white stork takes us on a journey into the world of storks. He tells us about his adventures and normal everyday life at Stork Castle, his summer residence. Join Clacky for a wonderful stork summer! This bilingual children’s non-fiction book, written in German and English, is suitable for children aged 6 and over, and for the young-at-heart who have not yet forgotten how to be amazed. The English translation by Ros Mendy is presented alongside the German text. It provides a gentle introduction to English texts and helps children expand their English vocabulary effortlessly.
ORDER
Clacky the White Stork
Published: 09.2009
Binding: Hardcover
Format: 30 x 24,5 cm
Pages: 88
Price: 19,80 Euro
ISBN: 978-3-98-124323-9
Language: Bilingual (DE/ENG)
Author: Vera Trachmann
Translation: R. Mendy
For ages: 8 - 14 years
