"A friendly approach to the pleasures of multilingualism" -- Kirkus Reviews
"This book should be on bookshelves in every multilingual home, to help empower kids and develop their 'superpower' of speaking in different languages." -- Shelley Admont, award-winning author, KidKiddos Books
"Elementary school children everywhere will enjoy re-reading this story over and over again." -- Nikki Prsa (American polyglot)
★ Awards ★
- 1st Place: Best Illustrations (Purple Dragonfly Award)
- 1st Place: Cultural Diversity (Purple Dragonfly Award)
- Golden Award (Mom's Choice Award)
- Honorable Mention: Picture Books 5 & Younger (Purple Dragonfly Award)
- Brain Child Book Award (Tillywig Award)
Little Polyglot Adventures Series (Vol. 1): Dylan's Birthday Present / Te taonga huritau a Dylan - Maori Children's Book
This is the Maori (Te Reo Māori) edition of this children's book. It is also available in several other languages, in both monolingual and bilingual versions.
Summary in English:
Dylan is an American boy like many others. One thing makes him special, though: his parents come from other countries and speak to him in different languages. It's his birthday today and he receives a very unusual present, only to lose it shortly after. Together with his best friend Emma, a sweet bilingual girl born to South African parents, Dylan sets out to find his lost birthday present. During their search, the two friends learn about the value of friendship, of speaking different languages, and of appreciating one's own as well as others' cultural and linguistic background.
If you are looking for a children's book in Maori that will help your child see the value in speaking other languages, in being multicultural, and that will hopefully get them excited about learning languages, this book is a great choice.
Summary in Maori (Te Reo Māori):
He tamaiti Amerikana a Dylan, pēnei i ētahi atu. Engari, kotahi te take e motuhake ai ia, arā nō ētahi atu whenua ōna mātua, ā, kōrero ai rāua ki a ia i ētahi atu reo. Ko tōna huritau i tēnei rā, ā, kua whiwhi ia i tētahi taonga tino rerekē, engari kāore i roa ka ngaro i a ia. Ka whakatika ake a Dylan rāua ko tōna tino hoa, ko Emma, ko tētahi kōtiro reo rua, ngāwari anō hoki, i whānau mai ōna mātua i Āwhirika ki te Tonga, ki te kimi i tana taonga huritau kua ngaro. I a rāua e kimi ana, ka ako ngā hoa tokorua i te uara o te hoatanga, o te kōrero i ētahi reo rerekē me te whakaaro nui ki tōu anō ahurea me tōu anō reo, tae atu anō ki ngā ahurea me ngā reo o ētahi atu.
