Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie discussion

Here's a review by the Wise Owl Factory, one of the premier sites for homeschoolers:

Pepe Builds a Nest by Theodore Jerome Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"While the topic is penguins, this story is about a bully. It is told in rhyme and easy for Pre-K and primary children to follow and understand. Penguins are a favorite topic, and the photograph illustrations are so interesting to them. They will learn penguins build their nests with rocks. They will also learn about problem solving and forming friendships. This story would be nice for a class discussion for the topic of bullies. Fun and educational reading!"

https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/pep...

The review contains superb penguin writing and activity pages:

https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/PDF...

very impressive, Theo!!!

Judy wrote: "very impressive, Theo!!!"

Thanks, Judy. Who's impressive is the woman who manages the site. She is unbelievable.

Theo, what age group is your book for?

Judy wrote: "Theo, what age group is your book for?"


All three books in the series are for K-3, so that would put the age range (approx.) at 5-8.

https://www.theodore-cohen-novels.com/

Pepe Builds a Nest is available in Kindle, and in paperback, in English, Spanish, and French. The others are available in English only, Kindle and Paperback.

I will try to remember this for when my 3 year old granddaughter is older. I know that this is the sort of book that my daughter would love her to have.

Judy wrote: "I will try to remember this for when my 3 year old granddaughter is older. I know that this is the sort of book that my daughter would love her to have."

Thank you. Some four-year-olds have loved it, believe it or not. They love the pictures of the penguins.

Theo, the Wise Owl Factory mentions that the books are for pre-k which could include ages 3-5. Would one of the other books, Rufus or Fuzzy be more suitable for a (just turned) 3 year old?
You have had a fascinating life! I hope that the Cohen Islands aren't near that part of Antartica that just broke off?
Did you by any chance run into our cousin, Adolfo Eraso, a glaciologist from Spain, who spends (our) winters in Antartica and summers in the Artic circle? He's in his 80's now but as far as I know he's still at one pole or the other

Hi, Judy...

First, no, I never ran into Adolfo, though from his age, he may first have been in Antarctica about the time I was there (1961-62). I was on the western side of the North Antarctica Peninsula, so no, the Cohen Islands aren't near that part of the continent where the ice shelf just broke off. (Terrible thing, that!)

Regarding my series of illustrated children's books in verse, Stories for the Early Years. Currently, there are three books in the series, each teaching one or more valuable life lessons:

• Book 1, an anti-bullying story, is titled Pepe [the penguin] Builds a Nest. It addresses bullying, making the right decisions, friendship, and forgiveness. (The story is actually based on my work in Antarctica some years ago.) By the way, in addition to the English edition, paperback editions of this book are available in Spanish and French. [NB Unfortunately, the rhyming is lost in the Spanish and French editions.]
• Book 2, Rufus Finds a Home, teaches children about empathy and the difficulty of sometimes having to give up something we love.
• Book 3, Fuzzy Wuzzy, about a bear, of course, teaches children to listen to their parents (in this case, Mama!).

Actually, Pepe may be the best for that age. That would be old enough to understand a "bad" person who takes things belonging to others. The story about Rufus may be too "adult," given it deals with aging and giving up something you love. Still, the dog pictures and the story are fun. Fuzzy is a bear who doesn't listen to his Mama and almost ends up as the wolf's dinner...don't want any nightmares, there.

Hope that helps.

Theodore wrote: "Hi, Judy...

First, no, I never ran into Adolfo, though from his age, he may first have been in Antarctica about the time I was there (1961-62). I was on the western side of the North Antarctica Pe..."
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain these great books, Theo. I think that it's actually easier to rhyme in Spanish and French than in English!

Judy wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Hi, Judy...

First, no, I never ran into Adolfo, though from his age, he may first have been in Antarctica about the time I was there (1961-62). I was on the western side of the No..."

What you say may be true, but then, they would be a different books (different texts). In this case, the Spanish and French editions are translations.

that's true, the story could be the same, but it would have to be rephrased to rhyme. Madeleine rhymes in the French and English versions, I think..