I received a very unassuming package the other day. Just a simple yellow envelope marked: "Interactive Book-Webscene, as eclectic as a child's imagination". This reader that I was to review was as unassuming as the package, but I was intrigued. Simple, green, www.ka-reader.com titled: "Coming Home - KA Reader 8." Written by Trish Kline and Mary Donev.

I was un-impressed AT FIRST. (Keep reading.) This is a new storytelling process, kinda confusing to understand until you actually get one in your hands and do the steps involved. Using a quote from the producer / writer, I will explain:

"IBW titles use a new storytelling process that combines an actual print book with the interactivity of online animations. Here's how it works: you read a chapter. At the end of the chapter, you find a weblink. When you go online to the weblink, you find an animation or other multimedia called a webscene that's part of the story. After you view the webscene, you go back to the book to read another chapter, find another weblink and so on. There are six or more webscenes included in every IBW book.

The most effective way to read IBW books with a child is to have a computer nearby. This helps improve a child's focus and reduces distractions."

So, I read through and entered the weblinks into the laptop. I watched the little webscene - drawings of the scene / chapter you just read in the book "acted out" with some of the items labeled for reinforcement from the book. I thought, "ok, these are kinda neat. I think they'd get old fast." While I was viewing the scenes, my pre-reader was sitting with me looking on. She wanted the scenes played over and over again while I was reading the next chapter to myself.

Well, then I thought, I'd have one of my reading children read the book with me / on her own and do the webscenes.

She LOVED IT! Asked for more. (I wish I qualified for the giveaway.)

I have to try with my other reading child yet.

*****

There was another book in the plain yellow envelope. (Plain yellow is great, by the way! Often the surprises inside are really cool!!!!) This one blue and called: Celebration of Letters: G and H. This one comes from the Busy Preschoolers series by the same authors. This series contains poems and activities made up about or around the letters of the alphabet. On the opposite page to the poem or activity are simple directions to help parents teach skills that preschoolers will need before they get to kindergarten.

Now, this doesn't follow with my unschooling mindset, but I do agree that these skills are eventually important. So whether you teach these skills to your preschoolers in an organized and classroom type situation or whether you let your child learn them in the natural world, these books have great hints for parents and teachers.

The webscenes in this series are very simple tasks, perfect for the very young. There is a second group of activities called: ABC-TRACE-123. They are pretty neat. However, I did not find they worked well for my almost 3 year old boy, but it could just be him. He's so into Elmo and Sesame Street that he doesn't think anything else is very cool.

*****

Both books have ESL Support. Every page is accompanied by a Spanish translation. This is not a translation of the English (in the KA-Readers, specifically) but is a word-for-word comparison. They do this to aid non-English speaking parents in teaching English to their children. There are links in the books to help direct those lessons and activities.

You can visit www.IBW-Books.com for more information and to purchase books. For those interested in making some extra money, there is a booksellers' option as well at: www.IBW-Booksellers.com. If you choose to represent the product, you will receive a 20% commission (check the conditions at the site).

*****

The GIVEAWAY:

One winner will have a choice of one of two IBW prizes. Open to US and Canada. Giveaway ends December 15, 2009.

Please visit www.IBW-Books.com. Come back here and tell us what your choice of these two prizes would be.

The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning - fun activities build around the 26 letters of the alphabet, with step-by-step help to guide parents in how to use everyday situations to teach 105 skills their kids need before the walk in the kindergarten door. (Retail value $60.)

Three (3) KA Readers - beginning readers that use a new kind of storytelling where kids see an animation unfold at the close of every chapter! Dr. Seuss-like rhyming hooks kids on the fun of words. Online activities help parents assess a child's reading and comprehension. (Retail value $60.)

Ghost Hunter Productions (publisher of IBW books) will ship directly to the winner.

Written by LaDonna on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Filed under IBW-Books, Posts By LaDonna.
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