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'Art of Reading' Program Announced for Advanced Children 3 to 6
(for print version of this article click here)
Vancouver, BC, 22 March 2011 - A pictorial learn-to-read program for advanced children aged 3 to 6 has been launched by Environmental Concept Learning Inc., a Canadian educational publisher.
The advanced reading program is a series of 12 books and 24 posters about the adventures of Baby Bird SM and his friends that teach children how the world works as they learn to read English. Books and art work together creating a synergistic learning experience that the company has termed The Art of Reading SM.
Baby Bird SM books are bigger, longer and more complicated than 'normal' children's books. As the series progresses from book one through twelve, the language and concepts increase in complexity for faster and better mastery of English language skills.
Baby Bird SM adventures have been created for children, who outgrow other children's books for their age range,' explains Douglas Mesney, creator of the Baby Bird SMadvanced-reading program. 'The target age range for the Baby Bird SM reading program is from three to six years old, however some two-year-olds will also enjoy these books, if only for their colorful and captivating pictures.'
Baby Bird SM books feature large, double-page pictures (17 X 11 inch / 27.94 X 21.59 cm).
Each two-page spread combines conceptual and practical information about how the world works.
This picture spread (titled 'Inside the Rainbow') explains that rainbows are tiny water droplets.
Baby Bird SMstories thread together simple lessons, like how to read a clock, with deeper concepts, like why we need clocks. The stories introduce subjects for conversations with young readers.
Baby Bird SM books are designed to be read with your children, not just 'to' them. Every picture and story presents a concept, which sets the stage for conversations that enrich the reading > learning > life experience.
Baby Bird SM books feature Douglas Mesney's photo-like illustrations, which create a realistic looking yet imaginary world for Baby Bird;SM and his friends. In this picture, 'Enough for Everyone', each creature explains why their desert oasis has just enough for everyone - including an ant on top of the camel's nose.
Baby Bird SM books and artwork are hand-made in the United States at Vashon Island Imaging www.vashonislandimaging.com). The company specializes in fine arts printing and publishing. Here, Pamela Swanson checks a proof print from the Konica-Minolta laser printer.
"We spare no expense with these books and pictures," Mesney explains. "The books are printed on heavy paper (315 gsm cover stock) with vivid, saturated colors. We use Konica-Minolta laser printing technology which we feel delivers the finest color printing available for Baby Bird SM books."
" Baby Bird SM books also feature spiral bindings, so they lie totally flat when open." Mesney explains, "Kids can be hard on books, but spiral bindings withstand abuse. The books can be fully opened to lie absolutely flat without breaking their spines."
Baby Bird SM posters and canvases are printed in the United States by Vashon Island Imaging using the 'Giclée' (pronounced 'jee-clay') printing process which is favored by museums for archival fine-arts reproductions. Douglas Mesney personally supervises and personally signs all Baby Bird SM posters and fine-arts canvases.
Baby Bird SM posters are packaged in hard-plastic tubes which are so water tight that they float. (Canvases ship flat.)
"Baby BirdSM books have rich pictorial content to encourage conversations," says Douglas Mesney. "One of my favorite styles is nick-named 'Count the Critters' for pictures containing several dozen different animals, birds, and insects."
The picture above, entitled 'Pond Politics', features 39 different pond inhabitants.
Baby Bird SM books are 8.5 X 11 in size and range in length from 44 to 66 pages.
Baby BirdSM books are lavishly illustrated with double-page color spreads, many of which fold out to become breathtaking, extra-wide four-page panoramas that measure 34 X 11 inches (27.94 X 86.36 cm).
"The complete Baby Bird SM advanced-reading program includes both books and artwork that reinforce one another," explains Mesney. "The books and art reinforce each other and result in an educational synergism, which we have nicknamed The Art of Reading SM."
Baby BirdSM Pictures are scenes from the books available as both posters and fine-arts canvases. Standard sizes are 17 X 11 inches (27.94 X 21.59 cm) and 24 X 17 inches (60.96.88 X 43.18 cm). Panorama posters are 48 X 17 inches (121.92 X 34.18 cm). Custom sizes and murals like the ones shown above can be ordered. 'Nite Lites'; versions glow in the dark when lit by UV light, as shown.
"Baby Bird SM decor art stimulates a child's developing mind long after the books are back on the shelf," explains Mesney, "Artwork extends learning from the books into children's lives."
Baby BirdSM books are available in convenient 'six packs', shown above. The entire 12-book series is intended to span three years. (Books are also individually available, as are all picture posters and canvases.)
Baby Bird SM book series currently includes six titles:
1.) The Baby Bird SM - Into the Rainbow / ISBN 978-0-9865751-3-6
2.) The Baby Bird SM - Beyond the Pond / ISBN 978-0-9865751-4-3
3.) The Baby Bird SM - Into Thin Air / ISBN 978-0-9865751-6-7
4.) The Baby Bird SM - In The World of Possibilities / ISBN 978-0-9865751-7-4
5.) The Baby Bird SM - In The Land of Plenty / ISBN 978-0-9865751-8-1
6.) The Baby Bird SM - In The Enchanted Forest / ISBN 978-0-9865751-9-8 (in production)# # #
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Baby Bird and Environmental Concept Learning are Sales Marks of Environmental Concept Learning Inc., Vancouver, BC