A Fun Way to Learn About A Foreign Locale
By Lisa Manzione, Illustrated by Kristine Lucco
Bella & Harry LLC, 32 pages, $16.95
The Adventures of Bella and Harry follow two Chihuahua dogs, Bella and Harry, as they travel through Istanbul. The book opens with the Turkish flag and the Turkish word for hello, Merhaba, and immerses your reader in another world immediately. Bella and Harry learn about the Bosphorus Bridge and that Turkey is part of two continents: Asia and Europe. They then travel to some of the major historical sites of Istanbul and talk about religion, history and fun facts such as there are over 3000 mosques in Istanbul alone! The reader will see Bella and Harry eating a typical Turkish breakfast of eggs, simit, honey, cheese and yogurt. The dogs will run and play as they visit several major sights in the city.
The drawings are colorful and accurately rendered. The book is humorous and fun as your child is introduced to a foreign culture. Bella and Harry even view a map in the story which shows your little reader where Turkey and Istanbul are located. There are a few pages with sights outside of Istanbul in other parts of Turkey. The book closes with a few additional Turkish phrases.
This informative book shows your reader what to expect when traveling to an unknown locale and imparts lots of information about the culture through words and drawings. Little historical facts are interspersed throughout the adventure and some common vocabulary is shared. This book will educate and entertain your child for hours.
Reviewed by Seniye Groff
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